Iryna Merleni

{{Short description|Ukrainian wrestler (born 1982)}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name= Iryna Merleni | image= Iryna Merleni, 2014.jpg | imagesize= | caption= Merleni in 2014 | native_name= Ірина Олексіївна <br> Мельник / Мерлені / Микульчин | native_name_lang= uk | fullname= Iryna Oleksiyivna <br> Melnyk / Merleni / Mykulchyn | birth_date= {{birth date and age|1982|2|8|df=yes}} | birth_place= Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union | height= | club= | coach= | show-medals = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's freestyle wrestling}} {{MedalCountry | {{UKR}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} center|80px {{MedalGold| 2004 Athens | 48 kg}} {{MedalBronze| 2008 Beijing | 48 kg}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2000 Sofia|46 kg}} {{MedalGold|2001 Sofia|46 kg}} {{MedalGold|2003 New York|48 kg}} {{MedalSilver|2005 Budapest|48 kg}} {{MedalSilver|2007 Baku|48 kg}} {{MedalCompetition|European Championships}} {{MedalGold|2004 Haparanda|48 kg}} {{MedalGold|2005 Varna|51 kg}} {{MedalSilver|2001 Budapest|46 kg}} {{MedalCompetition|Summer Universiade}} {{MedalGold|2005 İzmir|51 kg}} }}

'''Iryna Oleksiyivna Merleni''' ({{langx|uk|Ірина Олексіївна Мерлені}}), née '''Melnyk''' ({{lang|uk|Мельник}}), married name '''Mykulchyn''' ({{lang|uk|Микульчин}}) (born 8 February 1982) is a Ukrainian wrestler, who competed in the – 48 kg weight class at the 2004 Summer Olympics and claimed the gold medal. She is first female olympic champion in women`s wrestling.<ref>[https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mighty-merleni-grabs-a-place-in-the-history-books Mighty Merleni grabs a place in the history books]</ref> In the same event at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won a bronze medal.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/me/iryna-merleni-mykulchyn-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235343/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/me/iryna-merleni-mykulchyn-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-17 |title=Iryna Merleni-Mykulchyn}}</ref> She is a three-time world champion, and has also won the European Championships once.

Merleni was born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. In February 2006, she married Andriy Mykulchyn, with whom she has two sons – Artur and Adam. She was inducted into the Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=165040|title=FIRST INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED FOR WOMEN'S WRESTLING HALL OF FAME | PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com|accessdate=28 March 2023}}</ref>

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine she fled to Haparanda, Sweden, where she now works at the local Systembolaget. In her spare time she acts as a wrestling coach for the club Haparanda SKT.

== Championships and accomplishments == * '''Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame''' ** Class of 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/first-ever-inductees-for-womens-wrestling-hall-of-fame-includes-madusa-luna-vachon-more/|title=First Ever Inductees For Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame Includes Madusa, Luna Vachon, More|work=411Mania|first=Joseph|last=Lee|date=November 14, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122234600/https://411mania.com/wrestling/first-ever-inductees-for-womens-wrestling-hall-of-fame-includes-madusa-luna-vachon-more/|archive-date=November 22, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== <references />

==External links== * {{sports links|properties=-P1447}}

{{Olympic Champions freestyle wrestling flyweight women}} {{Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame}} {{World Champions freestyle wrestling women's flyweight}} {{European Champions freestyle wrestling women's flyweight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merleni, Iryna}} Category:1982 births Category:People from Kamianets-Podilskyi Category:Living people Category:Ukrainian female sport wrestlers Category:Olympic gold medalists for Ukraine Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Ukraine Category:Olympic wrestlers for Ukraine Category:Wrestlers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Wrestlers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Wrestlers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic medalists in wrestling Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:World Wrestling Championships medalists Category:Summer World University Games medalists in wrestling Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Ukraine Category:Medalists at the 2005 Summer Universiade Category:Sportspeople from Khmelnytskyi Oblast Category:21st-century Ukrainian sportswomen