# Olga Kaniskina

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Russian race walker

Olga Kaniskina Kaniskina at Osaka 2007 Personal information Born (1985-01-19) January 19, 1985 (age 41) Napolnaya Tavla, Kochkurovsky District, Mordovian ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union Height 1.59 m (5 ft 2+1⁄2 in) Weight 43 kg (95 lb) Sport Country Russia Sport Women's athletics Event 20 km walk

**Olga Nikolayevna Kaniskina** ([Russian](/source/Russian_language): О́льга Никола́евна Кани́ськина; born January 19, 1985 in Napolnaya Tavla, [Kochkurovsky District](/source/Kochkurovsky_District), [Mordovian ASSR](/source/Mordovian_Autonomous_Soviet_Socialist_Republic), [Russian SFSR](/source/Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic), [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union)) is a Russian coach and former [race walker](/source/Race_walking). She won the [silver medal](/source/Silver_medal) in the [20 km walk](/source/20_km_walk) at the [2006 European Championships](/source/2006_European_Championships_in_Athletics), the [gold medal](/source/Gold_medal) at the [2007 World Championships](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics), and the gold medal at the [2008 Beijing Olympics](/source/2008_Beijing_Olympics). She also won the 20 km walk at the [2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup](/source/2008_IAAF_World_Race_Walking_Cup), setting a Championship record of 1:25:42. She was disqualified from several years of competition due to doping.

## Career

At the [2006 IAAF World Race Walking Cup](/source/2006_IAAF_World_Race_Walking_Cup) Kaniskina finished in fifth place and won her first major medal, a [silver](/source/Silver_medal), at the [2006 European Athletics Championships](/source/2006_European_Athletics_Championships) later that year. She won her first global title the following year, taking the gold in the women's 20 km walk at the [2007 World Championships in Athletics](/source/2007_World_Championships_in_Athletics), beating compatriot [Tatyana Shemyakina](/source/Tatyana_Shemyakina) to the finish.

The 2008 season saw Kaniskina break her first world record in the 20 km Walk at the Russian Championships. She lowered the mark set by her compatriot [Olimpiada Ivanova](/source/Olimpiada_Ivanova) in August 2005. However, IAAF rules dictate that 3 official judges must be present at the race for a world record to be ratified, making it unlikely that this record would be ratified, as there were not 3 judges present.[1] She went on to set the 20 km championship record at the [2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup](/source/2008_IAAF_World_Race_Walking_Cup) held in Russia, finishing with a time of 1:25:42.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she broke the standing Olympic record for the fastest 20 km walk. She walked 20 km in 1:26:31 to beat the silver medalist by 36 seconds.[2] The previous Olympic record was 1:29:05 set by [Wang Liping](/source/Wang_Liping_(racewalker)) in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

She continued her run of success by winning her second World gold medal at the [2009 World Championships in Athletics](/source/2009_World_Championships_in_Athletics), becoming the first woman to win the title consecutively.[3][4]

Kaniskina's first win of 2010 came at the Na Rynek Marsz! competition in [Kraków](/source/Krak%C3%B3w), Poland, where she beat [Melanie Seeger](/source/Melanie_Seeger) by two seconds.[5] She improved one position from her 2006 performance to top the podium at the [2010 European Athletics Championships](/source/2010_European_Athletics_Championships), claiming the women's 20 km title. Her 2011 started with a win on the [2011 World Challenge](/source/2011_IAAF_World_Race_Walking_Challenge) circuit in [Rio Maior](/source/Rio_Maior) in April.[6]

At the [20 km walk during the 2012 Summer Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_20_kilometres_walk) she was leading the walk from the start, but on the last kilometer was overtaken by [Elena Lashmanova](/source/Elena_Lashmanova) and won silver.[7]

### Disqualification

Kaniskina was part of a training group coached by [Viktor Chegin](/source/Viktor_Chegin). More than a dozen members of that group have been suspended for doping violations. She did not return to defend her world championship on home soil, similar to teammate [Sergey Bakulin](/source/Sergey_Bakulin). It was later revealed that Bakulin was serving a previously unannounced doping suspension, casting the suggestion that Kaniskina was doing the same.[7] On January 20, 2015 Kaniskina was disqualified for 3 years and 2 months starting from 15 October 2012, and all her results between 15 July 2009 and 16 September 2009, as well as between 30 July 2011 and 8 November 2011 (which included two world championship golds) were annulled.[8] The reason for the ban was anomalies in her [biological passport](/source/Biological_passport).

On March 25, 2015, the IAAF filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Lausanne, Switzerland, questioning the selective disqualification of the suspension periods of the six athletes involved, including the one for Kaniskina which had allowed her to keep her Olympic silver medal.[9]

Kaniskina received prize money of around $135,000 from the government at events from which she was later disqualified.[10]

## International competitions

[Russian president](/source/Russian_president) [Dmitry Medvedev](/source/Dmitry_Medvedev) awarding Olga Kaniskina in [Moscow Kremlin](/source/Moscow_Kremlin) in 2009.

Representing Russia Year Competition Venue Position Event Result Notes 2005 European U23 Championships Erfurt, Germany 2nd 20 km 1:33:33 2006 World Race Walking Cup A Coruña, Spain 5th 20 km 1:28:59 European Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 2nd 20 km 1:28:35 2007 European Race Walking Cup Leamington Spa, United Kingdom 2nd 20 km 1:28:13 World Championships Osaka, Japan 1st 20 km 1:30:09 2008 World Race Walking Cup Cheboksary, Russia 1st 20 km 1:25:42 CR Olympic Games Beijing, China 1st 20 km 1:26:31 OR 2009 World Championships Berlin, Germany DQ 20 km 1:28:09 Doping[11] 2010 European Championships Barcelona, Spain DQ 20 km 1:27:44 Doping[12] 2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea DQ 20 km 1:29:42 Doping[11] 2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom DQ 20 km 1:25:09 Doping[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Dolgopolov, Nickolai; Orlov, Rostislav (24 February 2008). ["Kaniskina speeds to 1:25:11"](https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kaniskina-speeds-to-12511). [IAAF](/source/International_Association_of_Athletics_Federations). Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Kaniskina beats rain to win walk"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7573726.stm). [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Powell, David (16 August 2009). ["Kaniskina follows in Borchin's footsteps"](https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kaniskina-follows-in-borchins-footsteps). IAAF. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Landells, Steve (16 August 2009). ["Event Report - Women's 20Km Race Walk - Final"](https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/event-report-womens-20km-race-walk-final). IAAF. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Kaniskina and Chu take 10Km wins in Krakow – IAAF Race Walking Challenge"](https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kaniskina-and-chu-take-10km-wins-in-krakow-). IAAF. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Fernandes, António Manuel (9 April 2011). ["Borchin and Kaniskina on cruise control in Rio Maior – IAAF Race Walking Challenge"](https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/borchin-and-kaniskina-on-cruise-control-in-ri). IAAF. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dunfeewalks.weebly.com_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dunfeewalks.weebly.com_7-1) ["The Beginning of the End for Saransk and Russia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150909022557/http://dunfeewalks.weebly.com/canadian-tf-blog/the-beginning-of-the-end-for-saransk-and-russia). Archived from [the original](http://dunfeewalks.weebly.com/canadian-tf-blog/the-beginning-of-the-end-for-saransk-and-Russia) on 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2019-10-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Информация о дисквалификации: легкая атлетика"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150120155510/http://www.rusada.ru/press/news/informatsiya-o-diskvalifikatsii-legkaya-atletika-39) (in Russian). Russian Anti-Doping Agency. 20 January 2015. Archived from [the original](http://www.rusada.ru/press/news/informatsiya-o-diskvalifikatsii-legkaya-atletika-39) on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["IAAF appeals six decisions recently made by RUSADA"](http://www.iaaf.org/news/iaaf-news/russian-doping-appeal-rusada). IAAF. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AP161201_10-0)** Ellingworth, James (1 December 2016). ["Clean athletes still waiting for prize money from dopers"](https://apnews.com/72e72a45ed3f47fca647664560ecb692/Clean-athletes-still-waiting-for-prize-money-from-dopers). *[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press)*. Retrieved 13 October 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-exam_01_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-exam_01_11-1) [*Olive Loughnane set to enjoy belated golden moment after Olga Kaniskina ban*](http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/olive-loughnane-set-to-enjoy-belated-golden-moment-after-olga-kaniskina-ban-308136.html), [Irish Examiner](/source/Irish_Examiner), 21 January 2015, retrieved 29 May 2015

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-exam02_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-exam02_12-1) ["The court of arbitration for sport (CAS) upholds six appeals filed by the IAAF against Russian athletes"](http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_announce_decision.pdf) (PDF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160327051046/http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_announce_decision.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2017-05-24.

## External links

- [Olga Kaniskina](https://worldathletics.org/athletes/-/14298014) at [World Athletics](/source/World_Athletics)

v t e Olympic champions in women's racewalking 10 km 1992: Chen Yueling (CHN) 1996: Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) 20 km 2000: Wang Liping (CHN) 2004: Athanasia Tsoumeleka (GRE) 2008: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2012: Qieyang Shijie (CHN) 2016: Liu Hong (CHN) 2020: Antonella Palmisano (ITA) 2024: Yang Jiayu (CHN)

v t e World champions in women's racewalking 1987–1997 10 kilometres 1987: Irina Strakhova (URS) 1991: Alina Ivanova (URS) 1993: Sari Essayah (FIN) 1995: Irina Stankina (RUS) 1997: Annarita Sidoti (ITA) 1999–present 20 kilometres 1999: Liu Hongyu (CHN) 2001: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2003: Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) 2005: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2007: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2009: Olive Loughnane (IRL) 2011: Liu Hong (CHN) 2013: Liu Hong (CHN) 2015: Liu Hong (CHN) 2017: Yang Jiayu (CHN) 2019: Liu Hong (CHN) 2022: Kimberly García (PER) 2023: María Pérez (ESP) 2025: María Pérez (ESP) 2017–2019 50 kilometres 2017: Inês Henriques (POR) 2019: Liang Rui (CHN) 2022-present 35 kilometres 2022: Kimberly García (PER) 2023: María Pérez (ESP) 2025: María Pérez (ESP)

v t e European Athletics Championships champions in women's racewalking 1986–1998 10 kilometres race walk 1986: Mari Cruz Díaz (ESP) 1990: Annarita Sidoti (ITA) 1994: Sari Essayah (FIN) 1998: Annarita Sidoti (ITA) 2002–present 20 kilometres race walk 2002: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2006: Ryta Turava (BLR) 2010: Anisya Kirdyapkina (RUS) 2014: Elmira Alembekova (RUS) 2018: María Pérez (ESP) 2022: Antigoni Drisbioti (GRE) 2024: Antonella Palmisano (ITA) 2018 50 kilometres race walk 2018: Inês Henriques (POR) 2022–present 35 kilometres race walk 2022: Antigoni Drisbioti (GRE)

v t e IAAF Women's World Race Walking Cup Champions 5 kilometres 1975†: Margareta Simu (SWE) 1977†: Siv Gustavsson (SWE) 1979: Marion Fawkes (GBR) 1981: Siv Gustavsson (SWE) 10 kilometres 1983: Xu Yongjiu (CHN) 1985: Yan Hong (CHN) 1987: Olga Krishtop (URS) 1989: Beate Gummelt (GDR) 1991: Irina Strakhova (URS) 1993: Wang Yan (CHN) 1995: Gao Hongmiao (CHN) 1997: Irina Stankina (RUS) 20 kilometres 1999: Liu Hongyu (CHN) 2002: Erica Alfridi (ITA) 2004: Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) 2006: Ryta Turava (BLR) 2008: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2010: María Vasco (ESP) 2012: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2014: Anisya Kirdyapkina (RUS) 2016: Maria Guadalupe González (MEX) 2018: Maria Guadalupe González (MEX) 50 kilometres 2018: Liang Rui (CHN) † 1973 and 1975 were invitational, non-cup events

v t e Russian Athletics Championships women's racewalking champions 10 km walk 1993–94: Yelena Arshintseva 1995: Larisa Ramazanova 1996: Yelena Nikolayeva 1997: Nadezhda Ryashkina 1998: Olga Panfyorova 20 km walk 1999: Irina Stankina 2000: Tatyana Gudkova 2001–02: Yelena Nikolayeva 2003: Tatyana Gudkova 2004: Olimpiada Ivanova 2005: Tatyana Gudkova 2006: Olga Kaniskina 2007: Irina Stankina 2008: Tatyana Kalmykova 2009: Olga Kaniskina 2010: Anisya Kirdyapkina 2011: Tatyana Mineyeva 2012: Vera Sokolova 2013: Elena Lashmanova 2014: Vera Sokolova 2015: Anisya Kirdyapkina 2016: Olga Kaniskina 2017–19: Elena Lashmanova 50 km walk 2018–19: Klavdiya Afanasyeva

v t e World Best Year Performance in women's race walking 10 km walk 1983: Xu Yongjiu (CHN) 1984: Olga Krishtop (URS) 1985: Yan Hong (CHN) 1986: Yelena Kuznetsova (URS) 1987: Kerry Saxby (AUS) 1988: Kerry Saxby (AUS) 1989: Alina Ivanova (URS) 1990: Kerry Saxby (AUS) 1991: Alina Ivanova (URS) 1992: Ileana Salvador (ITA) 1993: Li Chunxiu (CHN) 1994: Gao Hongmiao (CHN) 1995: Larisa Ramazanova (RUS) 1996: Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) 1997: Irina Stankina (RUS) 1998: Olga Panfyorova (RUS) 20 km walk 1987: Kerry Saxby (AUS) 1988: Kerry Saxby (AUS) 1989: Olga Kardopoltseva (URS) 1990: Olga Kardopoltseva (URS) 1991: Marina Smyslova (URS) 1992: Tamara Romanova (EUN) 1993: Ileana Salvador (ITA) 1994: Yelena Gruzinova (RUS) 1995: Liu Hongyu (CHN) 1996: Feng Haixia (CHN) 1997: Erica Alfridi (ITA) 1998: Tatyana Sibileva (RUS) 1999: Nadezhda Ryashkina (RUS) 2000: Tatyana Gudkova (RUS) 2001: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2002: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2003: Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) 2004: Song Hongjuan (CHN) 2005: Olimpiada Ivanova (RUS) 2006: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2007: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2008: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2009: Olga Kaniskina (RUS) 2010: Anisya Kirdyapkina (RUS) 2011: Vera Sokolova (RUS) 2012: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2013: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2014: Anisya Kirdyapkina (RUS) 2015: Liu Hong (CHN) 2016: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2017: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2018: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2019: Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 2020: Elvira Khasanova (RUS) 2021: Yang Jiayu (CHN) 2022: Elvira Khasanova (RUS)

Authority control databases: People World Athletics

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Olga Kaniskina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Kaniskina) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Kaniskina?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.