Arina Okamanchuk (born 8 May 2002) is an Estonian rhythmic gymnast.[1] She won bronze with 5 balls at the 2020 European Championships.

Arina Okamanchuk
Country represented Estonia
Born (2002-05-08) 8 May 2002 (age 21)
Tallinn, Estonia
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
LevelInternational Elite
Years on national team2019-
ClubSK Nord
Head coach(es)Natalja Bestsastnaja, Irina Stadnik
Medal record
Representing  Estonia
Rhythmic gymnastics
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Grand Prix Series 0 1 3
European Championships 0 0 1
Total 0 1 4
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Kyiv 5 Balls

Personal life edit

She took up rhythmic gymnastics in 2006 because her mother is a gymnastics' coach.[2] Arina speaks Estonian, English and Russian.[1] Her ambition is to compete at the Olympic Games like her idols Dina and Arina Averina.[3] She stated that "the biggest challenge in gymnastics is overcoming yourself". Outside the gym her hobbies are walking by the sea and reading.[3] She and swimmer Eneli Jefimova received the 2020 Pride of Sport of Sillamae award in Estonia.[1]

Career edit

Okamanchuk integrated the Estonian national group in 2019, taking part in the World Championships in Baku where the group finished 19th in the All-Around and with 5 balls and 18th with 3 hoops + 4 clubs.[4]

In 2020 the season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic but she competed at the 2020 European Championships in Kyiv, where her and her teammates Laurabell Kabrits, Evelin Naptal, Carmely Reiska and Alina Vesselova made history by winning Estonia's first European medal: bronze in the 5 balls final, behind Ukraine and Israel.[5][6]

In 2021 Arina took part in the World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Estonian group made of Arina, Laurabell Kabrits, Evelin Naptal, Carmely Reiska, Alina Vesselova finished 13th in the All-Around and both the routines.[7][8]

She was selected for the 2022 European Championships in Tel Aviv, the group finished 15th in the All-Around, 18th with 5 hoops and 9th with 3 ribbons + 2 balls.[9] In September she participated in the World Championships in Sofia, where she along with teammates Adelina Beljajeva, Mirtel Korbelainen, Kiara Oja, Evelin Naptal, Alina Vesselova was 20th in the All-Around, 15th with 5 hoops and 18th with 3 ribbons + 2 balls.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "OKAMANCHUK Arina - FIG Athlete Profile". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  2. ^ "Eesti iluvõimlejad muudavad võimlemisega maailma ja unistavad olümpiast – Ajakiri SPORT". Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  3. ^ a b "Koondised – Eesti Võimlemisliit/Estonian Gymnastics Federation" (in Estonian). Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  4. ^ "2019 World Championships" (PDF). usagym. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  5. ^ "2020 European Championships 5 balls" (PDF). europeangymnastics.
  6. ^ "Eesti rühmkava koondis võitis iluvõimlemise EM-il pronksmedali – Eesti Võimlemisliit/Estonian Gymnastics Federation" (in Estonian). Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  7. ^ "2021 World Championships" (PDF). longinestiming.
  8. ^ "2021 World Championships finals" (PDF). usagym. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  9. ^ "2022 European Championships" (PDF). europeangymnastics.
  10. ^ "2022 World Championships" (PDF). longinestiming.