Serhiy Oleksandrovych Semenov (Ukrainian: Сергій Олександрович Семенов; born 28 July 1988 in Chernihiv, Ukrainian SSR) is a Ukrainian biathlete. He is first Ukrainian male biathlete to win a World Cup title in a single discipline, having become World Cup champion in the individual in the 2014–15 season. He is two-time World Championships medalist.

Serhiy Semenov
Full nameSerhiy Oleksandrovych Semenov
Born (1988-07-28) 28 July 1988 (age 35)
Chernihiv, Ukrainian SSR
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Ski clubUkraina
World Cup career
Seasons2009–
Podiums5 (incl. 1 at World Champ.)
Medal record
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Khanty-Mansiysk Relay
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Oslo Sprint
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Bansko Individual
Gold medal – first place 2015 Otepää Relay
Silver medal – second place 2012 Osorblie Pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2015 Otepää Individual
Junior European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 Ufa Individual
Winter Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2011 Erzurum Pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2011 Erzurum Mixed relay
Silver medal – second place 2011 Erzurum Sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Harbin Individual

Career edit

His first international competition was 2005 Junior Worlds but he participated only in individual race where he was 38th. He missed next season returning in 2007. In Martell he had much better achievements than previously. Next two years he mainly participated in junior competitions and only once in IBU Cup. The most successful competition in his early career was 2009 European championships in Ufa, Russia, where he won silver in individual race and was 4th in sprint and pursuit.

He debuted in World Cup in 2009-10 season. On December 17, 2009, he was just 50th in individual in Pokljuka, Slovenia. After few days he finished 19th in sprint and 21st in pursuit. He also took part in two sprints in Oberhof (16th) and Antholz-Anterselva (13th). Due to such good results he got a place in national team for 2010 Winter Olympics. At those Games his best result was 33rd in sprint. He didn't manage to get a place in relay team.

2010–11 season was marked with mixed relay podium in Pokljuka and World Championships. The first ever World Championships medal was won at 2011 Worlds in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, when Ukrainian men's rely team (Semenov together with Deryzemlya, Sednev and Bilanenko) unexpectedly won bronze. It was also Serhiy's debut at these competitions. At 2011 Winter Universiade he won two gold and one silver medal. Semenov also won a silver medal at 2012, one gold at 2013 and two silver medals at 2015 European championships.

On March 7, 2013, he had his first World Cup podium in individual in Sochi, Russia. In 2014 together with Valj Semerenko he won World Team Challenge. They became second Ukrainian pair to win these competitions after Andriy Deryzemlya and Oksana Khvostenko won in 2008.

Semenov participated at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. His best personal finish was 9th in individual race.

In 2014–15 season he won Small World Cup in individual races. That season he was 2nd in Östersund, 3rd in Holmenkollen and 5th at Worlds in Kontiolahti. His shooting statistics in individual races was 96,7% (58/60). Semenov later stated in a TV-interview that individual isn't his favourite discipline but still he shows the best results in individual races. That season he also had one mixed relay podium.

Serhiy won bronze medal in sprint at 2016 World Championships.

He qualified to represent Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[1] Due to poor physical conditions and illnesses he didn't show good results being just 46th in sprint.

Career results edit

Winter Olympics edit

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay
  2010 Vancouver 52 33 39
  2014 Sochi 9 41 39 9 7
  2018 Pyeongchang 53 46 49 9

World Championships edit

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Relay Mixed relay
  2011 Khanty-Mansiysk 20 28 15 22 3 8
  2012 Ruhpolding 60 22 49 8 14
  2013 Nové Město 41 45 14
  2015 Kontiolahti 5 26 11 27 9 11
  2016 Oslo Holmenkollen 55 3 8 8 16 4
  2017 Hochfilzen 5 41 15 27 6 5
  2019 Östersund 69th 12th
  2020 Rasen-Antholz 31st 42nd 41st 12th

World Cup edit

Individual podiums edit

Season Place Competition Rank
2012–13   Sochi, Russia Individual 3
2014–15   Östersund, Sweden Individual 2
  Holmenkollen, Norway Individual 3
2016–17   Antholz-Anterselva, Italy Individual 3

Relay podiums edit

Season Place Competition Rank
2010–11   Pokljuka, Slovenia Mixed relay 2
2013–14   Östersund, Sweden Mixed relay 3
2014–15   Nové Město, Czech Republic Mixed relay 3
2016–17   Kontiolahti, Finland Mixed relay 3

Rankings edit

Season Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Total
2009–10 30 48 47
2010–11 39 26 43 36 35
2011–12 37 36 41 42
2012–13 19 39 43 42
2013–14 10 22 36 18 23
2014–15 1 34 24 45 26
2015–16 31 16 19 28 21
2016–17 7 22 32 20 23

References edit

  1. ^ "Ukrainian squad for the 2018 Winter Olympics". Ukrainian Biathlon Federation. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

External links edit