Iuliia Batenkova

Iuliia Batenkova-Bauman (also spelled Yuliia, Yuliya, Yulia, or Julia; born 20 September 1983) is a Ukrainian Nordic skier who competes in cross-country skiing and biathlon. She has competed in three successive Winter Paralympics, where she has won 13 silver and bronze medals.

Career Batenkova was born on 20 September 1983, in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. As a child, she took part in artistic gymnastics. At the age of 8, she was in a road traffic accident where her mother and brother died, and Batenkova lost her right hand. Because of the injury, she gave up gymnastics. Together with her father, she moved to Kovel, where he remarried. Batenkova graduated from school with a qualification in accounting, and during her studies she was introduced to the Foundation for Supporting Sports for the Handicapped. She took part in track and field events at first, but seeking to go to the Paralympic Games, she switched to winter sports due to heavy competition for spots in the summer events. She studied at the Open International University of Human Development "Ukraine".

Batenkova has competed at three successive Winter Paralympics, first at Turin 2006, and also in 2010 and 2014. She has won medals at each games in both Cross-country skiing and biathlon.