Svetlana Sergeyeva

Svetlana Sergeeva (born 26 March 1986) in Kargopol, Arkhangelsk Oblast is a Paralympian athlete from Russia, competing mainly in category T37 throwing and sprint events. She competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China and the 2012 Games in London. At the London Games she won a track gold as part of the sprint relay and has also achieved success as an individual athlete at both World and European events.

Personal history Svetlana Sergeeva was born in 1986 in the town of Kargopol situated in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. She was born with cerebral palsy. Sergeeva matriculated to the Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture where she studied Physical Education.

Sporting career Sergeeva first became interested in sport after being inspired by her aunt, Svetlana Egorova, who was a physical education teacher. For her medal success at London, Sergeeva was awarded the Order of Friendship by President Vladimir Putin in September 2012.

In a disappointing 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, held in Lyon, Sergeeva entered just the one event, the 100m T37 where she failed to make the final. In the javelin she threw a distance of 24.01 to secure her first individual major international gold medal, beating teammate Irina Vertinskaya into silver medal position. In the relay Sergeeva and Goncharova were joined by Zhanna Fekolina and Anna Sapozhnikova to take gold and continue Russia's dominance in the event.