The famous Belarusian athlete Yulia Nesterenko (athletics - her vocation) was born on June 15, 1979. One of her main achievements was the victory at the 2004 Olympics, held in Athens. In the race to a distance of 100 meters, Julia came first and received a well-deserved gold medal.
Julia Nesterenko: biography, childhood
The athlete’s homeland is located in the city of Brest, located in the south-west of Belarus. The maiden name is Bartsevich. While still at school, Julia was distinguished from others by high performance in running. Physiruk Sergey Salyamanovich immediately drew attention to her. Already in the seventh grade, Julia showed results that were worthy of the program of the candidate for master of sports. Successfully she was given not only running, but also high jumps and swimming. At any school competition, everyone wanted to be in the team with her, as they were sure that she would definitely bring them victory.
SDUSHOR and RUOR
To better reveal her outstanding abilities, Yulia Nesterenko was transferred to the specialized sports school SDUSHOR. After that, the girl received an invitation to enroll in the Minsk school, where they prepare future Olympic athletes of the reserve - RUOR.
In 1992, unexpectedly for all, misfortune came to the family - Julia's father died. At full support of the mother, two children remained. Therefore, as Julia later explains, she went to the RUOR. The girl believed that this could make her mother's life much easier.
In the RUOR, Victoria Semenovna Bozhedarova immediately identified Yulia in the heptathlon, however, she did not have much success here, although she embarked on all tasks with special diligence and hard work. But the athlete is sure that such diverse training did her a great service and allowed her to temper her spirit, which would later help her confidently go to victory.
Adolescence
After graduating from Olympic training, Julia decided to return to her homeland. This trip became fateful for her. On the train, she met a young man who shared her passion for sports. After returning home, the future champion entered the University of Brest at the Faculty of Physical Education.
The guy she met on the train, Dmitry, could not forget about the girl who immediately impressed him. Therefore, he decided not to delay the first date, and soon invited her to go fishing. After he invited her to deal with her coach, Viktor Yaroshevich.
All the time, while Julia graduated at the University of Brest, Dmitry was nearby. He later admitted that he fell in love with Julia during their first meeting, on the train.
Some time passed, and the couple in love decided that it was time to officially register as a family. The wedding was played on September 6, 2002. Two years later, Julia confessed that she had a desire to leave everything that she had been going for so long and to leave the sport. She wanted to devote her whole life to loved ones, to create a family hearth and find an outstanding, ordinary profession.
But the athlete changed her mind in time, she felt sorry for the years spent and great efforts in training. Julia took courage and decided to come to her coach - Viktor Grigorievich Yaroshevich. She asked to increase the load, as she felt within herself the strength and ability to do more and better.
Viktor Yaroshevich never forgot that his wards are women, and, therefore, after leaving athletes, they still need to take care of their families and raise their children. But Julia was not inferior, she demanded to use new techniques for preparing for important competitions. After long disputes, Victor Grigoryevich went to meet the young ambitious athlete and gave her the opportunity to train at distances of which she preferred - 100 and 200 meters. Before participating in the 2004 World Cup, Julia began training separately, in the indoor sports facilities of Budapest.
Achievements of Julia Nesterenko
At the World Cup, despite a strong fever and a cold, at a distance of 60 meters she received bronze with an excellent result of 7.13 seconds. Only experienced champions - Gail Divers and Kim Guevar could overtake her by a small margin. This victory had a good impact on the further development of Julia, she finally was able to believe in herself.
Nesterenko Julia Viktorovna began to receive more and more achievements and awards. After success at the World Cup, Julia set a Belarus record in the 100 meter race. It was held in Greece. The record time was 11.02 seconds. After that, she won in the British city of Gateshead, where the Super Grand Prix was held. Despite the strong headwind, she showed an excellent result - 11.32 seconds. Then, again with a victory, she overcame the IAAF Golden League stage, which took place in Rome. And just a month before the Olympics, Julia once again won in Greece (11.06 seconds).
Victory at the Olympics
Only the closest people believed in Julia’s victory, because the other participants had great experience in such competitions. About the Belarusian athlete, then, it was not even particularly known. Although her victories lifted her to fourth place in the top list of the world, she seemed to be unable to surpass Ivet Lalova, Marion Jones, Catherine Tanu. But that year, many top athletes were caught in doping scandals and were unable to take part in competitions.
Even in the first race, Julia shocked everyone with her result - 10.94 seconds (ahead of the track and field legend Marilyn Otti by 0.2 seconds). In the quarterfinals, Julia came to the finish line with the same great success (10.99 seconds). In the semifinals, she set a new national record, breaking the distance in 10.92 seconds (ahead of Jamaican athlete Veronica Campbell).
In the final, Julia did not start with such success as her rivals - Williams, Lalovaya and Campbell. But before the finish she made a great effort and overtook all three, putting the result in 10.93 seconds.
Accidents in this situation cannot be for sure. Four times, Julia was able to prove her right to win, each time overcoming the milestone of 11 seconds.
According to Julia, before the final, she was absolutely not worried about excitement, and instead of the last trainings, she went to rest, and not waste her energy, as the Americans did.
Achievements after the Olympics
At the end of the Olympics, the heroine of our article did not cease to please her compatriots with victories at famous sports tournaments.
In 2005, Julia Nesterenko, taking part in the relay 4 × 100 meters, won third place at the World Championships, held in Finland.
In 2012, the athlete received a serious foot injury, which was why she could not take part in the London Olympics.
Now Julia is a member of the national team of Belarus. She does not intend to part with the sport, and in 2016 she is going to speak from her country at the next Olympic Games, which will be held in Rio.
Personal life
Julia Nesterenko never liked to talk about her personal life. Journalists only know that in a marriage with Dmitry Nesterenko (concurrently her coach) he lives very happily.
Also, Julia never hid her deepest gratitude to her mother. In any situation, she always supported her daughter and never stopped believing in her, even when the eminent athlete herself lost faith in her strength.
Nesterenko is actively involved in charity and social activities, collects cat figurines and loves to travel to holy places.
