Inna Zhukova

Inna Zhukova (Belarusian: Іна Іванаўна Жукава; Russian: Инна Ивановна Жукова: Inna Ivanovna Zhukova, born on September 6, 1986, in Krasnodar, Soviet Union) is a Belarusian individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2008 Olympics individual all-around silver medalist and 2006 Grand Prix Final all-around bronze medalist.

Inna Zhukova
Inna Zhukova winning silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Inna Ivanovna Zhukova
Born	(1986-09-06) September 6, 1986 (age 38) Krasnodar, Soviet Union
Hometown	Minsk
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	44 kg (97 lb)
Gymnastics career
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Country represented	Belarus
Head coach(es)	Irina Leparskaya
Assistant coach(es)	Natalia Shmakova
Choreographer	Halina Ryzhankova
Eponymous skills	Zhukova: Turning "Cossack" jump with straight leg to the side high up, foot higher than head with help of the opposite hand
Medal record Rhythmic gymnastics Representing  Belarus Olympic Games 2008 Beijing All-around World Championships 2001 Madrid Team 2007 Patras Team 2003 Budapest Ball 2003 Budapest Team 2005 Baku Ball 2005 Baku Team 2007 Patras Rope European Championships 2003 Riesa Ribbon 2003 Riesa Ball 2004 Kyiv Team 2005 Moscow Ball 2005 Moscow Ribbon 2005 Moscow Team European Team Championships 2003 Moscow Team World Cup Final 2006 Mie Ball 2004 Moscow Ball Grand Prix Final 2004 Deventer Ball 2006 Berlin Rope 2006 Berlin Clubs 2006 Berlin Ribbon 2002 Innsbruck Rope 2003 Innsbruck Ball 2004 Deventer Clubs 2005 Berlin Clubs 2005 Berlin Ball 2006 Berlin All-around Summer Universiade 2005 Izmir Rope 2007 Bangkok Hoop

Competitive career

Early Career

Zhukova started rhythmic gymnastics in 1990 at age 4. She began gymnastics because her older sister was a gymnast and she became interested as well.^[1] Originally, she trained in Russia, but she was invited to train in Belarus with coach Irina Leparskaya, who has trained many prominent gymnasts.

Zhukova made her international debut in 2001.

Zhukova at the 2003 European Championships, performing her eponymous jump

Athens Olympics

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, she came 7th in the All-Around competition with a total score of 100.575 (Hoop 25.00, Ball 25.300, Clubs 25.200, Ribbon 25.075).

Post-Athens

At the 2007 World Championships in Patras, Greece, Zhukova placed 4th in the all-around and won the bronze medal in the rope finals. Belarus finished second in the team competition, so Zhukova and her teammates were awarded team silver.^[2]

Beijing Olympics

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zhukova placed fourth in qualifications with a score of 70.950.^[3] She advanced to the finals and won the all-around silver medal with a score of 71.925.^[4]

Post-Beijing: Retirement

After the Beijing 2008 Olympics, she decided to finish her active competitive career. However, she continued to give occasional gala exhibitions (e.g. at LA Lights in Feb, 2009).

Post-gymnastics career

Zhukova began working as a coach after her retirement. In 2014, she was coaching the Belarusian junior team with her former teammate Liubov Charkashyna.^[5]

In 2020, she signed an open letter from Belarusian athletes supporting the government during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests.^[6]

Eponymous skill

Zhukova has one eponymous skill listed in the code of points, a turning jump.^[7]

Name	Description	Difficulty[a]
Zhukova	Turning "Cossack" jump with straight leg to the side high up, foot higher than head, with help of the opposite hand.	0.4

1. Valid for the 2022-2024 Code of Points

Routine music information

Year	Apparatus	Music title [8]
2008	Hoop	Porto by Dulce Pontes
	Rope	Tanguera by Sexteto Mayor
	Clubs (second)	Valenki music from Terem by The Terem Quartet
	Clubs (first)	Kolibre by Maksim
	Ribbon	Fragrant branch of white acacia (Russian Romance)
2007	Hoop	Son uvidenny vo sne by Igor Krutoy
	Rope	Tanguera by Sexteto Mayor
	Clubs	Tension music from Le Rêve by Benoît Jutras
	Ribbon	Tango in Ebony music from Electrik by Maksim Mrvica
2006	Ball	Ya skuchayu po tebq, dazhe kogda splyu (I miss you even when I sleep) by Igor Krutoy
	Rope	That's Right! by Jesse Cook
	Clubs	Tension music from Le Rêve by Benoît Jutras
	Ribbon	Lyrica by Todes
2005	Ball	Ya skuchayu po tebq, dazhe kogda splyu (I miss you even when I sleep) by Igor Krutoy
	Rope	That's Right! by Jesse Cook
	Clubs	Mirko music from Alegria: Cirque du Soleil by Rene Dupere
	Ribbon	Icare music from Alegria by Cirque du Soleil
2004	Hoop	Zorba's Dance by LCD (originally Mikis Theodorakis)
	Ball	Green Hornet music from Kill Bill by Al Hirt
	Clubs	Hu Ha by Montefiori Cocktail
	Ribbon	Queens music from Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba by Benoît Jutras
2003	Hoop	Zorba's Dance by LCD (originally Mikis Theodorakis)
	Ball	Nocturne by Chopin
	Clubs	A Gusta by Safri Duo
	Ribbon	Queens music from Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba by Benoît Jutras
2002	Hoop	Caravan by Anatoly Vekshin
	Rope	Tarantella by Anatoly Vekshin
	Clubs	Rumba by Anatoly Vekshin
	Ball	Rouans by Anatoly Vekshin
2001	Hoop	Caravan by Anatoly Vekshin
	Rope	Tarantella by Anatoly Vekshin
	Clubs	Rumba by Anatoly Vekshin
	Ball	Rouans by Anatoly Vekshin

Detailed Olympic results

Year	Competition Description	Location	Music	Apparatus	Rank	Score-Final	Rank	Score-Qualifying
2008	Olympics	Beijing		All-around	2nd	71.925	4th	70.950
			Fragrant branch of white acacia	Ribbon	4th	17.825	4th	17.425
			Tanguera by Sexteto Mayor	Rope	3rd	18.125	4th	17.850
			Porto by Dulce Pontes	Hoop	3rd	18.125	4th	18.375
			The Terem Quartet	Clubs	3rd	17.850	4th	17.300

Year	Competition Description	Location	Music	Apparatus	Rank	Score-Final	Rank	Score-Qualifying
2004	Olympics	Athens		All-around	7th	100.575	8th	98.575
			Queens from Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba	Ribbon	6th	25.075	6th	24.700
			Green Hornet music from Kill Bill by Al Hirt	Ball	7th	25.300	12th	24.200
			Zorba's Dance by LCD (originally Mikis Theodorakis)	Hoop	8th	25.000	10th	24.575
			Hu Ha by Montefiori Cocktail	Clubs	7th	25.200	6th	25.100

References

1. "«Нужно очень много трудиться». Инна Жукова о своём пути в большом спорте и о художественной гимнастике в Беларуси" ["We need to work a lot." Inna Zhukova about her way in big sport and about rhythmic gymnastics in Belarus]. Capital TV (in Russian). 12 January 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020.
2. "ZHUKOVA Inna". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
3. "Inna Zhukova - Olympics Athletes - 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China - ESPN". espndeportes.espn.com. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
4. "Inna ZHUKOVA - Olympic Gymnastics Rhythmic | Belarus". International Olympic Committee. 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
5. "Q and A with...Liubou Charkashyna, FIG Athlete Representative for Rhythmic Gymnastics". www.gymnastics.sport. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
6. "Signatures" [Signatures]. athletes.by (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 April 2021.
7. "2022–2024 Code of Points Rhythmic Gymnastics" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
8. "Zhukova RG music list". rgforum.

External links

• Inna Zhukova at the International Gymnastics Federation
• Inna Zhukova on Instagram