Anna Bessonova (Анна Бесонова in Russian), was born in Kiev on 29th July 1984, the daughter of famous Dynamo Kiev football player, Vladimir Bessonov, and former two time world champion group rhythmic gymnast, Viktoria Bessonova. Anna is the number one rhythmic gymnast in Ukraine. Anna follows in the line of great Ukrainin rhythmic gymnasts: Irina Deriugina (World champion in 1977 and 1979), who is now coaching Anna together with her mother Albina Deriugina; The 1992 Olympic champion Alexandra Timoshenko, Anna's idol; The 1996 Olympic Champion Ekaterina Serebrianskaya; The 1997 World and European champion Elena Vitrichenko, and numerous other World class gymnasts. In the summer 2002, Anna won her first World gold medal as a member of the Ukrainian Group, in New Orleans, with her ribbon routine. Later the same year, she won first place on the Hoop, the Rope and the Clubs, in Stuttgart. by winning the first place on the Hoop, the Rope and the Clubs. Anna finished overall 3rd at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a total of 106.700 (Ribbon 26.725, Clubs 26.950, Ball 26.525, Hoop 26.500). Anna is now among the top rhythmic gymnasts in the world along side the Russian champions. In the 28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, held in Patras 2007, Anna won gold in the all round competition.At the European's 2008,in Turin,Anna took the silver medal. Anna finished 3rd at the 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing,China 2008).
Name
Anna Vladimirova Bessonova.
Anna Vladimirova Bessonova.
Born
July 29 1984, Kiev.
July 29 1984, Kiev.
Height
173cm
173cm
Weight
48kg
48kg
Club
Deriugins School, Kiev.
Deriugins School, Kiev.
Coaches
Albina Deriugina, Irina Deriugina.
Albina Deriugina, Irina Deriugina.
Started Gymnastics
1989 (age 5).
First International Competition
1994 (age 10).
1989 (age 5).
First International Competition
1994 (age 10).
Favorite subjects at school
Mathematics, Russian, English.
Mathematics, Russian, English.
Childhood ambitions
Anna always dreamt of becoming a great gymnast.
Anna always dreamt of becoming a great gymnast.
Future ambitions
Work on TV, show business, and of course to help the next generation of gymnasts.
Work on TV, show business, and of course to help the next generation of gymnasts.
Greatest achievements
4 times World champion, 3 times European champion, 5 times junior World champion, many times Grand Prix champion, many times Ukrainan champion.
4 times World champion, 3 times European champion, 5 times junior World champion, many times Grand Prix champion, many times Ukrainan champion.
Sports idol
Aleksandra Timoshenko - 1992 Olympic Champion, 1988 European Champion, also from Ukraine.
Aleksandra Timoshenko - 1992 Olympic Champion, 1988 European Champion, also from Ukraine.
Spare time
Anna likes listening to music, reading books, going out with friends, going out shopping and going to the movies.
Anna likes listening to music, reading books, going out with friends, going out shopping and going to the movies.
Favorite books
Energetic lively books, especially novels.
Energetic lively books, especially novels.
Favorite films
She has many favorite films, but doesn't like science fiction.
She has many favorite films, but doesn't like science fiction.
Favorite music
All kinds, mainly RnB.
All kinds, mainly RnB.
Other sports she has done
Anna has not participated in any other sports, and has remained true to gymnastics all her life.
Sports she likes to watch
Figure Skating
How her friends would describe her
A good and considerate person, who's always ready to help, a good friend, and a strong person.
Anna has not participated in any other sports, and has remained true to gymnastics all her life.
Sports she likes to watch
Figure Skating
How her friends would describe her
A good and considerate person, who's always ready to help, a good friend, and a strong person.
Mother
Viktoria Bessonova, former rhythmic gymnastics champion and coach.
Viktoria Bessonova, former rhythmic gymnastics champion and coach.
Father
Vladimir Bessonov, football player.
Vladimir Bessonov, football player.
Brother
Alexander Bessonov (24), plays some tennis and runs his own business.
Alexander Bessonov (24), plays some tennis and runs his own business.
The hardest part of gymnastics
The psychological gymnastics training.
The psychological gymnastics training.
Typical breakfast/lunch
Friuts, vegetables, any dairy products.
Typical dinner
Salads, sometimes meat.
Friuts, vegetables, any dairy products.
Typical dinner
Salads, sometimes meat.
Typical day
Anna's day starts at 8:00 with a dance lesson. At 10:00 she begins training, until 13:00 or 14:00 when she has lunch. At 16:00 she begins the second half of her training for the day and finishes between 18:00 and 20:00.
Weekly training
35-40 hours.
If you had more time
"I can't imagine life without movement, I would always try to be active, be it through dance, gymnastics, or something of the sort."
Anna's day starts at 8:00 with a dance lesson. At 10:00 she begins training, until 13:00 or 14:00 when she has lunch. At 16:00 she begins the second half of her training for the day and finishes between 18:00 and 20:00.
Weekly training
35-40 hours.
If you had more time
"I can't imagine life without movement, I would always try to be active, be it through dance, gymnastics, or something of the sort."