Born: 1982 (Belarus)
Biography:
Aksana Miankova, also known as Oksana Menkova, was born on March 28, 1982, in Belarus. She is a Belarusian hammer thrower and is regarded as one of the best in her field. With a personal best of 78.69 meters, she ranks as the third best woman of all time in hammer throw.
Miankova discovered her passion for the hammer throw in her late teens. At that time, women’s hammer competitions were still in their developmental stages, but she quickly made her mark by winning several regional competitions. Her talent and dedication stood out, and she soon had the opportunity to compete in high-level international events.
In 2002, Miankova participated in the qualifying rounds of the European Athletics Championships. Although she didn’t advance further, it was a valuable experience that helped shape her career. The following year, she won a silver medal at the European Athletics U23 Championships, establishing herself as a promising young athlete.
Her breakthrough moment came in 2003 when she represented Belarus at the World Championships in Athletics. Despite her health issues during the winter months, which affected her training, Miankova showcased her potential and laid the foundation for her future success.
In 2005, Miankova finished fifth at the Summer Universiade, an international multi-sport event for university athletes. She also competed in the 2007 World Championships but failed to reach the final. Despite these setbacks, she remained determined and focused on achieving greater heights in her career.
The pinnacle of Miankova’s career came in 2008 when she won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. With a throw of 76.34 meters, she not only secured the Olympic gold but also set a new Olympic record. This achievement solidified her status as one of the best hammer throwers in the world.
However, in 2016, Miankova’s success was tarnished when her drug sample from the Beijing Olympics tested positive during a re-analysis. As a result, she was stripped of her Olympic medal and disqualified from both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Additionally, her results were struck from the record books due to the doping violation.
Despite this setback, Miankova continued to persevere. In 2010, she took a break from the sport to give birth to her daughter, Arina Menkova. Determined to return to top form, she made a comeback in 2011, vowing to regain her previous level of performance.
Miankova’s dedication paid off when she achieved a personal best throw of 78.19 meters in April 2012, solidifying her position as one of the greatest hammer throwers of all time. She equaled this monumental feat two months later at the Olympic Champions meeting in Minsk. Later in July, she further improved her record to an impressive 78.69 meters, placing her second on the all-time list, just behind Betty Heidler.
Throughout her career, Aksana Miankova has demonstrated resilience, determination, and exceptional talent in the field of hammer throw. Despite the controversies surrounding her doping violation, her accomplishments remain significant, and her impact on the sport cannot be overlooked.
Awards:
– Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (stripped due to doping violation)