Svetlana Zhurova, from Pavlova on Neva, near St.Petersburg, made her international debut in November 1989. In January 1994 she made her first World Cup podium, in November 1995 she won her first World Cup race, and in 1996 she was World Single Distance champion in the 500 meter.

She would have been one of the favorites for the 500 m in Nagano 1998, but she had problems adapting to the new clap skates and placed 9th. Later the same year she won silver at the World Single Distance Championships. She repeated this performance the two following years.

In June 2001 she married Artemy Tchernenko, a former professional tennis player. She gave birth to the couple's son in 2003, causing her to miss the 2003-04 season.

She trained hard to get back into the world top after giving birth, without much success in her first season. But 2006 would become her most successfull year as a speed skater. In January she won the World Sprint Championships before winning the Olympic 500 m title in Torino three weeks later.

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated February 20, 2006