Irina BELOVA

A heptathlete, Irina Belova took up athletics when she was only 12, and first competed internationally at the 1990 European Championships, where she finished fourth. At the 1991 World Championships Belova won bronze and then improved to silver at the 1992 Olympics. Belova initially placed first at the 1993 World Indoors, but tested positive for testosterone and received a four-year competitive ban. Belova returned in 1997 and won silvers at the 1998 European Indoor Championships, the 1999 World Indoor Championships, and the 1993 European Combined Events Cup. She was fifth at the 1998 European Championships, eighth at the 2001 World Championships, and did not finish at the 1999 World Championships. Belova won the CIS title in 1992. She retired from sports after the 2001 season and later worked as an athletics coach in Irkutsk.

Personal Best: Hep – 6845 (1992).