Impairment Information |
Type of Impairment |
Limb deficiency |
Origin of Impairment |
Acquired |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Husband Sergey Kazantsev, son Artem, daughter Anastasia |
Other names |
Irina Alyrchikova |
Residence |
Barnaul, RUS |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
Russian |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She took up the sport in 2003 at age 25 in the Russian Federation. |
Why this sport? |
She heard from her friends that a new sports club 'Patriot' had opened near where she lived, so she decided to take a look and gave powerlifting a try. |
Club / Team |
Patriot: Barnaul, RUS |
Name of coach |
Alexander Dolzhenko, RUS, from 2003; Andrey Podpalny, RUS |
Senior International Debut |
Year |
2007 |
Competing for |
Russia |
Tournament |
European Championships |
Location |
Kavala, GRE |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Gathering berries and mushrooms, beadwork. (Athlete, 13 Sep 2016) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning silver at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (Athlete, 13 Sep 2016) |
Most influential person in career |
Her family. (Athlete, 23 Apr 2012) |
Awards and honours |
She holds the title of Honoured Master of Sport in the Russian Federation. (Athlete, 13 Sep 2016)
For winning silver at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, she received the Order for Merits to the Fatherland [second grade] from the president of Russian Federation. (kremlin.ru, 30 Sep 2009) |
Famous relatives |
Her husband Sergey Kazantsev has competed in powerlifting. (stadion22.ru, 19 Dec 2007; kp.ru, 13 Sep 2008) |
Ambitions |
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Athlete, 13 Sep 2016) |
Impairment |
She was struck by a car at age 11, resulting in her amputation. (stadion22.ru, 19 Dec 2007; Athlete, 23 Apr 2012) |
