Sportsאירנה לנסקי

Irina Lenskiy

Irina Lenskiy is a Ukrainian-born Israeli hurdler who set Israeli records in the 100 metres hurdles and 200 metres and competed at the 2004 Olympic Games.

born 1971Israeli 100 metres hurdles recordIsraeli 200 metres recordThe 2004 Athens Olympics

Born: 12 June 1971, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Occupation: athletics competitor

Irina Lenskiy was born in 1971 in Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Irina Lenskiy was born on 12 June 1971 in Soviet Ukraine to a working-class Jewish family. She began training after a jumping coach, Vladimir Karpchuk, offered to coach her during a train ride from Donetsk to Kharkiv. She later moved to another coach to focus on hurdles.

She studied physical education, where she met her husband Vladimir, and they had a daughter, Olga. Competing for Ukraine as Irina Lenskaya, she ran the 400 metres hurdles at the 1995 and 1997 World Championships. She missed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics because of the flu.

She immigrated to Israel with her family in 1999 and later represented Maccabi Rishon LeZion. In 2000 she set an Israeli record in the 400 metres hurdles but collapsed during a race and missed the Sydney Olympics. In 2002 she set Israeli records of 23.15 seconds in the 200 metres and 12.80 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles.

She competed in the 100 metres hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics and at several World and European Championships, without reaching a final. She carried Israel's flag at the opening of the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. She retired in July 2013.