1. Anna Bessonova is one of the most decorated rhythmic gymnast of her generation.
31 Facts About Anna Bessonova
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Anna Bessonova is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist ; a five-time medalist in the all-around competition of the World Championships: gold in 2007, silver in 2003 and 2005, bronze in 2001 and 2009; a four-time medalist in the all-around competition of the European Championships: silver in 2004 and 2008, bronze in 2002 and 2006; and a four-time medalist in the all-around competition of the Grand Prix Final: gold in 2003, silver in 2002 and 2005, bronze in 2004.
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Anna Bessonova's father is the Dynamo Kyiv football player Vladimir Bessonov.
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Anna Bessonova's mother, Viktoria, is a former two-time World champion group rhythmic gymnast.
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Anna Bessonova is the one that introduced her daughter to the sport.
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Anna Bessonova moved to the United States in 2017 and coaches girls in Florida.
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Anna Bessonova's mother preferred to see her daughter on the ballet stage; however, Bessonova decided on rhythmic gymnastics.
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Anna Bessonova was coached by Albina Deriugina and her daughter Irina Deriugina at the Deriugins School in Kyiv.
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In 1998, Anna Bessonova participated at the 1998 World Youth Games in Moscow and won a gold medal in ribbon, silver medals in ball and hoop and a bronze in rope in junior competition.
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In 1999, Anna Bessonova was the youngest in the Ukrainian team during the 1999 World Championship in Osaka, Japan, yet she made such a good impression that the RG specialists wrote her name immediately as a future top gymnast.
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In 2001, Anna Bessonova participated at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane and won a bronze medal in clubs.
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In 2002, Anna Bessonova tested positive for norephedrine, a banned stimulant in March during a competition in Disneyland Paris Stadium by France and was banned for two months.
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Anna Bessonova dominated the 2002 World Cup Final in Stuttgart in November, by winning the first place on the hoop, the rope and the clubs.
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Anna Bessonova was very close to the all-around title but finished with the silver medal behind Russia's Alina Kabaeva after a drop during her ball routine.
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Anna Bessonova won three of four finals in the 2003 Grand Prix tournament in Kyiv.
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In 2004, Anna Bessonova won the all-around silver medal at the 2004 European Championships.
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Anna Bessonova made her Olympic debut and won the bronze individual all-around medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a total score of 106.700 behind two Russians, silver medalist Irina Tchachina and gold medalist Alina Kabaeva.
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In 2005, Anna Bessonova became a six-time silver medalist during 2005 World Championships in all-around, rope, ball, clubs and ribbon finals.
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Anna Bessonova took four gold medals at the 2005 Universiade in Izmir, winning the all-around, rope, ball and clubs.
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Anna Bessonova won the all-around bronze at the 2006 European Championships.
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In 2007, Anna Bessonova competed in a number of Grand Prix and World Cup Series.
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The year would mark the start of a new challenge for Anna Bessonova with rise of new Russian gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva.
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Anna Bessonova won all the gold medals in 2007 Summer Universiade beating Sessina and Kapranova.
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Anna Bessonova became World champion at the 2007 World Championship in Patras, winning the all-around gold medal defeating Russians Vera Sessina and Olga Kapranova.
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In 2008, Anna Bessonova won all-around golds at the LA Lights, Deriugina Cup and Miss Valentine Competitions, as well as the all-around silver at the European Championships in Torino behind Russian star Evgenia Kanaeva.
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At the 2008 World Cup events, Anna Bessonova accumulated 15 medals.
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In 2009, Anna Bessonova placed first in the all-around at the Kyiv World Cup and Deriugina Cup events, and won bronze in the World and European Championships behind reigning Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva and Daria Kondakova.
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Anna Bessonova competed at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade and won four silver medals again behind Kanaeva.
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Anna Bessonova finally completed her career in 2010 at the Deriugina Cup in Kyiv.
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In 2013, Anna Bessonova performed at the opening ceremony of the 2013 World Championships, in Kyiv, Ukraine.
31.
Anna Bessonova is known as an active promoter of sports and healthy lifestyle among young people in Ukraine.