Anna Bessonova

Ganna Volodymyrivna Bezsonova (Ukrainian: Ганна Володимирівна Безсонова/Ganna Volodymyrivna Bessonova; born 29 July 1984) is a Ukrainian former individual rhythmic gymnast. She is one of the most decorated rhythmic gymnast of her generation. She is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (2004 and 2008); 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.

Anna Bezsonova
Bessonova at the 2011 LG WHISEN Rhythmic All Stars Gala
Personal information
Full name	Ganna Volodymyrivna Bessonova
Nickname(s)	Anya, Bess
Country represented	Ukraine
Born	(1984-07-29) 29 July 1984 (age 38) Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Hometown	Kyiv
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	49 kg (108 lb)
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Club	Deriugins School
Head coach(es)	Albina Deriugina
Assistant coach(es)	Iryna Deriugina
Choreographer	Iryna Grischenko
Retired	2010
Medal record International gymnastics competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 0 2 World Championships 5 15 7 European Championships 3 12 9 European Team Championships 0 2 0 World Cup Final 3 4 3 Grand Prix Final 5 7 6 World Games 1 4 1 Summer Universiade 10 8 1 Total 27 52 29 Rhythmic gymnastics Representing  Ukraine Olympic Games 2004 Athens All-around 2008 Beijing All-around World Championships 2001 Madrid Team 2002 New Orleans 5 ribbons 2003 Budapest Hoop 2003 Budapest Clubs 2007 Patras All-around 2001 Madrid Hoop 2001 Madrid Ball 2003 Budapest All-around 2003 Budapest Ball 2003 Budapest Ribbon 2003 Budapest Team 2005 Baku Team 2005 Baku All-around 2005 Baku Rope 2005 Baku Ball 2005 Baku Clubs 2005 Baku Ribbon 2007 Patras Clubs 2007 Patras Ribbon 2009 Mie Ribbon 1999 Osaka Team 2001 Madrid All-around 2001 Madrid Rope 2007 Patras Hoop 2009 Mie All-around 2009 Mie Rope 2009 Mie Ball European Championships 2003 Riesa Ribbon 2003 Riesa Hoop 2003 Riesa Clubs 2002 Granada Team 2003 Riesa Ball 2004 Kyiv All-around 2004 Kyiv Team 2005 Moscow Ball 2005 Moscow Ribbon 2005 Moscow Team 2007 Baku Hoop 2007 Baku Ribbon 2007 Baku Team 2008 Torino All-around 2009 Baku Ball 2002 Granada All-around 2005 Moscow Rope 2005 Moscow Clubs 2006 Moscow All-around 2007 Baku Clubs 2009 Baku Rope 2009 Baku Hoop 2009 Baku Ribbon 2009 Baku Team European Team Championships 2001 Riesa Team 2003 Moscow Team World Cup Final 2002 Stuttgart Rope 2002 Stuttgart Hoop 2002 Stuttgart Clubs 2002 Stuttgart Ball 2008 Benidorm Hoop 2008 Benidorm Clubs 2008 Benidorm Ribbon 2006 Mie Rope 2006 Mie Ball 2006 Mie Ribbon Grand Prix Final 2003 Innsbruck All-around 2003 Innsbruck Ribbon 2003 Innsbruck Hoop 2004 Deventer Hoop 2004 Deventer Clubs 2002 Innsbruck All-around 2002 Innsbruck Ball 2003 Innsbruck Clubs 2003 Innsbruck Ball 2004 Deventer Ribbon 2005 Berlin All-around 2006 Berlin Ball 2000 Deventer Hoop 2002 Innsbruck Clubs 2002 Innsbruck Hoop 2004 Deventer All-around 2004 Deventer Ball 2005 Berlin Ribbon World Games 2005 Duisburg Rope 2005 Duisburg Ball 2009 Kaohsiung Rope 2009 Kaohsiung Ball 2009 Kaohsiung Ribbon 2005 Duisburg Ribbon Summer Universiade 2003 Daegu Ribbon 2005 Izmir All-around 2005 Izmir Rope 2005 Izmir Ball 2005 Izmir Clubs 2007 Bangkok All-around 2007 Bangkok Rope 2007 Bangkok Hoop 2007 Bangkok Clubs 2007 Bangkok Ribbon 2003 Daegu All-around 2003 Daegu Hoop 2003 Daegu Ball 2003 Daegu Clubs 2009 Belgrade All-around 2009 Belgrade Rope 2009 Belgrade Ball 2009 Belgrade Ribbon 2005 Izmir Ribbon

Personal life

Bessonova's father is the Dynamo Kyiv football player Vladimir Bessonov. Her mother, Viktoria, is a former two-time World champion group rhythmic gymnast. She is the one that introduced her daughter to the sport.^[1]

After retiring, Bessonova coached girls at the Deriugins School. Her students include Yeva Meleshchuk.^[2]

Bessonova moved to the United States in 2017 and coaches girls in Florida.^[3]

Career

 

Bessonova at the 2001 World Championships

Bessonova began training in rhythmic gymnastics at age five. Her mother preferred to see her daughter on the ballet stage; however, Bessonova decided on rhythmic gymnastics. She was coached by Albina Deriugina and her daughter Irina Deriugina at the Deriugins School in Kyiv.^[1] She is 1.74m (5'9").

In 1999, 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. In the 2001 World Championships, Alina Kabaeva and her teammate Irina Tchachina who originally won gold and silver medal in all-around respectively tested positive to a banned diuretic (furosemide) and were stripped of their medals. Ukraine's Tamara Yerofeeva who originally won bronze was awarded the gold with Bulgaria's Simona Peycheva from 4th to taking the silver and Bessonova from 5th was awarded the bronze medal.

In 2002, 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.^[4] Bessonova briefly competed as member of the Ukrainian Group. She and the Ukrainian Group won the gold medal in five Ribbons in New Orleans. She dominated the 2002 World Cup Final in Stuttgart in November, by winning the first place on the hoop, the rope and the clubs. After that Bessonova (aged 18) became a leader of the Ukrainian national team.

In 2003 in Budapest she won two World titles — the hoop event final edging out Alina Kabaeva (performing to music from Swan Lake) and the clubs final where she beat Irina Tchachina for the gold. 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. In 2003, she won three European gold medals — in hoop, clubs and ribbon event finals. She won three of four finals in the 2003 Grand Prix tournament in Kyiv.^[5]

In 2004, Bessonova won the all-around silver medal at the 2004 European Championships. She made her Olympic debut and won the bronze individual all-around medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a total score of 106.700 (ribbon 26.725, clubs 26.950, ball 26.525, hoop 26.500) behind two Russians, silver medalist Irina Tchachina and gold medalist Alina Kabaeva.

In 2005, Bessonova became a six-time silver medalist during 2005 World Championships in all-around, rope, ball, clubs and ribbon finals. She took four gold medals at the 2005 Universiade in Izmir, winning the all-around, rope, ball and clubs. She won the all-around bronze at the 2006 European Championships.

 

Bessonova at the 2008 World Cup Final

In 2007, Bessonova competed in a number of Grand Prix and World Cup Series. The year would also mark the start of a new challenge for Bessonova with rise of new Russian gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva. At the 2007 Corbeil-Essonnes World Cup, she won the silver medal behind Evgenia Kanaeva. She won all the gold medals in 2007 Summer Universiade beating Sessina and Kapranova. She became World champion at the 2007 World Championship in Patras, winning the all-around gold medal defeating Russians Vera Sessina and Olga Kapranova.

In 2008, Bessonova won all-around golds at the LA Lights, Deriugina Cup (Kyiv World Cup) and Miss Valentine Competitions, as well as the all-around silver at the European Championships in Torino behind Russian star Evgenia Kanaeva. At the 2008 World Cup events, Bessonova accumulated 15 medals. The year culminated in her all-around bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Kanaeva winning the gold medal and Belarus' Inna Zhukova taking the silver medal.

In 2009, Bessonova placed first in the all-around at the Kyiv World Cup and Deriugina Cup events, and also won bronze in the World and European Championships behind reigning Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva and Daria Kondakova. She competed at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade and won four silver medals again behind Kanaeva. Bessonova finally completed her career in 2010 at the Deriugina Cup in Kyiv.

In 2013 Bessonova performed at the opening ceremony of the 2013 World Championships, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Other professional and social activities

 

Bessonova at the 2011 LG WHISEN Rhythmic All Stars Gala

After completing her career in professional sports, Bessonova appeared in Ukrainian television projects. During the UEFA Euro 2012, she was a TV presenter, a commentator and a special correspondent in a Ukrainian sports TV channel.^[6] Back in 2009 Bessonova took part in «Dancing for You» TV show, becoming the winner (partnered with Olexander Leshchenko). After some time, she was a chief editor of Ukrainian edition of Pink magazine. Bessonova is also known as an active promoter of sports and healthy lifestyle among young people in Ukraine. She participated in numerous charity projects.

Routine music information

 

Bessonova at the 2009 European Championships

 

Bessonova at the 2011 LG WHISEN Rhythmic All Stars Gala

 

Bessonova at the 2011 LG WHISEN Rhythmic All Stars Gala

Year	Apparatus	Music title ^[7]
2009	Hoop	Carrots/Shots / Struggle For Ebullience / Night Running / Earth Zoom In / Linda Looks For Love (Part 1) / Plan B music from Burn After Reading by Carter Burwell
	Rope	Boat Chase / Chopper Chase / Face Off music from The Italian Job by John Powell
	Ball	Chapel / Filet / Red Men music from Le Rêve by Benoît Jutras
	Ribbon	Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
2008	Hoop	music from Avrora by Valeri Tishler
	Rope	Shiro's Estate by Brian Tyler
	Clubs	Gladiator soundtrack – "Barbarian Horde"
	Ribbon	Hopak (Ukrainian Folk)
2007	Hoop	music from Avrora by Valeri Tishler
	Rope	The Dance At The Gym music from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
	Clubs	Gladiator soundtrack – "Barbarian Horde"
	Ribbon	Boléro by Maurice Ravel
2006	Ball	You Have A Special Purpose In Life / I'm Not Ready To Die / Renovatio music from The Island by Steve Jablonsky
	Rope	Conga Fury music from The Animatrix by Juno Reactor
	Clubs	Plaza of Execution / Leave No Witnesses / The Ride / The Fencing Lesson / The Mask of Zorro music from The Mask of Zorro by James Horner
	Ribbon	Molto Meno Mosso (Act IV, no.28) / Moderato (Act III, no. 24) music from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
2005	Ball	Miss San / Miko's Testimony / Song to Miko music from Wasabi by Éric Serra
	Rope	Finale from Carmen by G. Bizet, R. Shchedrin
	Clubs	Jesus Arrested / Mary Goes to Jesus / Jesus is Carried Down music from The Passion of the Christ by John Debney
	Ribbon	Fantasy – overture for orchestra in B minor from Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky
2004	Hoop	Molto Meno Mosso / Allegro – Valse – Allegro – Vivo / Finale – Andante – Allegro Agitatoo - Alla Breve – Moderato e Maestoso – Moderato / Moderato by Tchaikovsky
	Ball	Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian
	Clubs	Mona Lisa Overdrive from The Matrix Reloaded by Don Davis and Juno Reactor
	Ribbon	Nyah / La Cavalera from Mission Impossible II by Hans Zimmer and Elliot Goldenthal
2003	Hoop	Molto Meno Mosso / Allegro – Valse – Allegro – Vivo / Finale – Andante – Allegro Agitatoo - Alla Breve – Moderato e Maestoso – Moderato / Moderato by Tchaikovsky
	Ball	Tennessee / Attack (from Pearl Harbor) by Hans Zimmer
	Clubs	Su-Chow Prison (from Spy Game by Harry Gregson-Williams
	Ribbon	Nyah / La Cavalera from Mission Impossible II by Hans Zimmer and Elliot Goldenthal
2002	Hoop	Molto Meno Mosso / Allegro – Valse – Allegro – Vivo / Finale – Andante – Allegro Agitatoo - Alla Breve – Moderato e Maestoso – Moderato / Moderato by Tchaikovsky
	Rope	Nyah music from Mission Impossible 2 by Hans Zimmer
	Clubs	The Word [PMT Remix] music from Swordfish by Dope Smugglaz
	Ball	Tennessee / Attack (from Pearl Harbor) by Hans Zimmer
2001	Hoop	Raid on Leonesse music from First Knight by Jerry Goldsmith
	Rope	Nyah music from Mission Impossible II by Hans Zimmer
	Clubs	Concierto Para Quinteto by Astor Piazzolla
	Ball	Barbarian Horde / To Zucchabar (from The Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer
2000	Hoop	Act 1 and 2 (from Giselle) by Adolphe Adam
	Rope	Night Borders / Camel Race / Main Theme music from The Mummy by Jerry Goldsmith
	Ball	Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Ribbon	"Serpent Dream" by Mike Oldfield
1999	Hoop	Nuestro Poema by Raul di Blasio
	Rope	Felicia music from Tango Forever by Luis Bravo
	Ball	?
	Ribbon	"Serpent Dream" by Mike Oldfield
1998	Hoop	?
	Clubs	?
	Ball	"Gory, gory, moya zvezda" (Ukrainian traditional)
	Ribbon	Private Investigations by Dire Straits

Detailed Olympic results

Year	Competition Description	Location	Music	Apparatus	Score-Final	Score-Qualifying
2008	Olympics	Beijing		All-around	71.875	72.825
			Hopak (Ukrainian Folk)	Ribbon	18.225	18.325
			Shiro's Estate by Brian Tyler	Rope	17.975	17.950
			Avrora by Valeri Tishler	Hoop	17.775	18.450
			Gladiator Soundtrack – Barbarian Horde	Clubs	17.900	18.100

Year	Competition Description	Location	Music	Apparatus	Score-Final	Score-Qualifying
2004	Olympics	Athens		All-around	106.700	104.725
			Nyah / La Cavalera from Mission Impossible II by Hans Zimmer and Elliot Goldenthal	Ribbon	26.725	25.325
			Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian	Ball	26.525	26.750
			Molto Meno Mosso / Allegro – Valse – Allegro – Vivo / Finale – Andante – Allegro Agitatoo - Alla Breve – Moderato e Maestoso – Moderato / Moderato by Tchaikovsky	Hoop	26.500	25.900
			Mona Lisa Overdrive from Matrix Reloaded by Don Davis & Juno Reactor	Clubs	26.950	26.750

References

1. . Archived from the original on January 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
2. "Anna Bessonova: "I want as many children as possible to go in for sport"". Archived from the original on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
3. Amanda Plasencia. "North Miami Beach Gymnast, 17, Hopes to Represent USA at Olympics". Archived from the original on 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
4. Associated Press (October 30, 2002). "Bessonova tested positive for banned stimulant". ESPN. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
5. "Anna Bessonova won three finals of Derjugina-Cup in Kiev | GYMmedia.com".
6. . Archived from the original on 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
7. "Bessonova RG music list". rgforum.

Literature

Bessonova's early years are described in the book National Olympic Committee of Ukraine for Rhythmic Gymnastics and Iryna Deriugina, Olexandra Tymoshenko, Olena Vitrychenko, Kateryna Serebryanska, Anna Bessonova (in Ukrainian) (Національний олімпійський комітет України про художню гімнастику та Ірину Дерюгіну, Олександру Тимошенко, Олену Вітриченко, Катерину Серебрянську, Анну Безсонову / текст: Григорія Палія та Олександра Мащенка; відповідальний редактор Олена Мовчан. — Київ : Грані-Т, 2010. — 112 с. — ISBN 978-966-465-283-1).

Another story based on real events from Anna Bessonova's childhood is Absolute champion by Oles Ilchenko (in Ukrainian) (Ільченко, О. Абсолютний чемпіон / Олесь Ільченко. — Київ : Грані-Т, 2011. — 80 с. — ISBN 978-966-465-349-4).

References

• Anna Bessonova Official Web Site
• Anna Bessonova at the International Gymnastics Federation

External links

  Media related to Anna Bessonova at Wikimedia Commons

• UATV - Anna Bessonova on YouTube
• Anna Bessonova on Instagram
• Anna Bessonova at Olympics.com  
• Anna Bessonova at Olympedia  
• Anna Bessonova at the World Games