Valentina SHEVCHENKO

Valentina Shevchenko started her career in 1989, in 1995 already, she competed at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Breitenwang where she finished 19th over 5 km and 45th over 15 km...Her Wor,d Cup debut came in 1995 in Nove Mesto (60th place over 15 km)...In 1998m Shevchenko took part in her first Olympics whilst her World Championships debut followed in 1999 in Ramsau....After a baby break in 2000/2001 where her son Artem was born, she continued her career with the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City where she finished 5th over 30 km classic...A year later her second World Championships were on the schedule and she took three top ten spots (best result 6th over 10 km classic)...In November 2003, Shevchenko took her first World Cup podium, finishing second in Beitostoelen over 10 km free...A week later the likeable athlete from Urkaine claimed her first World Cup victory in Kuusamo over 10 km classic...During the past years she proofed her skills in long and tough races several times,... she took part in 6 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and collected 7 top ten places...In total, Shevchenko competed in 4 Olympic Games and made 4 top ten spots.

...Shevchenko explained that she came by mistake to the Cross-Country skiing class in 1989 when she arrived at the sports college. In the beginning she made track and field but she was eventually sent to Cross-Country

...she is married to Igor Spivak who works as Cross-Country trainer on a national team of invalids. Together they have their son Artem.

...Shevchenko speaks German and Russian beside her native Ukraine language

...is since spring 2011 she became part of the private SKINFIT TEAM that is specialised on long distance races

...Shevchenko is strong in tough races such as the Final Climb at the Tour de Ski. She took the stage win there in 2008 and finished three times among the fastest top ten ladies.