Olga Kaniskina

Olga Nikolayevna Kaniskina (; born January 19, 1985 in Napolnaya Tavla, Mordvin ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union) is a Russian race walker. She won the silver medal in the 20 km walk at the 2006 European Championships and gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is a two time World Champion, having won at both the 2007 World Championships and 2009 World Championships.

She also won the 20 km walk at the 2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup, setting a Championship record of 1:25:42

Career

At the 2006 IAAF World Race Walking Cup she finished in fifth place and won her first major medal, a silver, at the 2006 European Athletics Championships later that year. She won her first global title the following year, taking the gold in the women's 20 km walk at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, beating compatriot Tatyana Shemyakina to the finish.

The 2008 season saw Olga Kaniskina break her first world record in the 20 km Walk at the Russian Championships. She lowered the mark set by her compatriot Olimpiada Ivanova in August 2005. However, IAAF rules dictate that 3 official judges must be present at the race, for a world record to be ratified, making it unlikely that this record will be ratified, as there were not 3 judges present. She went on to set the 20 km championship record at the 2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup held in Russia, finishing with a time of 1:25:42.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she broke the...
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