32 / 76
32
GYMNASTICS –RHYTHMIC
Finland has been represented in Olympic rhythmic gymnastics three times before: Hanna Laiho finished 25th in 1992, Katri
Kalpala 34th in 1996 and Heini Lautala 23rd in Sydney 2000. In 2016 Finland returns to the Olympic individual event and
nearly came to qualify for the group competition as well: the Finnish team finished fourth in the Olympic Test Event, where the
last three places were decided.
Ekaterina Volkova
* 2 July 1997 St. Petersburg (Russia)
Present residence: Vantaa
168 cm, 48 kg
Club: Elise
Coach: Larisa Gryadunova
Ekaterina Volkova won her ticket to the Olympic Games by finishing fourth in the final Test Event in Rio de Janeiro
in April. “Katya” was born in Russia but raised in Finland. She took up rhythmic gymnastics at the age of seven and
has been training under the guidance of Larisa Gryadunova since 2009. Katya is a high school student but she has
postponed her graduation in order to concentrate on her Olympic dream.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
2013 WCh 27th all-around, 27th ball, 25th clubs, 29th hoop, 24th ribbon. EurCh 10th team.
2014 WCh 38th all-around, 30th ball, 37th clubs, 48th hoop, 34th ribbon.
2015 WCh 27th all-around, 30th ball, 23rd clubs, 20th hoop, 41st ribbon. EurCh 14th ball, 14th clubs, 10th hoop,
16th ribbon, 6th team.
2016 EurCh 15th all-around.
Larysa Gryadunova
Coach
Team Management