Yelena Dendeberova

Yelena Dendeberova took up swimming in 1976 and made the Soviet national team in 1982. She was one of the best female all-around swimmers in the world in the 1980s, representing her country internationally in almost every style of swimming, although she found the most success in the individual medley. Dendeberova made her international début at the 1983 European Championships, where she was fifth in the 400 IM. She missed the 1984 Olympic Games, and possible medals, due to Soviet boycott and had to settle for competing at the Friendship Games, a replacement event held by the Soviet Union and other Socialist countries that had boycotted the 1984 Olympics. Dendeberova won the 400 IM at the Friendship Games, as well as three silver medals (200 IM, 200 back, 4x100 free relay). The 1985 European Championships were less successful for Dendeberova, as she won only silver in the medley relay and bronze in the 400 freestyle, but failed to advance from her heats of both IMs, where she had been a clear medal favorite. At the next three major international tournaments, the 1986 World Championships, 1987 European Championships and 1988 Olympics, Dendeberova continued to compete in various styles, but medaled only in individual medley, winning a silver medal in each of those competitions (200 IM in 1986 and 1988 and 400 IM in 1987). She also competed at the 1989 and 1991 European Championships, 1991 World Championships and 1992 Olympics, failing to medal. Domestically, Dendeberova won 13 Soviet titles: 1985 100 freestyle; 1986 200 freestyle; 1987 200 breaststroke; 200 IM – 1985-88, 1990-91; 400 IM – 1985/88; the 1985 4x200 free relay; and the 1987 medley relay. After retiring from competition in 1992, Dendeberova married the 1980 Olympic 100 backstroke silver medalist Viktor Kuznetsov and they worked as swimming coaches in their hometown St. Petersburg.

Personal Best: 50 m freestyle – 26.81 (1988); 100 m freestyle – 56.49 (1988); 200 m freestyle – 2:00.09 (1992); 400 m freestyle – 4:14.44 (1985); 1,500 m freestyle – 16:42.32 (1986); 100 m backstroke – 1:04.66 (1988); 200 m backstroke – 2:13.31 (1984); 100 m breaststroke – 1:11.20 (1988); 200 m breaststroke – 2:33.13 (1987); 200 m individual medley – 2:13.31 (1988); 400 m individual medley – 4:40.44 (1988).