Nataliya Donchenko made her international début at the 1952 World Championships, where she won the 500, but placed eighth in the all-around. In the next eight years, Donchenko was not selected for Soviet teams, so her next international appearance was at the 1960 World Championships. She did not medal in those championships, but was fourth in the 500, 3,000, and all-around. At the 1960 Winter Olympics, women’s speed skating was included on the Olympic Programme for the first time and, on the first day of the speed skating competitions, Nataliya Donchenko won silver in the 500, thus becoming the first female Soviet skater to win an Olympic medal. This would also be Donchenko’s last international race. Domestically she won a Soviet title once in 1952, was a runner-up once, in 1956, and won one bronze in 1960, all in the 500.
Personal Bests: 500 – 46.0 (1960); 1000 – 1:35.6 (1962); 1500 – 2:27.9 (1962); 3000 – 5:22.6 (1962).
Soviet Union
Russian Federation