Yuliya Zarudneva

Who is Yuliya Zarudneva?

Yuliya Mikhailovna Zaripova is a Russian middle-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase event.

Her first continental medals came at the 2008 European Cross Country Championships, where she won the bronze medal and silver team medal with Russia in the women's under-23 race. The following year she became the Russian indoor champion in the 3000 metres and took part in the women's 3000 m at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships, finishing in seventh place.

Zaripova attended her first World Championships that year and ran a personal best of 9:08.39 in the 3000 m steeplechase . Despite her relative lack of experience, this was enough for a silver medal behind Marta Domínguez and she beat her much more favoured compatriot. Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, who was the reigning Olympic champion. In the summer the following year she won at the 2010 European Team Championships, setting a championship record, and also competed on the IAAF Diamond League circuit, winning at the DN Galan. She won the gold medal at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, defeating Domínguez on home turf in Barcelona. Zaripova closed her season with a win at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup in a championship record time.