Iolanda Chen

Who is Iolanda Chen?

Iolanda Chen is a retired Russian athlete. She started as a pentathlete, but decided to specialize in long jump. In 1988 she achieved a personal best of 7.16 metres, a good result, but from 1992 she switched in triple jump instead, a relatively new event for women. Inspired by her father Yevgeniy Chen, who was among the world elite in the 1950s, she managed to jump 13.72 metres in 1992.

In 1993 Iolanda Chen improved to 14.97 metres, a new outdoor record which would also remain her personal best. Her record was beaten at the World Championships the same year by fellow Russian Anna Biryukova, who jumped 15.09m. In 1995 Chen appeared at the World Indoor Championships and won the gold medal with 15.03 metres, a new world indoor record. This was a huge improvement from the previous championship record of 14.47m. Unfortunately she did not follow up this success, finishing 11th at the World Championships the same year.

Chen married pole vaulter Yevgeniy Bondarenko.