Alena Popchanka
Encyclopedia
Alena Popchanka is a 4-time Olympic freestyle
and butterfly swimmer
originally from Belarus
. She swam for Belarus at the 1996
, 2000
and 2004 Olympics
. At the 2008 Olympics
she swam for France
; after her marriage to Frenchman Frédéric Vergnoux in early 2005.
Popchanka won the 200 m freestyle at the 2003 World Championships
and won the 200 m freestyle again at the 2006 Short Course European Championships
.
She married Vergnoux, her coach, in early 2005, and became a French citizen a few months following the marriage (June). In November 2005, Popchanka was cleared to swim internationally for France, following a 1-year sit-out from competition which was not waived by the Belorussian federation following her departure and last swim for Belarus at the 2004 Olympics. Because of this timing, Popchanka was unable to swim at the 2005 World Championships
to defend her 200 m freestyle title from 2003.
Since November 2005, she has competed for France
. Leading up to the 2008 Olympics, the couple lived in Edinburgh, Scotland
, where Vergnoux coached from 2004-2008. Following the 2008 Olympics, Vergnoux and Popchanka moved back to France, after Vergnoux left his coaching job in Edinburgh for one in Paris.
Vergnoux is notable in his own right: during his time in Edinburgh, he was twice named British Coach of the Year. He also served on the British Olympic Team staff for the 2008 Olympics.
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
and butterfly swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
originally from Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. She swam for Belarus at the 1996
Belarus at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Belarus competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time as an independent nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States...
, 2000
Belarus at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Gold:*Yanina Karolchik — Athletics, Women's Shot Put*Ellina Zvereva — Athletics, Women's Discus*Ekaterina Karsten — Rowing, Women's Single Sculls- Silver:*Yulia Raskina — Rhythmic Gymnastics, Women's Individual Competition...
and 2004 Olympics
Belarus at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Belarus competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Before gaining independence many Belarusian athletes competed for the USSR team: Vitaly Scherbo is a 6-times Olympic champion, Nellie Kim is five times Olympic champion, Olga Korbut, Olga Belova, Viktar Sidziak are 4-times Olympic...
. At the 2008 Olympics
France at the 2008 Summer Olympics
-Medalists:- Diving:MenNo CompetitorsWomen- Swimming:France will be represented by 35 swimmers, including Alain Bernard and Laure Manaudou.MenWomen- Synchronised Swimming:...
she swam for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; after her marriage to Frenchman Frédéric Vergnoux in early 2005.
Popchanka won the 200 m freestyle at the 2003 World Championships
Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming events of the 2003 World Aquatics Championships were held in Barcelona, Spain in July 2003.-Medal table:-Men:Legend: WR – World record; CR – Championship record-Women:...
and won the 200 m freestyle again at the 2006 Short Course European Championships
European Short Course Swimming Championships 2006
The European Short Course Swimming Championships 2006 were held in Helsinki, Finland, from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 December. The venue of the event was the aquatic center of Mäkelänrinteen uintikeskus, which last hosted a major event at the pre-Olympic 2000 European Aquatics Championships.Three...
.
She married Vergnoux, her coach, in early 2005, and became a French citizen a few months following the marriage (June). In November 2005, Popchanka was cleared to swim internationally for France, following a 1-year sit-out from competition which was not waived by the Belorussian federation following her departure and last swim for Belarus at the 2004 Olympics. Because of this timing, Popchanka was unable to swim at the 2005 World Championships
Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming events at the XI FINA World Championships took place in the Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Canada from July 24–31, 2005.The swimming portion consisted of 50 events – 25 for men and 25 for women – all of which were swum in a long-course pool...
to defend her 200 m freestyle title from 2003.
Since November 2005, she has competed for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Leading up to the 2008 Olympics, the couple lived in Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where Vergnoux coached from 2004-2008. Following the 2008 Olympics, Vergnoux and Popchanka moved back to France, after Vergnoux left his coaching job in Edinburgh for one in Paris.
Vergnoux is notable in his own right: during his time in Edinburgh, he was twice named British Coach of the Year. He also served on the British Olympic Team staff for the 2008 Olympics.