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I dream of horses: /* Career */clean up, typo(s) fixed: fellow teammates → teammates (2) using AWB

2017-03-06T06:07:46Z

‎Career: clean up, typo(s) fixed: fellow teammates → teammates (2) using AWB

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{{Infobox fencer
| name = Sofiya Velikaya
| image = Sofiya Velikaya 2014 European Championships SFS-EQ t175801.jpg
| caption = Velikaya at the 2014 European Championships
| birth_name =
| fullname = Sofiya Aleksandrovna Velikaya
| nickname =
| nationality = Russian
| residence =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|6|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Almaty|Alma-Ata]], [[Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic|Kazakh SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| height = {{height|m=1.75}}
| weight = {{convert|68|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| weapon = [[Sabre (fencing)|Sabre]]
| hand = right-handed
| website =
| club = MGFSO/CSKA Moscow
| natlcoach = Christian Bauer(national), Dmitry Glotov(personal)
| headcoach =
| retired =
| fieranking = [http://fie.org/fencers/fencer/9993 current ranking]
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCompetition|[[Fencing at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|[[Fencing at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's team sabre|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|[[Fencing at the 2016 Summer Olympics - Women's sabre|Individual]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Fencing at the 2012 Summer Olympics - Women's sabre|Individual]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Fencing Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 World Fencing Championships|2004 New York]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2010 World Fencing Championships|2010 Paris]]|[[Women's team sabre at the 2010 World Fencing Championships|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Fencing Championships|2011 Catania]]|[[Women's sabre at the 2011 World Fencing Championships|Individual]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Fencing Championships|2011 Catania]]|[[Women's team sabre at the 2011 World Fencing Championships|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 World Fencing Championships|2012 Kiev]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 World Fencing Championships|2015 Moscow]]|[[Women's sabre at the 2015 World Fencing Championships|Individual]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 World Fencing Championships|2015 Moscow]]|[[Women's team sabre at the 2015 World Fencing Championships|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2005 World Fencing Championships|2005 Leipzig]]|[[2005 World Fencing Championships#Women's events|Individual]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2005 World Fencing Championships|2005 Leipzig]]|[[2005 World Fencing Championships#Women's events|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2006 World Fencing Championships|2006 Turin]]|[[2006 World Fencing Championships#Women's events|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2007 World Fencing Championships|2007 St.Petersburg]]|[[2007 World Fencing Championships#Women|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2010 World Fencing Championships|2010 Paris]]|[[Women's sabre at the 2010 World Fencing Championships|Individual]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Fencing Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 European Fencing Championships|2003 Bourges]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 European Fencing Championships|2004 Copenhagen]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 European Fencing Championships|2006 İzmir]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 European Fencing Championships|2006 İzmir]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2008 European Fencing Championships|2008 Kiev]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 European Fencing Championships|2014 Strasbourg]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 European Fencing Championships|2015 Montreux]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 European Fencing Championships|2016 Toruń]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 European Fencing Championships|2016 Toruń]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2005 European Fencing Championships|2005 Zalaegerszeg]]|Individual}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2007 European Fencing Championships|2007 Ghent]]|Individual}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2010 European Fencing Championships|2010 Leipzig]]|Individual}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2010 European Fencing Championships|2010 Leipzig]]|Team}}
| show-medals = yes
}}
'''Sofiya Aleksandrovna Velikaya''' ({{lang-ru|Софья Александровна Великая}}; born 8 June 1985) is a Russian [[sabre (fencing)|sabre]] [[fencing|fencer]], Olympic gold and silver medalist, seven-times World champion and nine-times European champion. Velikaya finally collected her first Olympic gold medal with her team at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].

==Career==
Velikaya began fencing at the age of 13 after her elder brother took up the sport. Her first coach was Valery Dyakokin.

She placed fourth in the [[2008 Beijing Games]] after losing to [[Rebecca Ward]] by one point in the bronze medal match. On October 12, 2011, she became the World Champion after beating two-time Olympic champion [[Mariel Zagunis]] in the final. One year after, she took part in the [[2012 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] in London, where she advanced to finals after defeating [[Olga Kharlan]] of [[Ukraine]]. She lost however to South Korea's [[Kim Ji-yeon]] and captured silver.

After the Olympics Velikaya took a break in her career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=72483|script-title=ru:Софья Великая: моя пауза должна пойти девчонкам только на пользу|work=allsportinfo.ru|date=24 June 2013|language=ru}}</ref> She gave birth to Oleg, with Olympic wrestler [[Aleksey Mishin (wrestler)|Aleksey Mishin]]. She came back to international competition in March 2014 at the Antalya World Cup, where she was defeated in the second round by Hungary's [[Anna Várhelyi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusfencing.ru/cntnt/novosti/novosti1/n21607.html|script-title=ru:КМ-2014. Софья Великая – на дорожке, Юлия Гаврилова – на пьедестале|work=Russian Fencing Federation|language=ru}}</ref> At the [[2014 European Fencing Championships|European Championships]] in Strasbourg, she was stopped in the second round again, this time by Italy's [[Rossella Gregorio]]. In the team event, Russia defeated Germany and Hungary to meet France in the final. After being led 30–35 Russia overcame France in the last two relays to win the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lequipe.fr/Escrime/Actualites/La-france-en-argent/473545|title=La France en argent|author=Patrick Issert|work=L'Équipe|date=13 June 2014}}</ref> At the [[2014 World Fencing Championships|World Championships]] in Kazan Velikaya made her way to the quarter-finals, where she met reigning World champion [[Olga Kharlan]] of Ukraine. After a good beginning Velikaya could not prevent Kharlan's comeback and was defeated 9–15. She was however pleased by her return to form.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=84571|script-title=ru:Софья Великая: думаю, что приблизилась к своему максимуму|author=Maria Staroverova|work=allsportinfo.ru|date=19 July 2014|language=ru}}</ref> In the [[Women's team sabre at the 2014 World Fencing Championships|team event]], Russia overcame Canada easily in the round of 16 and met France in the quarter-finals. Surprised by France's outright attack, Russia did not manage to regain control and suffered a shock 41–45 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=84571|script-title=ru:Софья Великая: думаю, что приблизилась к своему максимуму|work=allsportinfo.ru|author=Maria Staroverova|date=21 July 2014|language=ru}}</ref> They entered placement rounds and finished 5th after prevailing over South Korea and Poland.

In the [[2014–15 Fencing World Cup|2014–15 season]], Velikaya won the first event held in Cancún after defeating France's [[Charlotte Lembach]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pianetascherma.com/2014/11/02/coppa-del-mondo-sciabola-femminile-isla-margarita/|title=Sofya la Grande|author=Alessandro Gennari|newspaper=Pianeta Scherma|date=2 November 2014|language=Italian}}</ref> She placed second with Russia in the team event. In Orléans, Velikaya put an end to the invincibility of the world no.1 [[Olga Kharlan]], who had not taken part in the Cancún tournament. Velikaya proceeded to the final where she defeated Italy's [[Rossella Gregorio]] and earned her second gold medal in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.larep.fr/loiret/sports/actualite/autres/2014/11/23/la-russe-a-domine-litalienne-gregorio-en-finale-hier-soir_11230512.html|title=La Russe a dominé l’Italienne Gregorio en finale, hier soir|author=Raphaël Coquel|newspaper=La République du Centre|date=23 November 2014|language=French}}</ref> In the team event, Russia stormed through the competition and saw off the United States in the final to win team gold. Velikaya reached again the final in the New York Grand Prix. She met Kharlan, who defeated her 15–12, dooming her the silver medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2015/01/15/kharlan-and-kim-win-sabre-gold-in-new-york/|title=Kharlan and Kim win sabre gold in New York|publisher=Euronews|date=15 January 2015}}</ref> The same scenario played out in Athens at the first World Cup event of 2015, Velikaya losing only by a single hit that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pianetascherma.com/2015/01/31/atene-sciabola-femminile-rossella-gregorio/|title=Rossella Gregorio è terza nel giorno di Olga Kharlan|author=Gabriele Lippi|magazine=Pianeta Scherma|date=31 January 2015|language=Italian}}</ref> In the team event, Russia fenced Ukraine in the final. After a tight match Russia lost ground in the penultimate relay, which ended on 33–40. Velikaya lost 2–5 the final relay against Kharlan and came away with a second silver medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pianetascherma.com/2015/02/01/atene-lucraina-vince-la-prova-a-squadre/|title=Atene, l’Ucraina vince la prova a squadre|author=Gabriele Lippi|magazine=Pianeta Scherma|date=1 February 2015|language=Italian}}</ref> She took her revenge at the Ghent World Cup, defeating Kharlan 15–3 in the semi-finals, then Zagunis 15–10 in the final, to take her third gold medal of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pianetascherma.com/2015/02/21/la-velikaya-non-ha-rivali-tris-stagionale-a-gand/|title=La Velikaya non ha rivali, tris stagionale a Gand|author=Alessandro Gennari|magazine=Pianeta Scherma|date=21 February 2015|language=Italian}}</ref> This result caused her to jump to the third place in World rankings.

Velikaya qualified for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]] alongside her teammates [[Yana Egorian]] and [[Ekaterina Dyachenko]]. In [[Fencing at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's sabre|women's sabre]] in the table of 32 she defeated [[Bogna Jóźwiak]] from Poland. In the table of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, Velikaya prevailed over [[Charlotte Lembach]], [[Cécilia Berder]] and [[Manon Brunet]] of France, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/fencing-standings-fe-womens-sabre-individual|title=Rio 2016 Women's sabre results|publisher=Rio 2016|accessdate=24 December 2016}}</ref> She eventually lost 14–15 to her teammate [[Yana Egorian]] in the finals, winning her second consecutive silver medal at the Olympics in the individual women's sabre. Velikaya finally managed to claim the Olympic gold a few days later in the team event. Russia defeated Mexico (45–31) in the quarter-finals, prevailed over the USA (45–42) in the semi-finals and met the Ukrainian in the final. Velikaya and her teammates, including [[Yuliya Gavrilova]], came away with the gold medal, defeating Ukraine 45–30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/fencing-standings-fe-womens-sabre-team|title=Rio 2016 Women's team sabre results|publisher=Rio 2016|accessdate=24 December 2016}}</ref> Velikaya was ranked Nr. 1 in the women's sabre for the most of 2016. She was succeeded by Yana Egorian as the new #1. Velikaya finished 2016 as the world's #3.

On 17 November 2016, Velikaya was elected the head of the Russian Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport-express.ru/newspaper/2016-11-18/13_3/|title=ВЕЛИКАЯ ВОЗГЛАВИЛА КОМИССИЮ СПОРТСМЕНОВ ОКР|publisher=sport-express.ru|accessdate=25 December 2016}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
* [[Order of Merit for the Fatherland]]
**1st class (13 August 2012) – for outstanding contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, high achievements at the Games of the 30th Olympic Games in London, United Kingdom.<ref>[http://static.kremlin.ru/media/acts/files/0001201208150001.pdf Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 13 августа 2012 года № 1165 «О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации»]</ref>
* Athlete of the Year (2015) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusfencing.ru/cntnt/novosti/novosti1/n35459.html|title=Софья Великая признана лучшей спортсменкой России|publisher=rusfencing.ru|accessdate=24 December 2016}}</ref>
* [[Order of Honour (Russia)|Order of Honour]] (25 August 2016) – for high achievements at the 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the will to win and goal-oriented approach.<ref>[http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201608250016 Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 25.08.2016 № 429 «О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации»]</ref>
* Medal of Military Valour (2016) – 1st class.<ref>[http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12094144@egNews Министр обороны встретился с армейскими спортсменами-триумфаторами Олимпийских игр в Рио : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации]</ref>

== Personal life ==
Velikaya is married to 2004 Olympic Champion wrestler, [[Aleksey Mishin (wrestler)|Aleksey Mishin]]. They have one child together, a son, named Oleg, born on November 30, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.ru/editions/daily/2014/12/12/lyubov-sluchayno-ne-prikhodit.html|title=Любовь случайно не приходит|publisher=mk.ru|accessdate=24 December 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.rusfencing.ru/cntnt/sbornye_ko/files31/profajly/sofya_veli.html Profile] at the Russian Fencing Federation
* [http://www.eurofencing.info/athletes/biography/sophia-velikaia Profile] at the European Fencing Confederation
* [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ve/sofiya-velikaya-1.html Olympic results] at sports-reference.com

{{Footer Olympic Champions Fencing Women Team Sabre}}
{{World Champions in Women's Sabre}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velikaya, Sofiya}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Almaty]]
[[Category:Russian female fencers]]
[[Category:Russian sabre fencers]]
[[Category:Fencers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Fencers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Fencers at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic fencers of Russia]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Russia]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in fencing]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Russia]]

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Sofya Velikaya - Revision history

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I dream of horses: /* Career */clean up, typo(s) fixed: fellow teammates → teammates (2) using AWB