Irina Privalova Olympic debut started in 1992 Barcelona Games and her last run on the big stage was the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Her long involvement in athletics has saw this former European and Olympic champion winning every accolade there is to be won

Although her first love is the 100 meters, she was always a bridesmaid in the event, she could only managed silver at European Championships 1998 Budapest, bronze at Olympic 1992 Barcelona and World Championships 1995 Gothenburg, having the need to compete with the likes of Gail Devers, Merlene Ottey and Marion Jones. She did once won gold at the European Championships 1994 Helsinki, her only 100m gold to date

When she was in her ‘twilight’ of her running days, she opted for the 400m hurdles for 2000 Olympic games knowing the 100m & 400m is contested by younger and faster athletes she has less likely of a chance of defeating. She surprisingly won gold; leaving the defending champion Deon Hemmings of Jamaica in her trail

400m Hurdles Women Finals (2000 Sydney) where Privalova won gold

Now this mother of three who will turn 40 years old this November wants to make an Olympic comeback. She will go for the trials on the 17-20th July at the Russian national championships

Irina Privalova is set to compete in the 100m. Her coach is Vladimir Parashchyuk, who happens to be her husband. Privalova is realistic of her chances as being a long shot. She added “Just qualifying would feel like victory and winning an Olympic medal would simply be a miracle.”

Currently her 100m timing for a recent race in Moscow was 11.64s. It’s a far cry from her personal best of 10.77s set in 1994. Privalova needs to shave off a second to at least make the team. It’s a race against time

If she does makes it, this will be her fourth Olympic games. Her world indoor record holder in the 50 m (5.96 s), 60 m (6.92 s) sprints still stands

Women’s 100m. Final. Olympic Games 1992
1. Gail Devers (USA) 10.82
2. Juliet Cuthbert (JAM) 10.83
3. Irina Privalova (CIS) 10.84

Women’s 200m. Final. Olympic Games 1992
1. Gwen Torrence (USA) 21.81
2. Juliet Cuthbert (JAM) 22.02
3. Merlene Ottey (JAM) 22.09
4. Irina Privalova (CIS) 22.19

Womens 400m. Hurdles Final. Olympic Games 2000
1. Irena Privalova (RUS) 53.02
2. Deon Hemmings (JAM) 53.45
3. Nouzha Bidiouane (MAR) 53.57
4. Daimi Pernia (CUB) 53.68
5. Tetyana Tereshchuk-Antipova (UKR) 53.98
6. Ionela Tirlea (ROM) 54.35
7. Gudrun Arnadottir (ISL) 54.63
8. Natasha Danvers (GBR) 55.00

Womens 4×400m. Relay Final. Olympic Games 2000
1. USA 3:22.62 (J Miles-Clark, M Hennagan, M Jones, L Colander-Richardson)
2. Jamaica 3:23.25 (S Richards, C Scott-Pomales, D Hemmings, L Graham)
3. Russia 3:23.46 (Y Sotnikova, S Gontcharenko, O Kotlyarova, I Privalova)
4. Nigeria 3:23.80 (O Afolabi, C Opara, R Okafor, F Ogunkoya)
5. Australia 3:23.81 (N Peris-Kneebone, T Lewis, M Gainsford-Taylor, C Freeman)
6. Great Britain 3:25.67 (N Danvers, D Fraser, A Curbishley, K Merry)
7. Czech Rep. 3:29.17 (J Burianova, H Benesova, L Fickova, H Fuchsova)
8. Cuba 3:29.47 (Z Calatayud, J Duporty, I Bonne, D Pernia)