Elena Pirozhkova

Elena Pirozhkova
Headshot of a smiling Pirozhkova with Michelle Obama visible on the right edge of the photo
Pirozkhova greeting Michelle Obama in 2012
Personal information
Born (1986-10-13) October 13, 1986 (age 38)
Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union
Home townGreenfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
EventFreestyle
ClubTitan Mercury WC
Gator WC
TeamUSA
Medal record
Women's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Strathcona County 63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2010 Moscow 63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2014 Tashkent 63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Budapest 63 kg

Elena Sergey Pirozhkova (born October 13, 1986) is a Russian-born American wrestler who competed for the United States Olympic team in 2012 and 2016. She was the 2012 World Champion, wrestling in the 63 kg weight class. She won the gold medal at the Pan American championships in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[1][2] She won the silver medal in 2010 and 2014, and won the bronze medal in 2013, at the World Championships.[3] She placed 5th at the 2011 World Championships.[4] She made eight straight U.S. World Teams (2008–15), and won seven straight U.S. Open titles (2009–15).

Pirozhkova was born in Russia but grew up in Greenfield, Massachusetts.[5] She left Russia and moved to the United States of America when she was three years old. She attended Greenfield High School in Massachusetts.[6]

  1. ^ "USA Wrestling". TheMat.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  2. ^ Scott, Roxanna (July 19, 2010). "Athlete of the Week: Hurdler Oliver lowers American record". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  3. ^ [1][dead link]
  4. ^ Sesker, Craig (September 15, 2011). "Pirozhkova, Maroulis finish 5th at World Championships | TheMat.com – USA Wrestling". TheMat.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  5. ^ "US team faces some hurdles in next Olympics – The Boston Globe". Articles.boston.com. August 3, 2011. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  6. ^ "Elena Pirozhkova". teamusa.org. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.