Olga Kapranova
Olga Sergeyevna Kapranova is a Russian retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2005 World all-around champion, the 2007 World all-around bronze medalist, the 2008 European all-around bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final all-around champion, a two-time Grand Prix Final all-around silver medalist and the 2005 Grand Prix Final all-around bronze medalist.
In the fall of 2024, the various Russian gymnastics federations were restructured into one Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation for all disciplines, and Kapranova became the representative for rhythmic gymnastics.
Career
Kapranova first took up the sport of rhythmic gymnastics in 1993 and trained with Elena Nefedova. In 2002, she started to train with Irina Viner, who has coached other stars of the sport, including Yana Batyrshina and Alina Kabaeva.Kapranova began competing internationally in 2003. She finished fourth in the all-around at the World Cup in Zaragoza and won a team medal at the World Championships in Budapest.
In 2004, Kapranova did not make the Olympic team, with the two places going to Irina Tchachina and Alina Kabaeva. After their retirements, she became one of Russia's top gymnasts. In 2005, she won the individual all-around title at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Although she trailed the eventual silver and bronze medalists Anna Bessonova and Irina Tchachina going into the final exercise, ball, it was Kapranova's strongest event and her performance allowed her to take the lead. She won a total of five of the six available gold medals at the event.
In 2006, Kapranova won silver in all-around at the 2006 Grand Prix Final and another silver medal in clubs at the World Cup Final in Mie. She earned a number of medals in the World Cup series in 2007 and 2008, won the Grand Prix Final in 2007 and 2008, and took the bronze medal in the all-around at the 2007 World Championships behind teammate Vera Sessina. At the 2007 Summer Universiade, she won the silver medal in the all-around behind Anna Bessonova.
In the 2008 Olympic season, Kapranova won the bronze medal in the all-around at the 2008 European Championships behind silver medalist Anna Bessonova and with rising star teammate Evgenia Kanaeva taking the gold medal. She was selected to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics after beating Vera Sessina to take the second spot in the Russian team, along with Evgenia Kanaeva. She was ranked second in the qualifications and finished fourth in the women's individual event finals.
Although she initially wanted to retire after the Olympics, Viner encouraged her to compete for another year due to her disappointing fourth-place finish. She competed at the 2009 World Championships in Mie, Japan and won the team gold medal with Evgenia Kanaeva, Daria Kondakova and Daria Dmitrieva. At the end of the 2009 season, she retired from competition and began coaching children.
Personal life
Kapranova has an elder sister, Ekaterina, who is also a former rhythmic gymnast. She also trained Kristina Pimenova, who trained as a rhythmic gymnast before retiring to pursue a career as a model.Routine music information
| Year | Apparatus | Music title |
| 2009 | Hoop | Slovanic March op.31 by Tchaikovsky |
| 2009 | Ball | Caruso from Voice by Neal Schon |
| 2009 | Rope | Act 1 – Appearance Of Kitri / Act 1 – Variation: Kitri from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus |
| 2009 | Ribbon | Mozart 40# in dream-mystery by Angelika / Mozart |
| 2008 | Hoop | Act 1 – Kitri and Basilio, Variation: Kitri music from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus |
| 2008 | Rope | Pogonya |
| 2008 | Clubs | Introduction: Moderato Assai – Allegro Ma Non Troppo from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky |
| 2008 | Ribbon | Katyusha Remix by DJ Ras Putin |
| 2007 | Hoop | Turandot music from Nessun Dorma Giacomo Puccini |
| 2007 | Rope | La Habanera music from One Second by Yello |
| 2007 | Clubs | Act 1 no. 8 Pas d'action music from The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky |
| 2007 | Ribbon | Barynya – |
| 2006 | Rope | Tango Ballet For Violin And String Orchestra: Titulos / La Calle by Astor Piazzolla |
| 2006 | Ball | ? |
| 2006 | Clubs | Karapet Dance / Kalinka |
| 2006 | Ribbon | Ouverture music from La Gazza Ladra by Rossini |
| 2005 | Rope | Boublitchski |
| 2005 | Ball | Intrada music from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky |
| 2005 | Clubs | The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball; The Jellicle Ball; The Gumbie Cat from Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 2005 | Ribbon | I: Tempo Di Valse Ma Non Troppo Vivo, Quasi Moderato & II. Andante; Allegro from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky |
| 2004 | Hoop | "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" music from Kill Bill by Santa Esmeralda |
| 2004 | Ball | O Sole Mio by Eduardo di Capua |
| 2004 | Clubs | Mawoud by Said Mrad |
| 2004 | Ribbon | Lament To Birch Bark from The Best Of Russian Folk Music by Moscow Balalaika Quartet |
| 2003 | Hoop | Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, for violin & orchestra in A minor, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns |
| 2003 | Ball | Shurale by Firad Yarullin |
| 2003 | Clubs | Dancing with the Muse by Chris Spheeris |
| 2003 | Ribbon | Russian Dance by Vanessa Mae |
| 2002 | Hoop | Terry's theme from Limelight by Charlie Chaplin |
| 2002 | Ball | ? |
| 2002 | Clubs | Quixote by Bond |
| 2002 | Rope | Korobejniki from Kamarinskaya by Michael Glinka |