Valentina Simonova
Valentina Ivanovna Simonova is a Russian swimming coach, honored as a Honored Coach of Russia and Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation. She specializes in coaching athletes with musculoskeletal disorders.
Biography
Valentina Simonova has been working as a swimming coach for athletes with musculoskeletal disorders since 1989.In 1999, following the merger of SDYUSSHOR No. 6 and DUSSH No. 29 in Omsk, she was appointed the director of the newly united sports school.
Achievements and notable students
Simonova has coached numerous athletes who achieved high results in swimming:- Dmitri Poline – Honoured Master of Sport of Russia, champion of the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, 2006 world champion, world record holder, recipient of the Order of Friendship of Peoples.
- Ruslan Sadvakasov – Master of Sports of International Class, participant of the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.
- Dmitry Ostapchuk – Master of Sports of International Class, participant of the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.
- Nikolai Ponomaryov – Master of Sports of International Class, finalist at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona.
- Yuri Likarovsky – Master of Sports, participant of the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, multiple-time Russian champion and medalist.
Awards
Simonova has received several awards and honors, including:- Order of Friendship of Peoples
- Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II class
- Gold Medal "For Outstanding Services to the Omsk Region"
- Badge of Honor "For Merit in the Development of Physical Culture and Sports"