Ekaterina Bukina: freestyle wrestling as a means of self-realization

The Irkutsk region is becoming a real talent supplier for the Russian women's national wrestling team. The main star here, of course, is Natalia Vorobyeva, who won at the Olympics in London, but there is also a multiple winner and winner of the largest freestyle wrestling tournaments up to 75 kg Ekaterina Bukina. At one time, she competed with a younger countrywoman, then she changed the weight category and cleared Catherine's way to the Olympic Games in 2016, where Bukin was able to take a bronze medal. In addition to sports feats, the Siberian woman still works in the police in the rank of a senior lieutenant and teaches male colleagues about self-defense techniques.

The junior period

Member of the national team for freestyle wrestling Ekaterina Bukina was born in Angarsk, that in the Irkutsk region, in 1987. Originally the girl was engaged in track and field athletics and achieved certain successes in this sport. Then, after all, there was a place for free wrestling in the biography of Ekaterina Bukina. Not exactly a woman's sport fell in love with Natalia, and since 2000 she began to disappear in the training halls, honing techniques and throws. Progress athlete has become evident, and after a while the Siberian moves to Moscow to enter a qualitatively new level of development.

In 2004, she first showed herself at the junior level, becoming vice-champion of Europe in freestyle wrestling. Ekaterina Bukina did not slow down and two years later she took bronze at the World Youth Championship in Guatemala. In 2007, she climbed one step of the pedestal higher, becoming a silver medalist in Paris.

Adults wins

By the end of the zero years Ekaterina Bukina became the leader of the women's team in freestyle wrestling in the category up to 72 kg. She wins at the national championship in 2010 and is selected for participation in the largest international tournaments. At the European Championships in freestyle wrestling, Ekaterina Bukina passes to the finals and only in a stubborn battle is inferior to the winner. At the 2010 World Championship in Moscow, the competition was tougher, and the athlete takes a bronze award.

A year later, she again wins the national selection and becomes vice-champion of the world in the tournament in Istanbul. Most experts expect Ekaterina Bukina to represent the country at the Olympics in London.

Lost olympic package

However, at the same time another "star" of free-style wrestling from the Irkutsk region gained momentum. At the Russian Championship in 2012, which decided the issue of selection for the Olympic Games, Natalia Vorobyova in a brilliant style won a clean victory over the Siberian.

However, the sportswoman from Angarsk did not give up and continued to work hard on herself and fight with competitors. Soon Natalia Vorobyeva leaves the category to 72 kg, and in free-style wrestling, Ekaterina Bukina has a new chance to loudly declare herself. She again becomes the strongest in the country and wins in domestic tournaments.

Competition in women's wrestling at the Olympics

Ekaterina Bukina wins the Russian Championship in 2013, 2014 after a two-year hiatus, but the national championship of the next even year becomes decisive for her. After all, according to the results of the competition, the winner received a ticket to the Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio.

Not without problems, Ekaterina Bukina defeated Alena Perepelkin in the finals of the Russian championship in 2016 and won the right to participate in the main launches of the fourth anniversary. To the most important tournament in her life Irkutsk athlete came in excellent form and confidently beat all the opponents up to the semi-finals.

She was preparing to fight against the strongest girls - Yasimin Adar, Adeline Gray, Erica Veibe. In the semifinal, the experienced Guzel Manyurova, who previously represented Russia, waited for her, and then made the choice of sports citizenship in favor of Kazakhstan. Ekaterina Bukina was considered the clear favorite in the match against the 38-year-old sportswoman and confidently controlled the duel, leading the score 8-1. However, in a matter of seconds before the end of the Russian woman lost concentration and missed the lightning attack of the Kazakh girl, who pinned her to the carpet and won a clean victory.

Yuri Shahmuradov, the head coach of the women's team, urged the athlete to stop shedding tears after an insulting defeat and go prepare for the match for third place. Opponent Catherine Bukina was Cameroonian athlete Anabel Laura Ali. Equal, cautious struggle has reached the moment when the account has become equal. However, Ekaterina Bukina had an advantage as receptions, which her rival lost sight of. The African girl did not go into the attack, and the battle in a cautious manner and ended with a general victory of the Russian woman.

After the end of the competition, the president of the Federation in free-style wrestling of Russia burst into an angry tirade against girls who missed the right medals for a few seconds before the end of the bout. Catherine Bukina also fell into the fire. However, the cold-blooded girl reacted calmly to this, saying that she understands the emotions of a great official.

Senior Lieutenant

Sport is not the only place in the life of the famous sportswoman. She worked as a trainer in the FSKN, and after the disbandment of this structure she went to the police. Here, Senior Lieutenant Ekaterina Bukina teaches men the basics of free-style wrestling and self-defense techniques.