Mikhalina Lysova

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Mikhalina Lysova

| image = Mikhalina Lysova 2018.jpg

| caption = Lysova in 2018

| fullname = Mikhalina Anatoljevna Lysova

| nationality = Russian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|03|29|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Nizhny Tagil, Sverdlovsk Oblast

| years_active = 2002 – present

| spouse = Dmytro Shulga

| country = {{RUS}}

| sport = Paralympic Nordic skiing (Paralympic cross-country skiing and Paralympic biathlon)

| disability_class = B3

| show-medals = no

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCount

|Paralympics|6|7|3

|World Championships|10|4|2

|Total|16|11|5

}}

{{MedalCountry|{{RUS}}}}

{{MedalCountry|the
{{nowrap|{{flagIPC|NPA|2018 Winter}}}}}}

{{MedalCountry|{{RUS}}}}

{{MedalCountry|the
{{nowrap|{{flagIPC|NPA|2018 Winter}}}}}}

{{MedalCountry|{{RUS}}}}

}}

Mikhalina Anatolyevna Lysova ({{langx|ru|Михалина Анатольевна Лысова}}; born 29 March 1992) is a Russian visually impaired cross-country skier and biathlete.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/cross-country-skiing/athletes/mikhalina-lysova_ath3001832vK.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409004508/http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/cross-country-skiing/athletes/mikhalina-lysova_ath3001832vK.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-04-09|title=Mikhalina Lysova - Cross-Country Skiing Athletes : Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics|date=2010-04-09|access-date=2018-02-10}} She has represented Russia at the Paralympics in 2010 and in 2014 competing in the cross-country skiing and biathlon events.{{Cite web|url=http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=-1&personid=917570|title=Mikhalina Lysova|website=ipc.infostradasports.com|access-date=2018-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071818/http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=-1&personid=917570|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}} She progressed to become one of the most consistent Paralympics Nordic skiers of Russia as she claimed 16 medals in her Paralympic career including 6 gold medals. She was also the recipient of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland and Order of Friendship awards.{{Cite web|url=http://ntagil.org/news/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=106654|title=Чемпионке Паралимпийских игр Михалине Лысовой подарили квартиру в Нижнем Тагиле {{!}} Нижний Тагил. Официальный сайт|website=ntagil.org|access-date=2018-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071800/http://ntagil.org/news/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=106654|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}}

Early life

Mikhalina Lysova was born on 29 March 1992 and had a weak vision since her birth. Her father worked as a fitter and her mother worked in a kindergarten. She was encouraged to take the sport of skiing by her elder sister, Aleksandra Lysova, in 2002 when she was just ten years old though her parents did not like it. She was married to a Ukrainian Paralympic Nordic skier, Dmytro Shulga, who has represented Ukraine at the Paralympics in 2010 and 2014.

Career

Lysova made her first Paralympic appearance during the 2010 Winter Paralympics representing Russia and had a successful Paralympic event claiming 5 medals in her debut Paralympic event including a gold medal and 2 silver medals in the cross-country skiing events{{Cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/cross-country-skiing/schedule-and-results/womens-5-km-classic--visually-impaired_ccw305101pKK.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409004432/http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/cross-country-skiing/schedule-and-results/womens-5-km-classic--visually-impaired_ccw305101pKK.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-04-09|title=Women's 5 km Classic, Visually Impaired - Visually Impaired, Classic : Schedule and Results : Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics|date=2010-04-09|access-date=2018-02-10}} and 2 bronze medals in the biathlon events. She was awarded the IPC Athlete of the Month for April in 2011 due to consistent performances at the 2011 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships as she claimed 7 medals in the World Championships.{{Cite web|url=https://m.paralympic.org/feature/no-12-mikhalina-lysova-and-roman-petushkovs-perfect-ten|title=No 12: Mikhalina Lysova and Roman Petushkov's perfect ten|website=m.paralympic.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131244/https://m.paralympic.org/feature/no-12-mikhalina-lysova-and-roman-petushkovs-perfect-ten|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}}

She was also qualified to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics which was held in Russia and claimed 6 medals in the Paralympic event including 2 gold, 1 silver medals in the biathlon events and 1 gold, 2 silver medals in the cross-country skiing events.{{Cite news|url=http://tass.com/sport/722709|title=Russian biathlete Mikhalina Lysova wins Paralympic gold in women's 6km|work=TASS|access-date=2018-02-10|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071655/http://tass.com/sport/722709|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}} Mikhalina Lysova was also the flagbearer for Russia at the closing ceremony during the 2014 Winter Paralympics.{{Cite news|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20478|title=Congratulations to Mikhalina Lysova, gold medallist in biathlon at the Winter Paralympics|work=President of Russia|access-date=2018-02-10|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071713/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20478|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}}

She represented Neutral Paralympic Athletes at the 2018 Winter Paralympics as Russia was suspended and banned from competing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics due to doping scandal.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aif.ru/olymp2014/paralympic/1126951|title=Не с кем было оставить: путь в спорт звезды Паралимпиады Михалины Лысовой|website=www.aif.ru|date=18 March 2014 |access-date=2018-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071659/http://www.aif.ru/olymp2014/paralympic/1126951|archive-date=2018-02-11|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/jp/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/athlete-profile-n7920002-mikhalina-lysova.htm|title=Biathlon {{!}} Athlete Profile: Mikhalina LYSOVA - Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games|website=www.pyeongchang2018.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310201059/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/jp/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/athlete-profile-n7920002-mikhalina-lysova.htm|archive-date=2018-03-10|url-status=live}} Mikhalina Lysova claimed her 5th Paralympic gold medal after clinched a gold medal in the women's 6km individual event during the 2018 Winter Paralympics, which is also her third gold Paralympic gold medal in biathlon events.{{Cite news|url=http://tass.com/sport/993403|title=Para athlete from Russia Lysova wins gold in biathlon at 2018 Paralympics|work=TASS|access-date=2018-03-10|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310201401/http://tass.com/sport/993403|archive-date=2018-03-10|url-status=live}}

Defamation lawsuit

In April 2018 after the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Paralympics on 18 March 2018, a German daily newspaper called Bild, falsely claimed Mikhalina Lysova for doping by blaming her for being indifferent to fellow Russian athletes who have been caught for doping issues and also filed a complaint against her at a court.{{Cite web|url=https://paralymp.ru/en/press_center/news/press-releases-en/mikhalina-lysova-defended-her-rights-in-the-district-court-of-hamburg-against-the-statements-of-the-/|title=Mikhalina Lysova defended her rights in the District Court of Hamburg against the statements of the Bild newspaper, which called the athlete "Russian who takes doping"|website=paralymp.ru|access-date=2018-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525205856/https://paralymp.ru/en/press_center/news/press-releases-en/mikhalina-lysova-defended-her-rights-in-the-district-court-of-hamburg-against-the-statements-of-the-/|archive-date=2018-05-25|url-status=live}} The newspaper also believed that Mikhalina would have used banned substances to boost her performance at the 2018 Winter Paralympics where she managed to pick up 5 medals.{{Cite news|url=http://tass.com/sport/999618|title=German daily Bild grossly violated personal rights of Paralympian Lysova — sports minister|work=TASS|access-date=2018-05-25|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525204525/http://tass.com/sport/999618|archive-date=2018-05-25|url-status=live}} However, Mikhalina Lysova managed to prove herself as an honest and innocent person after winning the court case against the German newspaper.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1064002/russian-paralympic-champion-lysova-wins-case-against-german-newspaper-after-doping-claims|title=Russian Paralympic champion Lysova wins case against German newspaper after doping claims|access-date=2018-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525204710/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1064002/russian-paralympic-champion-lysova-wins-case-against-german-newspaper-after-doping-claims|archive-date=2018-05-25|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://handofmoscow.com/2018/04/13/paralympic-champion-from-russia-proved-the-innocence-to-doping/|title=Paralympic champion from Russia proved the innocence to doping {{!}} Russian news EN|website=handofmoscow.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525204742/http://handofmoscow.com/2018/04/13/paralympic-champion-from-russia-proved-the-innocence-to-doping/|archive-date=2018-05-25|url-status=live}}