Olga Kapranova

{{Infobox gymnast

| name = Olga Kapranova

| image = Olga Kapranova in 2023 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Ольга Серге́евна Капра́нова
Olga Sergeyevna Kapranova

| altname =

| nickname =

| country = {{RUS}}

| formercountry =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|12|06}}

| birth_place = Moscow, Russia SFSR

| hometown =

| residence =

| death_date =

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| height = {{convert|177|cm|ftin}}

| discipline = RG

| natlteam =

| club = Gazprom

| gym =

| collegeteam =

| headcoach = Irina Viner

| assistcoach = Vera Shatalina

| formercoach = Elena Nefedova

| choreographer = Veronica Shatkova

| music =

| eponymousskills =

| retired = 2009

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{RUS}} }}

}}

Olga Sergeyevna Kapranova ({{langx|ru|Ольга Серге́евна Капра́нова}}; born 6 December 1987) 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 (2007, 2008) Grand Prix Final all-around champion, a two-time (2004, 2006) 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.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2025 |title=Don’t mess with Alina Gymnast and rumored Putin paramour Alina Kabaeva has returned to the public spotlight as a sports czar |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/01/24/don-t-mess-with-alina |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Meduza |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=10 October 2005 |title=Olga floors' them all |url=http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2005/10/10/sports/12275026&sec=sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629060724/http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2005/10/10/sports/12275026&sec=sports |archive-date=29 June 2011 |website=The Star Online}} She won a total of five of the six available gold medals at the event.{{Cite web |last=Zetilov |first=I. |date=23 November 2010 |title=Десятикратная чемпионка мира Ольга Капранова: На ковер больше не тянет |trans-title=Ten-time world champion Olga Kapranova: I don't feel like going to the carpet anymore |url=http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/420385 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201023203/http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/420385 |archive-date=1 December 2010 |website=sovsport.ru |language=Russian}}

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.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/olga-kapranova-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417220503/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/olga-kapranova-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-17}}

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.{{Cite web |date=22 December 2009 |title=Ольга Капранова завершила карьеру |trans-title=Olga Kapranova ends her career |url=http://news.sport-express.ru/2009-12-22/337031/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808172739/http://news.sport-express.ru/2009-12-22/337031/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 |website=news.sport-express.ru |language=Russian}}

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

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! scope=col \| Year ! scope=col \| Apparatus ! scope=col \| Music title {{cite web \|title=Kapranova RG music list \|url=http://www.rgforum.no/music/searchresults.php?gymnast_lastname=kapranova&gymnast_firstname=&nation=&apparatus=&tidsrom_fra=&music_title=&music_from=&music_composer=&lagtinn_etter_dato=01&lagtinn_etter_mnd=01&lagtinn_etter_aar=2004&programtype_individuell=on&status_godkjent=on \|publisher=rgforum}}
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2009 \| Hoop \| Slovanic March op.31 by Tchaikovsky
Ball \| Caruso from Voice by Neal Schon
Rope \| Act 1 – Appearance Of Kitri / Act 1 – Variation: Kitri from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus
Ribbon \| Mozart 40# in dream-mystery by Angelika / Mozart
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2008 \| Hoop \| Act 1 – Kitri and Basilio, Variation: Kitri music from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus
Rope \| Pogonya
Clubs \| Introduction: Moderato Assai – Allegro Ma Non Troppo from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
Ribbon \| Katyusha Remix by DJ Ras Putin
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2007 \| Hoop \| Turandot music from Nessun Dorma Giacomo Puccini
Rope \| La Habanera music from One Second by Yello
Clubs \| Act 1 no. 8 Pas d'action music from The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky
Ribbon \| Barynya (Landlady) – (Russian Traditional)
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2006 \| Rope \| Tango Ballet For Violin And String Orchestra: Titulos / La Calle by Astor Piazzolla
Ball \| ?
Clubs \| Karapet Dance / Kalinka (Russian & Ukrainian Traditionals)
Ribbon \| Ouverture music from La Gazza Ladra by Rossini
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2005 \| Rope \| Boublitchski (Russian traditional song)
Ball \| Intrada music from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Clubs \| The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball; The Jellicle Ball; The Gumbie Cat from Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Ribbon \| I: Tempo Di Valse Ma Non Troppo Vivo, Quasi Moderato & II. Andante; Allegro from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2004 \| Hoop \| "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" music from Kill Bill by Santa Esmeralda
Ball \| O Sole Mio by Eduardo di Capua
Clubs \| Mawoud (Club Mix) by Said Mrad
Ribbon \| Lament To Birch Bark from The Best Of Russian Folk Music by Moscow Balalaika Quartet
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2003 \| Hoop \| Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, for violin & orchestra in A minor, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns
Ball \| Shurale by Firad Yarullin
Clubs \| Dancing with the Muse by Chris Spheeris
Ribbon \| Russian Dance (from Swan Lake) by Vanessa Mae
scope=row rowspan=4 \| 2002 \| Hoop \| Terry's theme from Limelight by Charlie Chaplin
Ball \| ?
Clubs \| Quixote by Bond
Rope \| Korobejniki from Kamarinskaya by Michael Glinka

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! scope=col | Year

! scope=col | Apparatus

! scope=col | Music title {{cite web |title=Kapranova RG music list |url=http://www.rgforum.no/music/searchresults.php?gymnast_lastname=kapranova&gymnast_firstname=&nation=&apparatus=&tidsrom_fra=&music_title=&music_from=&music_composer=&lagtinn_etter_dato=01&lagtinn_etter_mnd=01&lagtinn_etter_aar=2004&programtype_individuell=on&status_godkjent=on |publisher=rgforum}}

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2009

| Hoop

| Slovanic March op.31 by Tchaikovsky

Ball

| Caruso from Voice by Neal Schon

Rope

| Act 1 – Appearance Of Kitri / Act 1 – Variation: Kitri from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus

Ribbon

| Mozart 40# in dream-mystery by Angelika / Mozart

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2008

| Hoop

| Act 1 – Kitri and Basilio, Variation: Kitri music from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus

Rope

| Pogonya

Clubs

| Introduction: Moderato Assai – Allegro Ma Non Troppo from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky

Ribbon

| Katyusha Remix by DJ Ras Putin

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2007

| Hoop

| Turandot music from Nessun Dorma Giacomo Puccini

Rope

| La Habanera music from One Second by Yello

Clubs

| Act 1 no. 8 Pas d'action music from The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky

Ribbon

| Barynya (Landlady) – (Russian Traditional)

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2006

| Rope

| Tango Ballet For Violin And String Orchestra: Titulos / La Calle by Astor Piazzolla

Ball

| ?

Clubs

| Karapet Dance / Kalinka (Russian & Ukrainian Traditionals)

Ribbon

| Ouverture music from La Gazza Ladra by Rossini

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2005

| Rope

| Boublitchski (Russian traditional song)

Ball

| Intrada music from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Clubs

| The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball; The Jellicle Ball; The Gumbie Cat from Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Ribbon

| I: Tempo Di Valse Ma Non Troppo Vivo, Quasi Moderato & II. Andante; Allegro from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2004

| Hoop

| "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" music from Kill Bill by Santa Esmeralda

Ball

| O Sole Mio by Eduardo di Capua

Clubs

| Mawoud (Club Mix) by Said Mrad

Ribbon

| Lament To Birch Bark from The Best Of Russian Folk Music by Moscow Balalaika Quartet

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2003

| Hoop

| Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, for violin & orchestra in A minor, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns

Ball

| Shurale by Firad Yarullin

Clubs

| Dancing with the Muse by Chris Spheeris

Ribbon

| Russian Dance (from Swan Lake) by Vanessa Mae

scope=row rowspan=4 | 2002

| Hoop

| Terry's theme from Limelight by Charlie Chaplin

Ball

| ?

Clubs

| Quixote by Bond

Rope

| Korobejniki from Kamarinskaya by Michael Glinka

Detailed Olympic results

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year ! Competition Description ! Location ! Music ! Apparatus ! Rank ! Score-Final ! Rank ! Score-Qualifying
rowspan="5" \| 2008 \| rowspan="5" \| Olympics \| rowspan="5" \| Beijing \| \| All-around \| 4th \| 71.700 \| 2nd \| 72.900
Katyusha Remix by DJ Ras Putin \| Ribbon \| 3rd \| 18.050 \| 2nd \| 17.875
Pogonya \| Rope \| 2nd \| 18.200 \| 1st \| 18.350
Act 1 – Kitri and Basilio, Variation: Kitri music from Don Quixote by Leon Minkus \| Hoop \| 2nd \| 18.500 \| 2nd \| 18.475
Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky \| Clubs \| 8th \| 16.950 \| 2nd \| 18.200

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Year

! Competition Description

! Location

! Music

! Apparatus

! Rank

! Score-Final

! Rank

! Score-Qualifying

rowspan="5" | 2008

| rowspan="5" | Olympics