Yulia Portunova

Portunova broke onto the national stage at the 2013 World Junior Curling Championships, where she threw fourth stones for the Russian team skipped by Alina Kovaleva. After qualifying for the tiebreaker round with a 5–4 round robin record, the Russian team won four sudden-death games en route to capturing the World Junior title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1013273/russia-continue-to-make-their-mark-on-international-curling-scene-with-gold-and-silver-at-world-junior-championships|title=Russia continue to make their mark on the international curling scene with gold and silver at World Junior Championships|publisher=Inside the Games|date=March 10, 2013|access-date=April 20, 2021}} It was Russia's first title at the event since 2006. They returned to defend their title the following season at the 2014 World Junior Curling Championships but lost in the 3 vs. 4 page playoff game to Sweden's Isabella Wranå. They then defeated Sweden in the bronze medal game to secure third place and bronze medals for the tournament.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/curling/2014/03/05/kelsey_rocque_skips_canada_to_womens_world_junior_curling_gold.html|title=Kelsey Rocque skips Canada to women's world junior curling gold|work=Toronto Star|publisher=The Canadian Press|date=March 5, 2014|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Portunova was the alternate for Team Victoria Moiseeva, who represented Russia at the 2016 European Curling Championships. The team qualified for the event by defeating the two-time world bronze medallist Anna Sidorova rink in the Russian Supercup.{{Cite news|url=https://worldcurling.info/ecc2016/womens-teams-2016|title=Women's teams taking shape for ECC 2016|work=World Curling Federation|date=October 28, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2021}} Despite entering the event as rookies, the team qualified for the playoffs with a 6–3 record. They then upset Scotland's Eve Muirhead 11–6 in the semifinal to qualify for the final, where they faced Sweden's Anna Hasselborg. Tied 4–4 in the final end, Hasselborg missed her final draw, giving the Russians two points and the victory.{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1044096/russia-and-sweden-retain-european-curling-championships-titles|title=Russia and Sweden retain European Curling Championships titles|publisher=Inside the Games|author=Liam Morgan|date=November 26, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{YouTube|vgSey1Z8_ic|Video (full game): 2016 European Curling Championships - Final - Sweden (Anna Hasselborg) vs Russia (Victoria Moiseeva)}} Also during the 2016–17 season, Team Moiseeva won the silver medal at the 2017 Winter Universiade, losing to Canada's Kelsey Rocque in the final.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2017/02/07/gold-for-canadas-kelsey-rocque-at-winter-universiade/|title=Gold for Canada's Kelsey Rocque at Winter Universiade|work=Curling Canada|date=February 7, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

The Sidorova rink was initially selected to represent Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but after their poor play during the 2017–18 season, the Russian Curling Federation was forced to hold a best-of-seven Olympic Trials between Team Moiseeva and Team Sidorova to see who would represent the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" team at the Olympics.{{Cite news|url=https://winnipegsun.com/sports/other-sports/canadian-curler-carey-fully-supports-banning-russians-from-olympics|title=Canadian curlers fully support banning Russia from Olympics over doping|publisher=Winnipeg Sun|author=Ted Wyman|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2021}} Team Moiseeva won the series four games to one, earning them the Olympic spot.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/post.php?postid=1272|title=Moiseeva wins Russian Olympic Curling Series|website=CurlingZone|access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/curl-oly2-inactive-1.986549|title=Team Homan's path to gold in Pyeongchang|publisher=TSN|author=Ryan Horne|date=February 8, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}} At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the team struggled, finishing in a dismal ninth place with a 2–7 record.{{Cite web|url=http://results.worldcurling.org/Championship/Details/561|title=XXIII. Olympic Winter Games 2018|website=World Curling Federation|access-date=April 20, 2021}} Team Moiseeva also represented Russia at the 2018 World Women's Curling Championship where Portunova played third on the team. They had a much stronger tournament at the World's, qualifying for the playoffs with a 7–5 round robin record and defeating the United States to win the bronze medal.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/curling/skips-deal-with-emotions-after-russia-defeats-usa-for-bronze-at-curling-championship|title=Skips deal with emotions after Russia defeats USA for bronze at curling championship|publisher=Ottawa Sun|author=Don Brennan|date=March 25, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Portunova joined the Sidorova rink at third for the 2018–19 season. On tour, the team won two events, the Karuizawa International{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/team-carruthers-bounce-back-with-victory-at-karuizawa-international-in-japan-1.1230798|title=Team Carruthers bounce back with victory at Karuizawa International|publisher=TSN|author=Ryan Horne|date=December 23, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2021}} and the International Bernese Ladies Cup and lost the final of the Stockholm Ladies Cup to Anna Hasselborg. The team also competed in three legs of the 2018–19 Curling World Cup, finishing in third at all three legs they attended. They competed in a best-of-seven series against the Alina Kovaleva rink to represent Russia at the 2019 World Women's Curling Championship but lost the event four games to one.

Team Sidorova started the 2019–20 season at the 2019 Cameron's Brewing Oakville Fall Classic, where they lost in the qualification game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=5846&teamid=134582&profileid=|title=2019 Cameron's Brewing Oakville Fall Classic|website=CurlingZone|access-date=April 20, 2021}} They next played in the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard where they lost to Anna Hasselborg in the final.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/curling/epping-hasselborg-grind-title-victories-oakville-tankard/|title=Epping, Hasselborg grind out title victories at Oakville Tankard|publisher=Sportsnet|first=Jonathan|last=Brazeau|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021}} They missed the playoffs at the inaugural WCT Uiseong International Curling Cup{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/wct-recap-mike-mcewen-nina-roth-win-uiseong-international-1.1376853|title=WCT Recap: Rocque, Tardi back in win column; Jacobs tops Koe in Toronto|publisher=TSN|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021}} before having a quarterfinal finish at the Women's Masters Basel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=6010&teamid=138569&profileid=|title=2019 Womens Masters Basel|website=CurlingZone|access-date=April 20, 2021}} Despite their early successes on tour, Team Sidorova lost the Russian qualifier for the 2019 European Curling Championships to Alina Kovaleva in six games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=6240&teamid=140140&profileid=|title=2019 European Championships Qualifier – Russia|website=CurlingZone|access-date=April 20, 2021}} They turned things around, however, the following month at the Karuizawa International where they went an undefeated 7–0 throughout the event and defeated Satsuki Fujisawa 5–4 in the final.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/wct-recap-anna-sidorova-yuta-matsumura-win-karuizawa-international-in-japan-1.1417308|title=WCT Recap: Sidorova, Matsumura win Karuizawa International in Japan|publisher=TSN|date=December 22, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7phjk0|title=2019 Karuizawa International Final – Sidorova vs Fujisawa|website=Daily Motion|date=22 December 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2021}} They also had a semifinal finish at the Glynhill Ladies International and a quarterfinal finish at the International Bernese Ladies Cup. Their final event of the season was at the 2020 Russian Women's World Qualification Event, where they would once again lose to the Kovaleva rink in a best-of-seven series.{{YouTube|jD8mjnZi1_0|Video (full game): 2020 Russian Women's World Qualification Event - Game 5 - Anna Sidorova (Moscow) vs Alina Kovaleva (Saint Petersburg)}}

Portunova and her team began the abbreviated 2020–21 season at the 2020 Russian Women's Curling Cup, where they went undefeated until the final, where they lost to Team Kovaleva.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=6734&eventtypeid=82&view=Playoffs#1|title=2020 Russian Women's Curling Cup – Playoffs|website=CurlingZone|access-date=June 8, 2021}} In December 2020, Team Sidorova competed in the 2020 national championship as it had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There, they topped the round robin with an 8–1 record, defeating the Kovaleva rink in their final round robin draw. They then lost both the 1 vs. 2 page playoff and final to Kovaleva, settling for silver.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=6812&eventtypeid=82&view=Playoffs#1|title=2020 Russian Women's Curling Championship – Playoffs|website=CurlingZone|access-date=June 8, 2021}} A "curling bubble" was set up in Calgary, Canada in the spring, which hosted several events, including the 2021 World Women's Curling Championship and two slams.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curling.ca/blog/2021/03/05/womens-worlds-added-to-bubble/|title=Women's Worlds added to bubble|publisher=Curling Canada|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=June 8, 2021}} Team Kovaleva qualified for all three events and added Portunova to their lineup due to a conflict with the 2021 Russian Women's Curling Championship where their regular third Maria Komarova was representing the team. At the 2021 Champions Cup, the team qualified for the playoffs before losing to Silvana Tirinzoni in the quarterfinals. They then missed the playoffs at the 2021 Players' Championship, finishing 2–3. The following week, the team represented the RCF (Russian Curling Federation) at the World Championships, as Russia is prohibited from competing under its flag or any national symbols at any Olympic Games or world championships until December 16, 2022. The team finished second through the round robin with an 11–2 record, giving them a direct bye to the semifinals. They then defeated Sweden's Anna Hasselborg 8–7 in the semifinal before losing the final to Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni after Kovaleva missed a freeze on her final shot.{{YouTube|VKNasCG04dA|Video (full game): 2021 World Women's Curling Championship - Final - Switzerland (Silvana Tirinzoni) vs RCF (Alina Kovaleva)}}{{Cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/tirinzoni-switzerland-successfully-defend-world-women-curling-title|title=Tirinzoni and Switzerland successfully defend world women's curling title with win over RCF|publisher=Olympics|author=ZK Goh|date=May 10, 2021|access-date=June 8, 2021}}

In their first event of the 2021–22 season, Team Kovaleva went undefeated to claim the Saint Petersburg Classic.{{Cite web|url=https://worldcurlingtour.org/women/event/578|title=Saint Petersburg Classic|website=World Curling Tour|access-date=June 18, 2022}} At the first Slam of the season, the 2021 Masters, the team reached the semifinals where they lost to Tracy Fleury.{{Cite news|url=https://thegrandslamofcurling.com/jacobs-to-meet-mouat-in-masters-mens-final/|title=Jacobs to meet Mouat in Masters men's final|publisher=Grand Slam of Curling|author=Jonathan Brazeau|date=October 23, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022}} They also qualified for the playoffs at the 2021 National, however, lost to Silvana Tirinzoni in the quarterfinal round. At the 2021 European Curling Championships, Team Kovaleva went through the round robin with a 7–2 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They then lost to Sweden's Anna Hasselborg and Germany's Daniela Jentsch in the semifinal and bronze medal games, respectively, placing fourth.{{Cite news|url=https://worldcurling.org/2021/11/ecc2021-women-bronze/|title=Germany women win European bronze medals in Lillehammer|publisher=World Curling Federation|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022}} Because of their second place finish at the 2021 World Championship, Portunova and her teammates Alina Kovaleva, Galina Arsenkina, Ekaterina Kuzmina and Maria Komarova qualified directly for the 2022 Winter Olympics where they represented the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee). At the Games, the team had a poor performance, finishing at the bottom of the standings with a 1–8 record.{{Cite news|url=https://worldcurling.org/2022/02/beijing-w-s12/|title=Great Britain and Japan women complete play-off picture|publisher=World Curling Federation|date=February 17, 2022|access-date=June 18, 2022}} The Olympics would be the team's final event of the season as due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, all Russian teams were banned from participating in any World Curling Championships in 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://worldcurling.org/2022/02/emergency-regulation/|title=World Curling Federation adopts emergency regulation for sanctioned competitions|publisher=World Curling Federation|date=February 28, 2022|access-date=June 18, 2022}} The team was also excluded from the final two Grand Slams of the season, the 2022 Players' Championship and the 2022 Champions Cup. At the end of the season, Team Kovaleva competed in the 2022 Nornickel Curling Cup, held only between Russian teams. There, they finished in third place.{{Cite news|url=http://arcticcurling.ru/news/takie-shou-malo-gde-uvidish-igroki-team-kovaleva-o-nornickel-curling-cup/|title="You won't see many shows like this." Team Kovaleva players about the Nornickel Curling Cup|language=ru|publisher=Arctic Cup|date=May 29, 2022|access-date=June 26, 2022}}

Portunova is a full-time curler.

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{{Reflist}}

• {{World Curling|name=Yulia Portunova}}
• {{Olympedia|name=Yuliya Portunova}}
• {{Olympics.com profile|name=Julia Portunova}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20220311082735/https://results.beijing2022.cn/beijing-2022/olympic-games/en/results/curling/athlete-profile-n1036539-julia-portunova.htm Julia Portunova] at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (archived)
• {{Instagram|julia_portunova|Julia Portunova (Юлия Портунова)}}

{{Footer European Curling Champions (women)}}

{{Footer World Junior Curling Champions (women)}}

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Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Curlers at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Category:Russian female curlers

Category:Olympic curlers for Russia

Category:Sportspeople from Kaliningrad

Category:European curling champions

Category:Winter World University Games medalists in curling

Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for Russia

Category:Competitors at the 2017 Winter Universiade

Category:Curlers at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Category:21st-century Russian sportswomen