Mariya Abakumova

Mariya Abakumova, BG2015

Mariya Abakumova (Russian: Мария Абакумова; born 15 January 1986) is a retired Russian javelin thrower. Abakumova is best known for her silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she set a Russian national record with a throw of 70.78 meters. Her career has been marked by notable achievements and controversies, including a doping scandal that led to the stripping of her 2011 World Championships gold medal.

Career

Abakumova began her international career in the early 2000s, quickly establishing herself as a formidable competitor in the women's javelin throw. Her early promise was evident when she won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, setting a personal best and national record in the process. This performance announced her as a leading figure in the sport.

In 2011, at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Abakumova won the gold medal with a throw of 71.99 meters, which was a championship record. This victory was a pinnacle of her career, showcasing her as one of the top javelin throwers in the world.

However, Abakumova's career faced a significant setback when she was implicated in a doping scandal. In 2016, it was announced that retests of her samples from the 2008 Olympics had returned positive for the banned substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid. As a result, she was stripped of her Olympic silver medal. Further repercussions came in 2018, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld a decision to strip her of her 2011 World Championship gold medal due to doping violations.

Controversy

The doping scandal significantly impacted Abakumova's legacy in the sport. Despite her achievements, the revelations and subsequent disqualifications have overshadowed her career. The situation reflects broader issues of doping within athletics and the ongoing efforts by governing bodies to ensure fair competition.

Retirement

Mariya Abakumova announced her retirement from professional athletics in 2021, ending a career that was as much marked by controversy as it was by her achievements on the field. Despite the setbacks, her performances, particularly at the 2008 Olympics and the 2011 World Championships, remain memorable moments in the history of javelin throw.

Legacy

Abakumova's career is a complex legacy of remarkable athletic achievement and the shadow of doping allegations. Her national records and championship performances have secured her a place in the history of Russian athletics, even as the sport continues to grapple with the challenges of ensuring a clean and fair competition environment.