Irina Kikkas

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Irina Kikkas
Born (1984-07-22) 22 July 1984 (age 41)
Tallinn, Estonia
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) [1]
Gymnastics career
Discipline Rhythmic gymnastics
Country
represented		Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
ClubSpordiklubi Velar
Head coach(es)Larissa Gorbunova
ChoreographerVera Bondarenko

Irina Kikkas (born 22 July 1984) [2] is an Estonian former rhythmic gymnast. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and was the first Estonian rhythmic gymnast to compete at the Olympic Games.

Contents

Early life

Kikkas was born on 22 July 1984 in Tallinn. Her father is an athletics coach who coached Estonian pole vaulter Valeri Bukrejev. [3] She began rhythmic gymnastics when she was five years old. [4]

Gymnastics career

Kikkas competed at her first World Championships in 1999 and finished 49th in the all-around qualifications. [4]

Kikkas initially finished 14th in the all-around at the 2001 World Championships. At the time, this marked Estonia's best result at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships. [3] [4] She was moved up to 12th place after Alina Kabaeva and Irina Tchachina's medals were stripped. [5]

Kikkas finished 17th in the all-around competition at the 2004 European Championships. [6] She did not qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics. [7] She competed at the 2005 World Championships and finished 33rd in the all-around qualification round. [8]

Kikkas qualified for the all-around final at the 2007 World Championships, finishing 18th and earning a berth for the 2008 Summer Olympics. [9] This marked the first time an Estonian rhythmic gymnast qualified for the Olympic Games. [7] [10]

Kikkas finished 16th in the all-around competition at the 2008 European Championships. [11] [12] She then represented Estonia at the 2008 Summer Olympics. During the qualification round, she dropped both the hoop and the clubs and finished in 20th place, [13] failing to advance to the final. [14]

Personal life

Kikkas studied for a master's degree in choreography from Tallinn University. [7] In 2009, she started her coaching career by opening her club named “Irina Kikkas Gymnastic Club”. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Irina Kikkas". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Irina Kikkas Rhythmic Gymnastics Bio". NBC Olympics . Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 Kasemets, Maili (23 October 2001). "Irina Kikkas täitis MMil ühe oma unistustest" [Irina Kikkas fulfilled one of her dreams at the World Championships]. Postimees Sport (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Kalvik, Andres (30 October 2001). "Irina Kikkase tähelend kestab vaid mõne aasta" [Irina Kikkas' stardom will only last a few years]. Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "24th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. Individuals only. 2001, October, 17 – 21, MADRID (ESP) RG – Senior Detailed Results". International Gymnastics Federation . Archived from the original on 26 March 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "20th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics Kiev (UKR) June 4 – June 6, 2004 Results Individual All-Around Final" (PDF). European Gymnastics . 6 June 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Järvela, Ott (21 September 2007). "Irina Kikkas: "Pisarad olid silmas. Õnnepisarad!"" [Irina Kikkas: "Tears were in my eyes. Tears of happiness!"]. Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  8. ↑ "27th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 3 – 9 October, Baku 2005 Results Team Competition and Qualifications" (PDF). USA Gymnastics . International Gymnastics Federation. 6 October 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Individual All-Around Final Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics . International Gymnastics Federation. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Taras, Madis (21 September 2007). "Irina Kikkas pääses esimese Eesti iluvõimlejana olümpiamängudele" [Irina Kikkas became the first Estonian gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games]. Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "24th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships Torino (ITA) 5 – 6 June 2008 Results Individual Seniors All-Around Competition" (PDF). European Gymnastics . 6 June 2008. p. 21. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Irina Kikkas sai EMil 16. koha" [Irina Kikkas finished 16th at the European Championships]. Postimees Sport (in Estonian). 6 June 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  13. ↑ Höglund, Inga (22 August 2008). "Iluvõimlemise mitmevõistluse võitis venelanna, Kikkas lõpetas 20. kohaga" [Russian gymnast wins all-around competition, Kikkas finishes 20th]. Postimees Sport (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  14. ↑ "Rhythmic Gymnastics – Individual All-Around Qualification". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "Irina Kikkase Võimlemisklubi". Irina Kikkase. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
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