Russian skeleton racer Yulia Kanakina is a former Junior World Championships title-winner and a Skeleton World Cup competitor and medallist. Having dominated on the junior circuit for several years, she is now proving her skill at senior competition, and is set to be one of the most hotly anticipated skeleton racers over the coming years. Kanakina is also fast becoming a major sports star in her native Russia, with legions of fans and tens of thousands of followers across social media.
Born in Krasnoyarsk, Kanakina impressed on the track from an early age, enjoying early success at events including the Intercontinental Cup, the North American Cup and the Junior World Championships. However, she would make headlines when she took gold at the Junior Worlds in Sigulda in 2017, positioning her as one of the most promising women in the sport. The following year she returned to the competition to take silver, before adding another major title to her tally when she was named Junior European Champion in 2019.
Kanakina began competing on the Skeleton World Cup circuit during the 2014-15 season, and scored her first Top 10 finish the following year. She would enjoy her best season yet at the 2018-19 tournament, taking her first medal with a bronze at Altenberg, and landing further Top 10 finishes at Sigulda, Winterberg, Igls, Lake Placid and Calgary. She ended the season with a career-best place of 7th in the World Cup rankings, giving a hint of what may be in store in the years to follow.
