Kononova reflects on motherhood and Paralympic ambition

Oleksandra Kononova described balancing motherhood and elite para biathlon before another Paralympic Winter Games. The thirty-five-year-old Ukrainian, a nine-time world champion and mother of two, said family and coaching support helped her sustain the effort required for training, travel and competition.

She identified remaining competitive against younger athletes as a central motivation, alongside correcting mistakes after disappointing performances. Kononova also explained that time away at camps carries responsibilities beyond sporting results, and that motherhood had made her more accepting and emotionally stable through demanding periods.

Her medal collection represented the stages of her life, with Beijing’s biathlon silver especially meaningful after missing PyeongChang through health problems. She encouraged younger athletes to use their opportunities while continuing to pursue their sporting goals.