Yuliya Yefimova

Yuliya Efimova is a Russian female swimmer born on 3rd April 1992. She is a Grozny of Chechnya in Russia. Yuliya is a Breaststroke specialist and represents Russia in 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststrokes.

Background:

Yuliya Efimova was born to Andre Yefimov and Tatyana Yefimov. She was born in Grozny, Chechnya, and brought up in Volgodonsk, Rostov Oblast after her family moved there due to the First Chenchen War.

Yuliya began to swim at the age of six. She was coached by her father, Andre Yefimov, who is a swimming coach. Later, she moved to Taganrog in Rostov Oblast, where she trained under Irina Vyatchanina and attended Southern Federal University.

In 2011, Yuliya moved to California in the United States to train under David Salo, head coach of the USC Trojans swimming team. In 2015, she graduated from Southern Federal University. Yuliya currently resides in California and trains under Salo.

Rise to Glory:

Yuliya Efimova received her first international breakthrough in 2007 when she won two Gold medals in 50m and 200m Breaststrokes, and two Silver in 100m Breaststroke and 4x100m Medley at the European Junior Swimming Championships. That year, in December, she made her senior international debut at the European Swimming Championships and won three Gold medals in 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststrokes.

At the European Aquatics Championships, Yuliya had won seven titles in 50m and 100m Breaststrokes (2010 and 2018), 200m Breaststroke (2008 and 2018), and 4x100m Medley, four Silver medals in 50m Breaststroke (2008), 4x100m Mixed Medley (2018) and 4x100m Medley (2008 and 2021) and two Bronze in 50m and 200m Breaststrokes (2021).

In 2013, Yuliya swept four Gold medals in 50m, 100m, 200m Breaststrokes, and 4x100m Medley at the Summer Universiade. In 2017, she bagged two Gold medals in 100m and 200m Breaststroke at the New South Wales Swimming Championships. That year, Yuliya took home the 50m Breaststroke national title at the Russia Swimming Championships.

Yuliya Efimova holds national Long Course records in 50m, 100m, and 200m Breaststrokes and Short Course records in 50m, 100m, 200m Breaststrokes, and 200m Individual Medley.

Major Achievements:

Yuliya Efimova made her Olympics debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she was placed 4th in 100m Breaststroke and 5th in 200m Breaststroke finals. That year, she won the Bronze medal in 200m Breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships.

In 2009, Yuliya clinched the Gold medal in 50m Breaststroke and a Silver in 100m Breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships. She would go on to win five World Aquatics titles in 50m Breaststroke (2013), 100m Breaststroke (2015), and 200m Breaststroke (2015, 2017, and 2019), six Silver medals in 50m Breaststroke (2011 and 2017), 100m Breaststroke (2013 and 2019), 200m Breaststroke (2011) and 4x100m Medley and four Bronze in 50m Breaststroke (2017 and 2019), 100m Breaststroke (2017) and 4x100m Medley (2013).

At the 2012 London Olympics, Yuliya won her first Olympic medal by taking home Bronze in 200m Breaststroke. Four years later, in 2016, she won two Silver medals in 100m and 200m Breaststroke at the Rio Olympics.

Yuliya Efimova will compete in her fourth Olympics under the Russia Olympic Committee flag at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and is one of the strong contenders to win a medal in 100m Breaststroke.