Mariya Dzhumabaevna Pinigina (Мария Джумабаевна Пинигина, née Kulchunova; born 9 February 1958 in Ivanovka, Kyrgyz SSR) is a former Olympic athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres, training at Spartak in Kyiv. She represented the Soviet Union.

Mariya Pinigina
Mariya Pinigina in 2019
Personal information
Birth nameMariya Kulchunova
Born9 February 1958 (1958-02-09) (age 66)
Ivanovka, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul 4 × 400 m relay
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1987 Rome 4 × 400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Helsinki 400 m
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Helsinki 4 × 400 m relay

Pinigina competed for USSR in the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea in the 4 × 400 metres where she won the gold medal with her teammates 400m hurdles silver medalist Tatyana Ledovskaya, 400m bronze medalist Olga Nazarova and olympic 400m champion Olga Bryzgina. That USSR relay team set a new world record of 3:15.17 minutes which is still unbeaten.[1]

She also won a bronze medal at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics.

In November 2013, she served as one of the torch bearers in Yakutsk for the 2014 Winter Olympics torch relay.[2]

Mariya Pinigina is married to Olympic wrestling champion Pavel Pinigin[citation needed].

References

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  1. ^ "Athletics – World Record progression". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  2. ^ "Sochi 2014 Torch Relay braves record low temperatures". Olympic.org. 11 November 2013. Torchbearers in Yakutsk included ... Seoul 1988 athletics gold medallist Maria Pinigina
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