Olena Iurkovska (born September 27, 1983 in Kolomyia

Kolomyia

Kolomyia or Kolomyya, formerly known as Kolomea , is a city located on the Prut River in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , in western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Kolomyia Raion , the city is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...

, USSR) is a cross-country skier and biathlete from Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

, and a five time Paralympic Champion. She has competed at every Winter Paralympic Games

Winter Paralympic Games

The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter...

 since 2002, winning a total of five gold, five silver, and five bronze medals up to 2010. She also competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics

2004 Summer Paralympics

The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...

, as a member of the Ukrainian volleyball

Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Paralympics

Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Paralympics was staged at the Helliniko Fencing Hall from September 21 to September 27.The sport is performed sitting down. Subject to a minimum degree of physical disability there are no classifications in this sport. There are separate men's and women's...

 team.

Iurkovska was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine

Hero of Ukraine is the highest state decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as of August 25 2011 the total number of awards is 265. The award is divided into two classes of distinction:...

in April 2006.