Siberian Federal University

The selection criteria were the three gold medals in two relays and a general competition and a silver medal in sprint that were awarded to Polina Malchikova at the European Championship in ski orienteering In Sumy, a Ukranian town, in February 2012.

IOF website published an interview with Polina Malchikova as the athlete of the month. The interview reports on Polina's professional sport results, university sudies, her plans for the future and the secrets of her professional success. She also answers the questions of Morihiro Horie, the athlete of the month in January. IOF's reporter Erik Borg writes:

«…Polina Malchikova, aged almost 26, has come to the fore in ski orienteering quite rapidly, with exceptional results last season and this. She says she focuses hard on detail, in training and in competition. That makes for great results.

Polina had not at all expected to win an individual race gold medal at the World Championships in Sweden last year, but she did achieve that and also won gold medals in the Sprint Relay and the traditional relay. With her three gold medals she got plenty of media attention last year and had an enjoyable summer, but did not forget that for her, paying attention to the details was the route towards more great achievements. And so it came about: in Ukraine a short time ago she won the Long distance race, and again the same two relays, at the European Championships.».