Elena Kulichenko is a former Russian athlete who later represented Cyprus in international competition. She shared a swimsuit photo on Instagram, a post that sparked discussions given the broader political context around Meta’s ban in Russia. The moment highlighted the athlete’s evolving public profile beyond the track and field arena.
At the Universiade in Chengdu, China, on August 8, Kulichenko earned a silver medal in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.91 meters. The event crowned Amoanimimaa Yeboa as champion with a 1.94-meter effort, three centimeters higher than Kulichenko. The result contributed to Cyprus finishing fifth among the nations in the tournament, amid the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the competition under the event’s eligibility rules.
The year 2021 marked a turning point in Kulichenko’s athletic journey as she switched her sporting allegiance to Cyprus. Residing and training in the United States, she pursued dual pathways in sport and education. Her Cypriot citizenship was facilitated through investment, with reports noting substantial financial contributions that enabled the change in nationality, a process that has become common among athletes seeking new competitive landscapes and opportunities.
Earlier in her career, Kulichenko achieved a historic milestone for Cyprus by winning the gold medal at the 2023 European Athletics Junior Championships held in Espoo, Finland, on July 17. This victory represented a premier achievement for Cypriot athletics on the European stage, underscoring the country’s rising presence in track and field disciplines among younger competitors.
Beyond the track, public attention to Kulichenko has occasionally extended to her personal style and media appearances, including a notable short skirt photo published by a former Russian figure skater. Such coverage illustrates how athletes navigate visibility across sports, social media, and cultural conversations that accompany elite competition.