Russian skeleton racer Yulia Kanakina shared a new video on her Instagram page, a platform that has been banned in Russia for being linked to extremist activity, where she appears visibly amused by the act of cleaning. The clip shows Kanakina standing before a mirror, a vacuum cleaner beside her, dressed in a light tracksuit with tight shorts and a cropped top as she playfully dances. The caption reads, “My clean air.”
Kanakina, now 27, has been competing in skeleton since 2011. Her early years included training in ballet and rhythmic gymnastics, shaping a foundation in movement and precision that would later serve her in winter sport. Her first foray into international competition came in 2011 at the Youth Olympic Games qualifiers, where she finished tenth among eleven competitors, signaling the start of a promising career.
During the 2014 season, Kanakina showed consistency in the European Cup, finishing in fourth place in four separate stages. Her ascent continued in the junior ranks; she claimed the gold medal at the Russian Women’s World Junior Championships in 2017 and followed with a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2018. A year later, she earned bronze in the senior tier at the World Cup event held in Altenberg, highlighting her transition from promising junior talent to a serious competitor on the world stage.
In 2022, Kanakina represented Russia at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Across four trials, she placed 11th, a result that reflected the highly competitive field and the demanding nature of Olympic competition. Her career thus far demonstrates a blend of early athletic training, steady progression through junior success, and ongoing participation in top-tier international events.
Earlier in her public life, Kanakina had shared a post from her bathroom featuring satin pajamas, a glimpse into her personal style off the track. The evolving public persona of Kanakina, both on and off the ice, underscores the intersection of elite sport, media, and personal expression as athletes navigate high visibility in the digital age.