1. Personal Background
1.1. Early Life and Nationality
Yulia Galysheva was born on October 23, 1992, in Oskemen, Kazakhstan. She holds Kazakhstani nationality. Standing at 5.5 ft (1.67 m), she has dedicated her career to freestyle skiing, particularly the moguls discipline.
2. Athletic Career
Yulia Galysheva's athletic career began in 2006, leading her to become one of Kazakhstan's most decorated freestyle skiers with numerous medals across various international competitions.
2.1. Debut and Early Competitions
Galysheva began competing in international events in March 2006. Her debut on the Europa Cup circuit took place in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, where she finished 21st in moguls and 18th in dual moguls. In 2007, she participated in the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships held in Madonna di Campiglio, achieving 22nd place in moguls and 21st in dual moguls. In February 2008, she secured a second-place finish in dual moguls at the Europa Cup stage in Schliersee, Germany. Shortly after, she claimed two gold medals in both moguls and dual moguls at a Europa Cup event in Engelberg, Switzerland.
2.2. Junior Career
Galysheva demonstrated early promise in her junior career, securing significant victories at the FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships. In 2011, she won a gold medal in moguls at the championships held in Jyväskylä. The following year, in 2012, she became the Junior World Champion in moguls at Valmalenco, Italy, where she also earned a bronze medal in dual moguls.
2.3. World Cup Career
Galysheva's World Cup career has been marked by consistent podium finishes and four victories. She achieved her first World Cup win in Méribel, France, where she triumphed over Hannah Kearney in the dual moguls final. During the 2012-13 season, she secured three podiums, including a third-place finish in Deer Valley and a third and second place in Åre.
Her World Cup podium finishes include:
- 2010 - Méribel - 1st, Dual moguls
- 2012 - Beida Lake - 3rd, Moguls
- 2013 - Deer Valley - 3rd, Dual moguls
- 2013 - Åre - 3rd, Moguls
- 2013 - Åre - 2nd, Dual moguls
- 2014 - Deer Valley - 2nd, Moguls
- 2014 - Ruka - 1st, Dual Moguls
- 2016 - Deer Valley - 2nd, Moguls
- 2016 - Deer Valley - 2nd, Dual Moguls
- 2016 - Tazawako - 2nd, Dual Moguls
- 2017 - Thaiwoo - 2nd, Moguls
- 2017 - Thaiwoo - 1st, Moguls
- 2018 - Mont-Tremblant - 3rd, Moguls
- 2018 - Ruka - 2nd, Moguls
- 2018 - Thaiwoo - 3rd, Moguls
- 2018 - Calgary - 1st, Moguls
2.4. Olympic Games
Galysheva has represented Kazakhstan in multiple Olympic Games. She first competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where she finished 11th in the moguls event. Her most significant Olympic achievement came at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, where she earned a bronze medal in the moguls competition.
2.5. FIS World Championships
Galysheva has achieved considerable success at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships, securing multiple medals. In 2015, at the World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria, she won her first World Championship medal, a bronze in dual moguls, placing behind 2014 and 2010 Olympic champions Justine Dufour-Lapointe (silver) and Hannah Kearney (gold). Two years later, at the 2017 World Championships in Sierra Nevada, she upgraded her medal to a silver in dual moguls, finishing behind gold medalist Perrine Laffont and ahead of bronze medalist Jaelin Kauf. Her most notable World Championship performance was in 2019 at Utah, where she claimed the gold medal in moguls. She continued her success in 2021, earning a silver medal in moguls at the World Championships held in Almaty.
2.6. Asian Winter Games
Galysheva has been a dominant force at the Asian Winter Games. At the 2011 Astana-Almaty Games, she won two gold medals, one in the moguls event and another in the dual moguls event.
2.7. Winter Universiade
Galysheva has also excelled at the Winter Universiade. In 2015, she secured a gold medal in moguls at the Granada Winter Universiade. She continued her winning streak at the 2017 Almaty Winter Universiade, where she earned two more gold medals, one in moguls and another in dual moguls.
3. Historical Significance
3.1. First Kazakhstani Olympic Freestyle Skiing Medal
Yulia Galysheva's bronze medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics holds significant historical importance for Kazakhstan. It marked the first-ever Olympic medal for Kazakhstan in the sport of freestyle skiing, elevating the profile of the sport within the nation.
3.2. First Kazakhstani Moguls World Champion
In 2019, Yulia Galysheva made history by winning the gold medal in moguls at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships. This victory established her as the first World Champion for Kazakhstan in the moguls discipline, further cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in Kazakhstani winter sports.