Iryna Dovoskina

Iryna has 2 masters degrees, the first one in neurophysiology and second one in coaching. She was a head coach of Ukrainian National Paralympic athletics team from 1995 to 2002.

Iryna came to Australia in 2003 to be closer to her mother Fira, herself an accomplished track and field coach of Australian athletes like Steve Solomon. Iryna was recruited by the Australian Institute of Sport to coach Paralympic Track and Field sprints and jumps athletes. At the 2004 Athens Paralympics, she coached athletes including Heath Francis, Lisa McIntosh, and Amy Winters who combined for nine medals.

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics, she was the coach of five Australian athletics competitors who won a combined for an incredible thirteen medals. Of note in 2008 was Iryna’s coaching of the great Evan O’Hanlon who would go on and win an incredible seven Paralympic medals over four Paralympic Games including five gold.

In 2012, Iryna coached Evan O’Hanlon and Scotty Reardon to Paralympic medals, and at Rio, Scotty broke through for a memorable Paralympic gold medal. At the Tokyo Paralympics, Iryna coached Vanessa Low to a gold medal, and James Turner to one gold and a silver.

Iryna is married to Paralympic Swim coach Yuriy Vdovychenko whose athletes have won 47 international medals.