Svetlana Galyant
Seven world titles from Russia's far-eastern edge
- Born
- May 23, 1973, Chișinău, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
- Nationality
Russia- Style
- Drop-throw specialist
- Weight
- 72 kg
- Active
- 1991–2014
- Status
- Retired · age 53
The medals
7 world titles at 72 kg (2000–2012) and 2 world bronzes; judo Olympian in 1996
The story
orn in Chișinău, Svetlana Galyant moved to Kamchatka, on Russia's Pacific coast, in 1985 and built her whole career from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. FIAS says no athlete from Russia's Far East has won more. She began in judo, winning bronze at the 1991 European junior championships and finishing seventh at 72 kg at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. Sambo brought bigger rewards: seven world titles at 72 kg between 2000 and 2012, two world bronzes and six European titles, enough for a place in the FIAS Hall of Fame. Her signature technique was the back throw from the knees. She won her last world title in Minsk in 2012, at 39, and retired two years later. She sits in Kamchatka's regional legislature and was named an Honoured Coach of Russia in 2025.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- World champion, 72 kg (2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- European champion, 72 kg (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)
- Judo Olympian, Atlanta 1996 (72 kg, 7th)
- FIAS Hall of Fame
- Honoured Master of Sports of Russia (2002)
- Honoured Coach of Russia (2025)
- Medal "For Military Valour", 2nd class (Russian Ministry of Defence)
Defining matches
- 1996LOSSvs Ulla Werbrouck (Atlanta Olympics judo, 72 kg, round of 16; Werbrouck won gold)
- 2000Gold World Championships, Kyiv (72 kg, first world title; Valentina Bardacheva took silver)
- 2006WINvs Katsiaryna Radzevich (World Championships 72 kg final, Sofia)
- 2011WINvs Tetiana Savenko (World Championships 72 kg final, Vilnius)
- 2012WINvs Kalzhan Taizhanova (World Championships 72 kg final, Minsk; seventh world title, at 39)
Drill the back throw from the knees: turn in, drop onto both knees so your back is under your partner's centre of gravity, and pull their sleeve down and across so they roll over your shoulder. Going low lets you throw a strong opponent without having to lift them.
