title: Tatyana Kolpakova
text: Tatyana Alekseyevna Kolpakova (Abbyasova) () (born October 18, 1959 in village Alamedin, Kyrgyz SSR) is a retired long jumper who represented the USSR.
  
  Kolpakova began athletics at the age of 15. On May 9, 1974 she competed at the All-Union junior competition on the Central Lenin Stadium and was second with a result of 5.90 metres. In the same year she entered Economical faculty of Kirghiz University in Frunze, which she left after three years of study. Later Kolpakova graduated from the Physical faculty of the same university. In 1978 she passed a test for the Master of Sports of the USSR title with a result of 6.30 metres, competing at the All-Union Jumper's Day competition in Chişinău. She joined the USSR team in 1979 and competed for it at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In what is considered one of the greatest come from behind victories in the history of the sport, Kolpakova won the gold medal with her last jump of 7.06 metres which improved her personal best by nine inches and was a new record for the sport. She later remarked that "one should always fight until the end."  She became the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR. After finishing her competitive career Kolpakova worked for some time as a coach.
  
  She was awarded the title of Kirghiz Athlete of the Century. Soon after, a track and field championship was established in Bishkek in her honor. The championship is held annually in Bishkek, usually in May, and participants from surrounding countries are invited. In 2001, Kolpakova moved to Moscow, Russia with her family. The first few years she worked as a director of an athletic club there. In 2004, she began her work at the Olympic Committee for Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism in Korolev City. She is still currently working there, as second in command. She is married to Shamil Abbyasov (whom she met on the same USSR national team) and has three children.
  
  References
  
  External links
  Photo and Facts
   Personal Website
  
  1959 births
  Living people
  People from Chüy Region
  Kyrgyzstani female long jumpers
  Soviet female long jumpers
  Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR
  Olympic athletes for the Soviet Union
  Olympic gold medalists for the Soviet Union
  Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics
  Medalists at the 1980 Summer Olympics
  Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
  Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)
  FISU World University Games gold medalists for the Soviet Union
  Medalists at the 1981 Summer Universiade