Marianna Bakosova: Russia’s Emerging Combined Events Star
Date of Birth: January 19, 2001
Nationality: Russia
Primary Events: Heptathlon, Pentathlon, High Jump, Long Jump, 100m Hurdles
Current World Rankings: #119 Heptathlon, #416 High Jump, #829 Long Jump
Introduction
Marianna Bakosova represents the next generation of Russian combined events athletes, carrying forward a proud tradition in a country that has produced some of the world’s greatest multi-event competitors. Born on January 19, 2001, the 24-year-old has steadily established herself as one of Russia’s most promising heptathletes and pentathletes, demonstrating the versatility and determination that define elite combined events athletes.
Standing among Russia’s top young multi-event talents, Bakosova has built an impressive portfolio of performances across seven demanding disciplines, showcasing particular strengths in the hurdles, long jump, and middle-distance running. Her journey from youth athletics to competing at the senior national level illustrates both her natural athletic gifts and her commitment to the grueling demands of combined events competition.
Athletic Profile and Personal Bests
Bakosova’s event profile reveals a well-rounded athlete with notable strengths across the technical and speed-based disciplines. Her personal bests demonstrate the consistency and competitive fire that have fueled her rise through Russian athletics:
Running Events:
- 100 Metres Hurdles: 13.50 seconds (July 1, 2023)
- 60 Metres Hurdles (indoor): 8.44 seconds (February 24, 2023, Ulyanovsk)
- 200 Metres: Competed regularly in heptathlon
- 800 Metres: 2:16.25 (heptathlon component, July 2023) — 2:18.21 (pentathlon component, February 2023)
Field Events:
- Long Jump: 6.24 metres (July 2, 2023)
- High Jump: Competed consistently around 1.68-1.78 metres
- Shot Put: 12.52 metres (July 2023)
- Javelin Throw: Competed in heptathlon
Combined Events:
- Pentathlon (Indoor): 4,372 points (March 1, 2025, CSKA Moscow) — Personal Best
- Heptathlon: 5,758 points (July 2, 2023, Yekaterinburg)
Her hurdles performances are particularly noteworthy, with her 13.50-second outdoor best and 8.44-second indoor mark representing times that would be competitive in standalone hurdles competitions at the national level. The long jump has emerged as another weapon in her arsenal, with her 6.24-metre personal best demonstrating the explosive power and technical proficiency essential for combined events success.
Career Development and Competitive History
Rise Through Youth and U23 Competition
Bakosova’s competitive development followed the structured pathway of Russian athletics, progressing through the nation’s robust youth and junior systems. Her breakthrough into prominent competition came during the U23 age group, where she began making her mark on the domestic combined events scene.
The Russian U23 Indoor Combined Events Championships in Smolensk (February 21-22, 2023) provided an early showcase for her abilities. Competing in the pentathlon, Bakosova delivered a standout performance in the 800 metres, clocking 2:18.21 to win her heat by a significant margin — demonstrating the endurance base that underpins successful combined events athletes.
2023: A Breakthrough Season
The 2023 season represented Bakosova’s emergence as a legitimate contender on the Russian national scene. At the Russian Indoor Championships in Ulyanovsk (February 24-26, 2023), she set her indoor hurdles personal best of 8.44 seconds in the 60 metres hurdles, a performance that signaled her readiness for higher-level competition.
The outdoor season brought her signature performance at the Russian U23 Championships held at Kalininets Stadium in Yekaterinburg (June 30 – July 2, 2023). Competing in the heptathlon, Bakosova assembled a well-balanced scorecard across all seven events:
- Day 1: 13.50 in the 100m hurdles, 1.68m high jump, 12.52m shot put, and a solid 200m
- Day 2: A personal-best 6.24m long jump, javelin, and a gutsy 2:16.25 in the closing 800m
Her final tally of 5,758 points placed her among the top 100 heptathletes globally for the 2023 season, ranking 93rd on the World Athletics seasonal toplist. For a young athlete still developing across all seven disciplines, this result signaled considerable promise.
The summer of 2023 also saw Bakosova compete at the prestigious “Queen of Russian Sports” event in Yekaterinburg (August 17-19, 2023), where Russian media highlighted her as one of the rising stars of domestic combined events.
Indoor Excellence: 2024-2025
The 2024-2025 indoor season has seen Bakosova reach new heights. At the 2025 Russian Indoor Championships, held at the CSKA Athletics Complex in Moscow (February 28 – March 2, 2025), she delivered a career-best pentathlon performance of 4,372 points, earning the silver medal behind two-time Russian champion Valeriya Moskvitina, who edged her by just four points with 4,376.
This razor-thin margin at the national championships underscored Bakosova’s competitive maturity and her ability to perform under pressure. The performance also set a new personal best, indicating that at 24 years old, she continues to improve and has not yet reached her ceiling.
Competition Under Unique Circumstances
Like all Russian track and field athletes, Bakosova’s career has unfolded during a period of unprecedented challenges for Russian athletics on the international stage. Following World Athletics’ suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation, Russian athletes have been unable to compete in major international championships, World Athletics series events, or the Olympic Games.
This has meant that Bakosova, along with her compatriots, has been limited to domestic competitions within Russia. Despite these restrictions, she has continued to train and compete at a high level, demonstrating professionalism and dedication to her craft. Her performances in Russian national championships and regional competitions have kept her competitive on the world rankings, where she currently sits at #119 in the heptathlon — a testament to the quality of her domestic performances being recognized in the global rankings system.
The depth of Russian combined events remains strong, with athletes like Valeriya Moskvitina, Sophia Yakushina, and Yelizaveta Slobodyanyuk providing fierce competition at national championships. Bakosova’s consistent performances against this field suggest she would be competitive at the international level when and if opportunities arise.
Athletic Strengths and Technical Profile
Bakosova’s combined events profile reveals several distinctive strengths that set her apart:
Hurdles Excellence: Her 13.50/8.44 hurdles times represent her strongest scoring events, providing a solid foundation for combined events scoring. Quick out of the blocks with sound technical skills over the barriers, she maximizes points in the first event of both pentathlon and heptathlon.
Long Jump Prowess: The 6.24-metre personal best demonstrates excellent runway speed and takeoff mechanics. This event has become increasingly important in her overall scoring, and continued development here could significantly boost her totals.
800m Strength: Often described as “the event that separates the champions from the also-rans,” Bakosova has shown she can handle the grueling closing event. Her sub-2:20 capabilities ensure she can maintain or improve her standing through the final event — a crucial psychological and physical advantage.
Areas for Development: Like many young combined events athletes, Bakosova’s throws (shot put, javelin) and high jump offer the greatest room for improvement. Incremental gains in these events could push her toward the 6,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
Training and Club Affiliation
Bakosova competes under the Russian Athletics Federation system and has been affiliated with CSKA Moscow, one of Russia’s most prestigious sporting institutions. CSKA (Central Sports Club of the Army) has produced numerous Olympic and world champions across various sports, and its athletics program maintains high-level training facilities in Moscow.
Her indoor personal best in the pentathlon was achieved at the LFK CSKA complex in Moscow, suggesting she trains regularly at this facility. The presence of other elite combined events athletes in the Russian system provides both training partners and domestic competition that helps maintain high standards.
Current World Standing
As of early 2025, Bakosova holds the following World Athletics rankings:
- Heptathlon: #119 globally
- High Jump: #416 globally
- Long Jump: #829 globally
- 100m Hurdles: #1059 globally
These rankings reflect performances achieved entirely in domestic Russian competitions, demonstrating that even without access to international meets, Russian athletes can accumulate ranking points through nationally-sanctioned events.
Her position just outside the world’s top 100 heptathletes suggests that with continued development and — should circumstances change — access to international competition, Bakosova has the potential to compete with established global names in combined events.
Looking Ahead
At 24, Marianna Bakosova is entering what should be the prime years of a combined events career. Athletes in multi-event disciplines typically peak between ages 25-30, as the experience and technical refinement gained through years of competition compound with maintained physical capabilities.
Her 2025 indoor personal best demonstrates she is still on an upward trajectory. Key targets for continued development include:
- Breaking the 6,000-point barrier in the outdoor heptathlon
- Continuing to improve throws performances (shot put and javelin)
- Maintaining and building upon hurdles excellence
- Developing high jump consistency toward 1.80+ metres
The Russian combined events tradition runs deep, with legendary athletes like Tatyana Chernova and Yelena Prokhorova having set standards that inspire the current generation. Bakosova’s emergence as a consistent performer at national championships positions her as a worthy inheritor of this legacy.
Whether international competition becomes available to Russian athletes in the coming years remains uncertain. Regardless, Bakosova’s dedication to her craft, consistent improvement, and competitive results mark her as one of Russia’s most promising combined events athletes — a young woman who has earned her place among the best in a demanding discipline that tests every aspect of athletic ability.
Personal Bests Summary
| Event | Performance | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100m Hurdles | 13.50 | July 1, 2023 | — |
| 60m Hurdles (i) | 8.44 | February 24, 2023 | Ulyanovsk |
| Long Jump | 6.24m | July 2, 2023 | — |
| Shot Put | 12.52m | July 2023 | Yekaterinburg |
| Pentathlon (i) | 4,372 pts | March 1, 2025 | Moscow |
| Heptathlon | 5,758 pts | July 2, 2023 | Yekaterinburg |
Marianna Bakosova’s World Athletics profile can be found at worldathletics.org under athlete code 14817835.