Yelizaveta Maksimova: Russia’s Rising Sprint Talent

Full Name: Yelizaveta Maksimova (Russian: Елизавета Максимова)
Date of Birth: February 16, 2005
Age: 20
Nationality: Russian
Events: 100 metres, 200 metres, 60 metres (indoor)
Current World Rankings: #348 (200m), #407 (100m)

Introduction

Yelizaveta Maksimova represents one of the most promising young sprinting talents to emerge from Russia in recent years. Born on February 16, 2005, the 20-year-old has been steadily climbing the ranks of Russian athletics, establishing herself as a formidable presence in the sprint events. With personal bests that continue to improve and a strong showing at the national level, Maksimova is positioning herself as a key figure in the future of Russian women’s sprinting.

Athletic Career

Events and Specialization

Maksimova competes primarily in the short sprints, with her focus divided between the 100 metres and 200 metres outdoors, while also excelling in the 60 metres during the indoor season. This versatility across the sprint distances demonstrates her well-rounded speed capabilities and suggests a bright future in multiple events. Her competition history also includes performances in the 200 metres short track, 300 metres, and 400 metres at various domestic competitions, showing her willingness to test herself across different distances.

Personal Best Performances

Maksimova has shown consistent improvement throughout her young career, with her current personal bests standing as follows:

Outdoor:

• 100 metres: 11.42 seconds (July 25, 2025) – This wind-assisted mark represents her fastest recorded time
• 100 metres (legal): 11.50 seconds (July 25, 2025)
• 200 metres: 23.52 seconds (June 21, 2025)

Indoor:

• 60 metres: 7.41 seconds (February 14, 2025) – Athletics Arena, St. Petersburg
• 200 metres (short track): 24.02 seconds (February 17, 2024) – Virazhi Arena, Togliatti

2025 Season Highlights

The 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Maksimova. She opened her indoor campaign with an impressive 7.41-second performance in the 60 metres at the Athletics Arena in St. Petersburg in mid-February, demonstrating strong form heading into the outdoor season.

Her outdoor season saw continued progress, with Maksimova lowering her 200-metre personal best to 23.52 seconds on June 21, 2025. This performance placed her among the top young sprinters in Russia and caught the attention of the domestic athletics community.

The highlight of her summer came at the 2025 PSB Russian Athletics Championships, held August 7-10 at the historic Central Stadium in Kazan—a venue that previously hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade and the 2024 BRICS Games. Competing against the nation’s elite sprinters, Maksimova navigated through the rounds of the 100 metres with determination:

• Round 1 (Heat 5): 11.72 seconds (1st place, advancing)
• Semifinal (Heat 2): 11.66 seconds (2nd place, advancing to final)
• Final: 11.59 seconds (5th place)

Finishing fifth in the national championship final at just 20 years old, competing against more experienced athletes including champion Yuliya Karavayeva (11.16s) and silver medalist Kristina Makarenko (11.25s), represents a significant achievement. The experience of competing at the highest domestic level will prove invaluable as Maksimova continues to develop.

Following the national championships, Maksimova set her current 100-metre personal best of 11.42 seconds on July 25, 2025, demonstrating that she continues to find new levels of speed as the season progresses.

2024 Season

The 2024 season served as an important developmental year for Maksimova. Her indoor campaign included a notable 200-metre short track performance of 24.02 seconds at the Virazhi Arena in Togliatti in February, showing her capability in the longer sprint. Throughout the year, she gained valuable competition experience at various Russian domestic meets, building the foundation for her breakout 2025 season.

Training Base

Maksimova’s competition history indicates strong ties to St. Petersburg, with several of her key indoor performances coming at the Athletics Arena in Russia’s second-largest city. The St. Petersburg athletics scene has a rich tradition of producing talented sprinters, and Maksimova appears to benefit from the training environment and competition opportunities available in the region.

Competition Context: Russian Athletics

Maksimova competes during a unique period in Russian athletics history. Following the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) from World Athletics, Russian athletes have been barred from most international competitions since 2015, with additional restrictions stemming from geopolitical circumstances since 2022. This means that despite her talent and improving performances, Maksimova’s competitive opportunities have been largely limited to domestic events.

Nevertheless, the depth of Russian domestic competition remains formidable. The 2025 Russian Championships featured over 700 athletes competing across 44 medal events, with the women’s 100-metre field showcasing several athletes capable of internationally competitive times. For Maksimova, this challenging domestic environment provides excellent preparation should international opportunities eventually arise.

At the 2025 Russian Championships, Russian Athletics President Petr Fradkov indicated the federation’s hope for eventual reinstatement, noting that their task is “to prepare athletes who are competitive on the international arena when that day comes.” Young talents like Maksimova represent the future that Russian athletics is building toward.

Looking Ahead

At just 20 years old, Yelizaveta Maksimova has considerable room for development. Her trajectory suggests continued improvement, with her personal bests dropping consistently across multiple seasons. The transition from junior to senior competition has been smooth, as evidenced by her ability to compete at the national championship level.

Key areas of potential growth include:

• Sub-11.40 in the 100 metres: With her current best at 11.42, breaking into the 11.3s range is a realistic near-term goal
• Sub-23.50 in the 200 metres: Her 23.52 personal best suggests she’s on the cusp of this milestone
• National podium finishes: A top-three finish at the Russian Championships would mark her arrival among the country’s elite

Personal Best Progression Summary

*Wind-assisted performance

Conclusion

Yelizaveta Maksimova embodies the resilience and determination of young Russian athletes competing in challenging circumstances. Despite limited international exposure, she continues to develop her craft and push her limits within the robust Russian domestic circuit. Her fifth-place finish at the 2025 Russian Championships and steadily improving personal bests mark her as an athlete to watch in the coming years.

As she enters the prime years of a sprinter’s career, Maksimova has all the tools to become one of Russia’s top sprinters. Whether or not international competition becomes available, her dedication to improvement and willingness to compete against the country’s best demonstrate the qualities of a true competitor. The athletics community will be watching with interest as this talented young sprinter continues to write her story.