Education
Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture.
Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture.
2004 Largely unknown before 2004, she kickstarted the season by clearing 2.04 metres and winning the World Indoor Championships. She continued her good form at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal with a new national and personal record of 2.06 metres, beating the previous olympic record, set by Stefka Kostadinova in 1996. After clearing 2.06 she made decent attempts at 2.10, which would have been a world record.
She rounded off the season by winning the World Athletics Final.
2005 Injuries kept her away from most of the 2005 season, including the 2005 World Championships. She finished fifth in the European Athletics Championships, failing to clear 2.00 m.
2007 2008 At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Slesarenko finished fourth in the women"s high jump with a jump of 2.01 meters, failing to clear 2.03 meters after three tries.