Career
Gizikova originally trained in Kiev, Ukraine under the Deriugins School of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Gizikova and her family reclocated, continuing her training at the Olympic Center for Rhythmic Gymnastics in Moscow, Russia. Irina Viner facilitated Gizikova to be under the guidance of Personal trainer Vera Shtelbaums, who then was also the coach of Irina Tchachina.
Gizikova was a very dynamic gymnast having excellent technique work led to success early in her career.
She appeared in junior competition in World Club event in 1998 and 1999 at Aeon Cup in Tokyo. With the suspension of Kabaeva and Tchachina in a year for doping.
Gizikova and teammate Laysan Utiasheva saw their emergence as Russia"s new leading gymnasts. She continued her success winning bronze in all-around and event finals at the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu.
Gizikova later began again to struggle with consistency and with the reemergence of Kabaeva and Tchachina in Russia"s National team saw Gizikova being overshadowed by her teammates and in her later career.
In 2004 saw the rise of younger teammates Vera Sessina and Olga Kapranova, Gizikova finally completed her career in 2005.
