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Anna Kurkurina

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Anna Kurkurina
Куркуріна Ганна Іванівна
Born (1966-08-25) August 25, 1966 (age 58)
Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast Soviet Union
EducationBiology
Alma materDonetsk National University
Occupation(s)power lifter, athletic trainer, animal rescuer
OrganizationAnna Kurkurina Charitable Foundation
Known forPowerlifting and animal rights activism
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers876,000[1]
Views145,453,772[1]
Silver Play Button100,000 subscribers
Last updated: June 01, 2025

Anna Ivanovna Kurkurina (born 25 August 1966) is a Ukrainian powerlifter, influencer and animal rescue activist. Kurkurina holds numerous lifting records. A former biology teacher and zookeeper, since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kurkurina has devoted herself to rescuing animals impacted by warfare.

Biography

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Kurkurina was born on 25 August 1966 in Kramatorsk, in Ukraine's Donetsk region.[2] As a child, she often brought home stray animals, a habit her parents encouraged. During the second grade, she decided she wanted to work with animals as a career. Kurkurina would attend college at Donetsk National University where she would work on conservation and anti-poaching efforts, along studies in biology and zoology.[3] After graduation, Kurkurina became a high-school biology teacher in Kherson, but soon begged for a role at Mykolaiv Zoo.[2] There, she became a zoo technician responsible for the zoo's predators.[3]

Power lifting

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In 1998, Kurkurina began weight lifting as an amateur, developing her own exercises alongside her zoo work. Kurkurina initially became involved in lifting to feel better about her body, as she came out as a lesbian.[4] In 2006 at age 40, Kurkurina focused herself on the goal of becoming the strongest woman on the planet. As a professional powerlifter, Kurkurina is open about her use of anabolic steroids, used under doctor supervision in an effort to make her body more masculine.[3] In 2008, Kurkurina bench pressed 109 kilograms at the 2008 IPA World Powerlifting Championships,[5] winning her class and set four world records.[3] That year she began hosting a fitness program on television and started a YouTube channel. Kurkurina would eventually set 14 powerlifting records[6] and become a three-time world champion.[7][2] Kurkurina continues to teach a weekly women's fitness class, and works in one to train children with disabilities.[3][8] Kurkurina's masculine physique, penchant for wearing male clothing and openness about her lesbian identity has made her the subject of bullying.[9][10]

Animal rescue

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In 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kurkurina remained in Mykolaiv, despite the region being the site of heavy attack.[11] There, she devoted herself to rescuing animals that were impacted by warfare. Kurkurina had long been involved in animal rescue in the area, prior to the invasion.[12][13] Using her YouTube channel and presence on Instagram, where she has more than 300,000 followers,[7] Kurkurina raises funds for abandoned pets and collects and distributes food for their care.[3] Kurkurina additionally rescues and rehabilitates animals from impacted areas.[3][14] Kurkurina travels to frontline villages to rescue pets that have been abandoned by their owners.[15] When asked why Kurkurina has remained in Mykolaiv and why she puts herself at risk to save animals, Kurkurina responds, "because it is the duty of the strong to protect the weak".[4]

On film

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Kurkurina's activism has been the subject of several films. In 2020, she was a subject of the documentary Where is the dog buried? (Ukrainian: Де собака заритий?) highlighting her work on animal and LGBT rights.[16] In 2024, Kurkurina was the subject of Everything Needs to Live (Polish: Wszystko ma zyc) by filmmakers Tetyana Dorodnitsyna and Andriy Lytvynenko.[17][18][19] Everything Needs to Live was named Best Documentary at the goEast film festival,[20] the Audience Award winner at the Krakow Film Festival,[21] and won the RIGHTS NOW! award at the 21st Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About AnnaKurkurina". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c Клименко, Дмитрий (2020-03-17). "Анна Куркурина. Украинская чемпионка, которую путают с мужчиной: установила 14 рекордов, помогает животным, любит девушек". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Powerlifter Anna Kurkurina's Rescue Mission for War-Torn Pets". Long Lead Photo. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  4. ^ a b "Najsilniejsza (i najżyczliwsza) kobieta świata. Poznajcie Annę, która ratuje zwierzęta podczas wojny". oko.press (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  5. ^ "2008 IPA World Powerlifting Championships". www.openpowerlifting.org. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  6. ^ "Kurkurina Anna - results in powerlifting and benchpress, records, personal data, photos and video". en.allpowerlifting.com. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  7. ^ a b RFE/RL. "Ukrainian Powerlifter Saves Animals Amid Russian Air Strikes". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  8. ^ "YouTubing life with a disability to empower people | United Nations in Moldova". moldova.un.org. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  9. ^ "Самая сильная женщина планеты Куркурина рассказала о травле из-за ориентации". Novosti-N (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  10. ^ "Анна Куркурина, кандидат в депутаты Николаевского горсовета от "Нашего края" ответила тем, кто травит ее за сексуальную ориентацию - Inshe.tv" (in Ukrainian). 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  11. ^ ""It is the duty of those who are stronger to protect everyone who is weaker." The story of Anna Kurkurina". Save the Dogs and other Animals ETS. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  12. ^ "Самая сильная женщина мира Анна Куркурина удивила, кому завещает свое состояние". ТСН.ua (in Russian). 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  13. ^ "«С*ки, почему вы на них наплевали?» – николаевская спортсменка Куркурина обматерила власть на митинге в защиту животных". news.pn (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  14. ^ Ткач, Юлия (2022-06-24). "Николаевские волонтеры спасают бездомных животных, брошенных на улицах города". НикВести (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  15. ^ Кротик, Ігор Горбатенко, Єлизавета (2022-09-10). "Миколаївська спортсменка залишилась у місті, аби допомагати тваринам". Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Where is the dog buried? (Де собака заритий?)". docudays.ua. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  17. ^ "Tetyana Dorodnitsyna, Andrii Lytvynenko • Directors of Everything Needs to Live". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  18. ^ "Everything Needs to Live". Takflix. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  19. ^ "Review: Everything Needs to Live". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2025-03-18. Archived from the original on 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  20. ^ "POLISH DOCS: THREE POLISH PRODUCTIONS AWARDED AT GOEAST - international promotion of Polish documentary films". Polish Docs. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  21. ^ Cunningham, Nick (2024-06-06). "Krakow FF Audience Award winner: Everything Needs to Live by Tetiana Dorodnitsyna and Andrii Lytvynenko". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  22. ^ "Docudays UA 2024: the complete winners". MODERN TIMES REVIEW. 2024-06-07. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
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