Ivana came from a poor salt mining family in St Petersburg. The oldest of 12 children, Ivana quit school at an early age to help her mother, Heddy, take care of the family. The only escape Ivana ever had was swimming in the a local lake, which was ultimately a mixed blessing. It gave her the love swimming and the drive she needed to join the team, but it also caused her some neurological damage due to the chemical dumping into the lake by the salt mine. To her surprise, what she lost in grace, she made up in speed from the quirlky movements.
The only married member of the team, she met her other half at a cocktail party given for the team after the 1996 olympics. He now has become the unofficial chef of the team, helping all of us keep out girlish figures.
You can find out more information on Ivana or you can just drop her a note
