In Karaganda, the traditional school competitions “Autumn Cross-Country Races” are held every spring and autumn. It was there that Milana Zubreva’s sporting journey began. She showed good results, and her teacher supported her by giving her a symbolic gift. Step by step, sport became part of her life.

Milana admits that at the beginning it was easy, since her coach found the right approach to every athlete. Through playful exercises, he developed the children’s physical fitness, and thanks to this, Milana made many friends. Training sessions were interesting and fun, but over time sport became more serious and professional.

Of course, there were also challenges. As a child, the main desire was to achieve high results as quickly as possible, but the real trials came in the form of injuries and burnout. When she failed to show the required time, Milana was very upset. She worked on herself psychologically, had many conversations with her coaches, and received support from her loved ones. In addition, she had to face injuries: ligament tears and tendon strains. However, treatment, massages, and perseverance helped her overcome this stage.

Today Milana prepares for competitions calmly. Before each start, she has a special tradition — to bring along a lucky mascot toy that was given to her at one of the races. This small ritual helps her feel confident and stay composed.

A particularly significant award for the athlete was the silver medal at the 2024 Asian Championships in Dubai. Together with her team in the 4x400 meters relay, Milana won second place. This result became a double gift — not only for her, but also for her coach, who celebrated his birthday that very day.

Coaches play a huge role in Milana’s athletic career — Andrey Viktorovich Ageyev and Tatyana Alexandrovna Ageyeva, who are husband and wife. The coach helps with technical preparation, while his wife provides psychological support, helping Milana focus before competitions and gather her thoughts.

No less important is the support of her family. Her mother, who was also involved in sports in her youth, fully supports her daughter’s choice. And her grandmother gave her a true surprise — she flew to Dubai to cheer Milana on at the Asian Championships.

The athlete’s nearest goal is to achieve the qualifying standard for the World Championships, which will be held next year.