Irina Yuryevna Bliznova (russian: Ирина Юрьевна Близнова, born 6 October 1986) is a Russian handball player, who plays for Lada Togliatti. She won the gold medal at the 2005 and 2007 world championships and 2016 Rio Olympics, placing second in 2008 and eighth in 2012.Irina Bliznova
nbcolympics.com She announced her retirement shortly after the 2016 Olympics.Гандболистка Ирина Близнова объявила о завершении карьеры
tass.ru (21 August 2016) Bliznova is married to Alexander and has a daughter Arina (born 2010) and a son Arkhip (born 2014).

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* 1986 births Living people Sportspeople from Krasnodar Russian female handball players Olympic handball players for Russia Olympic medalists in handball Olympic silver medalists for Russia Olympic gold medalists for Russia Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Handball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics {{Russia-handball-bio-stub