Uljana Semjonova
Latvian basketball player (1952–2026)
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Uļjana Semjonova (Russian: Ульяна Ларионовна Семёнова, romanized: Ulyana Larionovna Semyonova; 9 March 1952 – 8 January 2026) was a Latvian basketball player of Old Believer descent[2] who competed for the Soviet Union.[3][4]
Stefania Passaro boxing out Semjonova in 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 9 March 1952 Zarasai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 January 2026 (aged 73) Riga, Latvia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 213[1] cm (7 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 127 kg (280 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1968–1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968–1987 | TTT Riga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Tintoretto Getafe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Valenciennes-Orchies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basketball Hall of Fame | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's Basketball Hall of Fame | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIBA Hall of Fame | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Career
Semjonova was the leading women's basketball player in the world in the 1970s and 1980s. Wearing a men's size 21 (US) / 58 (EU) shoe, she was known for having the largest feet ever in women's basketball.[5][6] For almost all of her playing career, she played for TTT Riga, which was part of Daugava Voluntary Sports Society. With TTT, she won 15 championships in the Soviet Union and the European Champion's Cup 15 times. Semjonova was also very dominant in international play, winning two Olympic Gold medals while playing for the USSR in 1976 and 1980 and never lost a game in official international competition.[4]
Between 1968 and 1985, she played 100 games for the Soviet Union, scoring 1614 points, committing 174 personal fouls and making 162 of 249 free throws.[citation needed]
Later life and death
Between 1991 and 2023, Semjonova was the head of the Latvian Olympic Social Fund, whose aim is to help retired athletes financially.
Later in life, she suffered from numerous medical complications. In 2017, she had cardiac surgery and was hospitalized for a fall.[7] In 2022, she had her leg amputated and was placed under class-2 disability.[8]
Honours
Semjonova was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1976,[11] and in 1993 became the first non-US woman enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame.[12] She was an inaugural member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in the class of 1999.[13] In 2007, she was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame.[14] During the 2007 Latvian sports personality of the year award ceremony, Semjonova received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to sports.[15]
In popular culture
Semjonova is the subject of a 2026 biographical film, Ulya , directed by Viestur Kairish. In the film, Semjonova is played by Latvian actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots.[16]
