Aged just 19 Kononova made a huge impression at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics winning three golds and one silver medal, an impressive medal haul for a youngster who only got involved in the sport after seeing some teenagers skiing on roller skis. Her achievements in Vancouver earned her the Order of the Merit of the Fatherland upon her return to the Ukraine.
A year later she was again in sensational form at the 2011 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships winning four gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
She will certainly be one of the athletes to beat at Sochi 2014, however Poland's Katarzyna Rogowiec, Finland's Maija Loytynoja and teammate Iuliia Batenkova will provide stiff opposition.
