Alexandra Shiryayeva

Alexandra Alexandrovna Shiryayeva ( _ru. Александра Александровна Ширяева) (born February 9, 1983 in Leningrad) is a 6'2", 165 lbs, female beach volleyball player from Russia. She claimed the gold medal at the 2006 European Championships in The Hague, Netherlands, partnering with Natalya Uryadova.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she and her partner Natalya Uryadova were defeated in an historical game against Georgia while war was ragging between the two countries. In an AP article by Jimmy Golan published on August 13, 2008, Alexandra Shiryayeva showed courage and grace in defeat by declaring “We just want to end the conflict, all the history between us was friendly.”

Playing partners

* Maria Bratkova
* Anna Morozova
* Natalya Uryadova
* Anastasia Vasina

References

* [http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=6711 Alexandra Shiryayeva - Profile] at the Beach Volleyball Database