In a press conference held this morning, NTU officials announced that the Ukrainian broadcaster had decided internally the dancing couple to represent Ukraine at the forthcoming Eurovision Dance Contest 2008. Lilia Podkopayeva and Kirilo Hitrov will compete next September 6th in Glasgow.
Lilia Podkopayeva is well-known in her native country thanks to her gymnastic career. In the last decade, Lilia became Olympic champion in all-around and floor exercises at Atlanta 1996; World champion in all-around and vault at Sabae (Japan) 1995; as well as European champion in floor exercise (Stockholm 1994), all-around, uneven bars and floor (Birmingham 1996). In 2007, she took part in the Ukrainian version of the show Dancing with the stars. Currently, she is the Ukrainian United Nations Goodwill Ambassadress for HIV/AIDS.
Kirilo Hitrov also participated at the 2007 Dancing with the stars show, where he became dancing partner of Lilia.
Ukraine ended up second at the 2007 Eurovision Dance Contest. Ilya Sydorenko and Julia Okropiridze gathered 121 points thanks to their Quickstep & Freestyle Paso Doble and Ukranian Hopak.
Special thanks to Alex Amos for the submission of the information.
