Bakanov was born in Haifa, Israel, and is Jewish.[1][2] Her parents immigrated to Israel from Belarus.[3] She is a student at Leo Baeck High School in Haifa.[4] She lives in the Neve David neighborhood in Haifa, with her mother, who works as a cleaner, and her sister in a small 33 square meter (355 square foot) apartment.[3][5] She speaks Hebrew and English.[1]
Rhythmic gymnastics career
Bakanov began the sport at age four at the Maccabi HaifaCarmel club in Israel, and Maccabi Haifa remains her club.[6][1] Her coach is Ayelet Zussman.[1] She trains at the Wingate Institute 11 hours a day, six days a week, taking one day a week off to study.[3] She speaks Hebrew and English.[1]
In September, she competed in the World Championships in Sofia along Adar Friedmann, Romi Paritzki, Ofir Shaham, and Diana Svertsov, winning two silver medals in the All-Around and the 5 hoops' final.[15] Despite being among the favourites for a team medal, Israel couldn't take part in the competition because Atamanov broke her foot the day before the competition started and, as replacements had to be announced at least 24 hours before competition, leaving the country with only Katz as individual.[16]
2023; World champion
In 2023 at the first World Cup of the season in Athens the group won gold in the All-Around and with 5 hoops as well as silver with 3 ribbons + 2 balls.[17] In Sofia they won silver in the All-Around and with 5 hoops.[18]
In August 2023 at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia, Spain, she won gold medals in Group and Group Ball, Ribbon.[19] She said: "I probably cried the most out of all of them, when we stood on top of the podium. We are world champions, it's unbelievable."[20]
