Sviatlana Mikhailauna Kudzelich (Belarusian: Святлана Міхайлаўна Кудзеліч; born May 7, 1987, in Pinsk) is a Belarusianlong-distance runner. She competed at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.[1] Originally the silver medalist, in January 2024, following the disqualification for doping of Yelena Korobkina, Kudzelich was acknowledged as the 2015 European indoor champion over 3000 metres.[2]
Until September 2020, she worked in the Ministry of Emergency Situations as an inspector for training and sports in the sector of ideological work and staffing as a senior lieutenant. During the protests in Belarus on August 18, 2020, together with other Belarusian athletes, she signed an open letter condemning violence in the country and demanding new presidential elections. She was subsequently fired from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and deprived of her salary.[3][4] She was excluded from the national team too.[5] Her husband and coach Igar Zhavaranak was also repressed by Lukashenko's regime as his contract was not prolonged.[5] However, the couple continued preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics on their own.[5]
