Liudmila Bodnieva

BIOGRAPHY

Born in the former USSR, Liudmila Bodnieva began playing handball aged six, after moving with her parents to Volgograd. By the age of 15 she was playing with local club Volgograd Akva, and spent the first 10 years of her career with the club, winning five Russian championships in that time.

In 2003 Bodnieva moved abroad to join RK Krim in Slovenia and spent 10 years there in what was a highly successful period for the club. Krim won the Slovenian championship and cup each year Bodnieva played for them, and she was also part of the squad that won the EHF Champions Trophy in 2003 and 2004, as well as reaching the EHF Champions League final in 2004 and 2006.

Bodnieva also had a long career with the Russian national team, picking up World Championship gold in 2001 and 2005 and silver at the EHF EURO 2006. She was named MVP of the 2005 World Championship, and All-star line player at the EHF EURO 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, and the 2001 and 2005 World Championship. 

Since retirement in 2013, Bodnieva has taken to coaching and working to develop women’s handball, including sitting for a time on the EHF’s Women’s Handball Board. She coached CSKA Moscow in 2021 and since 2021 is the head coach of the Russian women’s national team.