In the world of Savate, some athletes distinguish themselves not only through medals and titles, but also through the impact they make beyond competition. This month, FISav highlights Anastasia Konovalchuk — an exceptional athlete, coach, and researcher for Savate boxe française.
A Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine in Savate, Anastasia has built one of the most remarkable competitive records in Ukrainian Savate history. Since first stepping into the sport in 2014, she has become a multiple finalist at World and European Championships, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Combat Games in Riyadh, and a four-time winner of the Savate World Cup in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.Her consistency at the highest level is extraordinary. Between 2015 and 2026, Anastasia claimed 12 Ukrainian national titles in Savate, establishing a national record for the highest number of medals won in the discipline.
Yet for Anastasia, Savate has always represented more than competition. Originally competing in kickboxing, her journey into Savate began when national coach Gennadii Volovikov recognised her potential and encouraged her to try the sport. What began as an opportunity soon became a passion.“What attracted me most was the technical beauty and intelligence of Savate,” Anastasia explains. “I truly fell in love with this sport.”
That passion helped shape not only her sporting career, but also her personal philosophy. Savate became a source of resilience, discipline, and self-development — motivating her to persevere through defeats, continue improving, and never give up.
Determined to pass on her experience, Anastasia later founded her own club, where she began coaching children and young athletes. Her dedication to education and development eventually led her into academia, where she now teaches Savate boxe française at university level.
Today, Anastasia stands out as one of the leading academic voices connected to Savate. She has already published 13 scientific articles related to combat sports and Savate, recently completed her first monograph, and is currently finalising her PhD research dedicated entirely to Savate.Her work demonstrates the growing intellectual and educational dimension of the sport, helping to strengthen Savate not only as a competitive discipline, but also as an area of scientific study and athlete development.
For Anastasia, Savate is no longer simply a sport. It has become a lifelong mission.