 She started gymnastics at age 6 and began her career as a senior elite gymnast at 16, in 2001.Irina Vladimirovna Yarotskaya (her full name in her native Ukrainian) won the bronze medal on the balance beam at the 2002 World Championships in Debrecen.She also placed fourth in the all-around at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim, California and went on to win the gold for all around and silver with her team at the 2003 University Games.