Ivan Heshko

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Ivan Heshko is a Ukrainian athlete specialising in the 1500 metres. He was born on August 19, 1979 in Chernivtsi Oblast, Northern Bukovina.

Heshko started to train at the age of 14. He achieved his studies at the Teacher's Training College: Kamenets-Podolskiy. A member of an Italian athletic club, he has been trained by Georgiy Mironiouk since 1992, and has five times been the champion of his country, including a bronze medal in 2003 at the World Championships (Paris/Saint-Denis) and silver in the 1500 m at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest. At Athens 2004, Heshko finished fifth in 1500 m. He also competed in 800 metres, but was knocked out in the semi finals. His personal best time of 3' 30 33 (1500 m), accomplished during the 2004 meeting of Brussel, is also a Ukrainian national record.

In 2005 Heshko won the European Indoor Championships, the Universiade and the World Athletics Final and finished fourth at the World Championships. He started the next year by winning the World Indoor Championships in Moscow, comfortably ahead of two Kenyan runners, completing 1500 m in 3' 42­ 08. In August 2006, Heshko won the silver medal at the 2006 European Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg.