Bessonova began training in rhythmic gymnastics at age five. Her mother preferred to see her daughter on the ballet stage; however, Bessonova decided on rhythmic gymnastics. She was coached by Albina Deriugina and her daughter
Irina Deriugina at the
Deriugins School in
Kyiv. In 1999, Bessonova was the youngest in the Ukrainian team during the
1999 World Championship in
Osaka, Japan, yet she made such a good impression that the RG specialists wrote her name immediately as a future top gymnast. In the
2001 World Championships,
Alina Kabaeva and her teammate
Irina Tchachina who originally won gold and silver medal in all-around respectively tested positive to a banned
diuretic (
furosemide) and were stripped of their medals. Ukraine's
Tamara Yerofeeva who originally won bronze was awarded the gold with Bulgaria's
Simona Peycheva from 4th to taking the silver and Bessonova from 5th was awarded the bronze medal. In 2001, Bessonova participated at the
2001 Goodwill Games in
Brisbane and won a bronze medal in clubs. In 2002, Bessonova tested positive for
norephedrine, a
banned stimulant in March during a competition in Disneyland Paris Stadium by France and was banned for two months. Bessonova briefly competed as member of the Ukrainian Group. She and the Ukrainian Group won the gold medal in five Ribbons in
New Orleans. She dominated the
2002 World Cup Final in Stuttgart in November, by winning the first place on the hoop, the rope and the clubs. After that Bessonova (aged 18) became a leader of the Ukrainian national team. In 2003 in
Budapest she won two World titles — the hoop event final edging out
Alina Kabaeva (performing to music from
Swan Lake) and the clubs final where she beat
Irina Tchachina for the gold. Bessonova was very close to the all-around title but finished with the silver medal behind Russia's Alina Kabaeva after a drop during her ball routine. In 2003, she won three European gold medals — in hoop, clubs and ribbon event finals. She won three of four finals in the 2003 Grand Prix tournament in Kyiv. In 2004, Bessonova won the all-around silver medal at the
2004 European Championships. She made her Olympic debut and won the bronze individual all-around medals at the
2004 Athens Olympics with a total score of 106.700 (ribbon 26.725, clubs 26.950, ball 26.525, hoop 26.500) behind two Russians, silver medalist
Irina Tchachina and gold medalist
Alina Kabaeva. In 2005, Bessonova became a six-time silver medalist during
2005 World Championships in all-around, rope, ball, clubs and ribbon finals. She took four gold medals at the
2005 Universiade in
İzmir, winning the all-around, rope, ball and clubs. She won the all-around bronze at the
2006 European Championships. In 2007, Bessonova competed in a number of Grand Prix and World Cup Series. The year would also mark the start of a new challenge for Bessonova with rise of new Russian gymnast
Evgenia Kanaeva. At the 2007 Corbeil-Essonnes World Cup, she won the silver medal behind
Evgenia Kanaeva. She won all the gold medals in
2007 Summer Universiade beating
Sessina and
Kapranova. She became World champion at the
2007 World Championship in Patras, winning the all-around gold medal defeating Russians
Vera Sessina and
Olga Kapranova. In 2008, Bessonova won all-around golds at the LA Lights, Deriugina Cup (Kyiv World Cup) and Miss Valentine Competitions, as well as the all-around silver at the European Championships in Torino behind Russian star
Evgenia Kanaeva. At the 2008 World Cup events, Bessonova accumulated 15 medals. The year culminated in her all-around bronze medal at the
2008 Beijing Olympics with Kanaeva winning the gold medal and Belarus'
Inna Zhukova taking the silver medal. In 2009, Bessonova placed first in the all-around at the Kyiv World Cup and Deriugina Cup events, and also won bronze in the World and European Championships behind reigning Olympic champion
Evgenia Kanaeva and
Daria Kondakova. She competed at the
2009 Universiade in
Belgrade and won four silver medals again behind Kanaeva. Bessonova finally completed her career in 2010 at the Deriugina Cup in
Kyiv. In 2013, Bessonova performed at the opening ceremony of the
2013 World Championships, in Kyiv, Ukraine. ==Other professional and social activities==