Elena Pautova (born 22 January 1986) is a Paralympian athlete from Russia competing mainly in category T12 middle-distance events.

Pautova, who is visually impaired, first took to athletics while she attended a specialised boarding school in Armavir, Russia.

[2] Due to the rarity of official T13 5000m races at major competitions, Pautova's record, as of 2013, still stands.

She returned to the Paralympics in 2008 in Beijing, China, winning two more bronze medals in the T13 1500m and the joint classified T12/13 800m.

After her triumph in London, Pautova was awarded the Order of Honour, and received her medal form President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony held in the Kremlin.