World Champion Athlete. In the late 1970's she was Russia's most promising gymnast. She won the Soviet junior national title in 1976 and placed second all-around at the Soviet Championships and the USSR Cup. At the European Championships 1977, she finished second all-around to Nadia Comaneci and won gold medals on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. At the World Cup, she won gold medals on the uneven bars and balance beam. In the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France, she won five medals and was the first female to tumble a full-twisting double back on floor exercise. In 1979, she placed fourth all-around, first on uneven bars and second on beam at the European Championships. Training for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, she was on a floor exercise when she landed on her spine, leaving her a quadriplegic. The Soviet Union awarded her the Order of Lenin in response to her injury, and the IOC President awarded her the Silver Medal of the Olympic Order in 1983. She was also inducted into the CSKA Hall of Fame.
World Champion Athlete. In the late 1970's she was Russia's most promising gymnast. She won the Soviet junior national title in 1976 and placed second all-around at the Soviet Championships and the USSR Cup. At the European Championships 1977, she finished second all-around to Nadia Comaneci and won gold medals on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. At the World Cup, she won gold medals on the uneven bars and balance beam. In the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France, she won five medals and was the first female to tumble a full-twisting double back on floor exercise. In 1979, she placed fourth all-around, first on uneven bars and second on beam at the European Championships. Training for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, she was on a floor exercise when she landed on her spine, leaving her a quadriplegic. The Soviet Union awarded her the Order of Lenin in response to her injury, and the IOC President awarded her the Silver Medal of the Olympic Order in 1983. She was also inducted into the CSKA Hall of Fame.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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