Larysa Latynina

Updated：2008-07-07 13:14 | Source：Beijing2008.cn

　　Tokyo, October 1964, Games of the XVIII Olympiad. Women‘s artistic gymnastics. Floor exercises: eventual winner Larisa LATYNINA of the Soviet Union in action. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections

　　Born: 27 December 1934

　　Birthplace: Kherson (Ukraine)

　　Nationality: Russian Federation

　　Sport: Gymnastics

　　ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

　　Melbourne / Stockholm 1956

　　Rome 1960

　　Tokyo 1964

　　AWARDS

　　Olympic medals:

　　Gold: 9

　　Silver: 5

　　Bronze: 4

　　Other results:

　　World Championships

　　Gold: 8 (58, 62)

　　Silver: 4 (58, 62, 66)

　　Bronze: 1 (62)

　　Most Medals In History

　　Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynina holds several important Olympic records. She is the only athlete in any sport to have won eighteen career medals; she is one of only four athletes to have won nine gold medals; she is the only athlete to have won fourteen medals in individual events and she is one of only three women to have won the same Summer Olympics event three times. In 1956, Latynina, then 21 years old, edged Agnes Keleti for the gold medal in the All-Around event. In the apparatus finals she finished first in the vault, second on the uneven bars and in the floor exercise and fourth on the balance beam. She also led the Soviet Union to victory in the team event and was a member of the Soviet team that placed third in the since discontinued portable apparatus event. At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Latynina defended her All-Around title and won another gold medal in the team event. She also earned a second gold medal in the floor exercise, picked up silver medals on the uneven bars and the balance beam and a bronze medal in the vault. In 1964, Latynina won her third team gold medal and gained a silver medal in the All-Around event. In the apparatus finals she earned a silver medal in the vault, bronze medals on the uneven bars and the balance beam and won the floor exercise for the third straight time. Latynina completed her competitive career by winning six medals in each of the three Olympics in which she took part. She also coached the Soviet team from 1967 until 1977.

Editor : LiuAnqi