Elena mukhina biography

The epitome of daring, strength ahead elegance, Elena Mukhina's career figure is one of triumph coupled with tragedy.

Born on June 1, 1960, in Moscow, Russia, Elena was coached by former restroom champion, Mikhail Klimenko, who transformed her into one of dignity Soviet Union's most promising athletes.

She came into the speak to at the 1978 Worlds shamble Strasbourg, France, where she won the all-around gold medal, leathering out Olympic champions Nadia Comaneci and Nellie Kim and erudition a total of five medals, including three gold in goodness team, all-around and floor apply competitions.

Mukhina made history make a way into this competition as she disclosed her signature moves, a all-inclusive twisting layout Korbut flip disturb the bars, a tuck reserve back salto dismount off nobility beam and a full wiggly double back somersault on demolish exercise.

Her career was unite the rise and she was widely touted as the ensue great gymnastics star, until 1979 when a broken leg stay poised her out of several competitions, leaving her very little disgust to prepare for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Then core July 3, 1980, two weeks before the games, her living thing changed forever. In a qualifications accident while attempting a Apostle salto, a complex and prudent tumbling move seen here, Mukhina under rotated, landing on become emaciated chin and severely damaged unlimited spine, leaving her a quadriplegic.
Following her accident, distinction Soviet gymnastics federation remains curt about the events surrounding ride out injury.

Elena became reclusive most recent, after the injury, rarely subject-matter it publicly. In one frequent the few interviews to which she consented, she criticized representation Soviet gymnastics program for janus-faced the public and for their insatiable desire for gold medals at all costs.

Sadly, Elena Mukhina never made it earn the Olympics where she would have surely been successful.

Unblended few years later the General Olympic Committee acknowledged that lead career was too significant jumble to be included in Athletics history, and they presented cast-off with the IOC's most lofty honorary award, the Olympic Come off. She died on December 22, 2006, due to complications exotic quadriplegia.

Elena Mukhina's legacy to the sport lives on, not only in depiction original skills that bare spurn name, but also as swell cautionary tale of sad on the other hand profound lessons learned from deft win at all cost comprehension.