Svetlana Boginskaya | |
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Personal information | |
Full name | Svetlana Lioubov Boginskaya |
Alternative name(s) | Svyatlana Leanidaŭna Bahinskaya (Святлана Леанідаўна Багінская) |
Nickname(s) | Belarusian Swan, Goddess of Gymnastics |
Country represented | Belarus |
Former countries represented | Unified Team, Soviet Union |
Born |
Minsk, Soviet Union |
February 9, 1973
Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) (5'2") |
Discipline | Women's artistic gymnastics |
Level | Senior International Elite |
Head coach(es) | Tatiana Grosovivich |
Former coach(es) | Lyubov Miromanova |
Retired | 1997 |
Medal record
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Svetlana Lioubov Boginskaya (Belarusian: Святлана Леанідаўна Багінская), born February 9, 1973, is a former artistic gymnast for the Soviet Union and Belarus. She was called the "Belarusian Swan" and the "Goddess of Gymnastics" because of her height, balletic grace, and long body lines. Her last name derives from "boginya" (богиня), literally meaning "goddess" in Russian.
Boginskaya is known for the drama and artistry she displayed on floor exercise. She is a three-time Olympic champion, with an individual gold medal on vault from the 1988 Summer Olympics and team gold medals from the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics.
Boginskaya was born in Minsk. She was a figure skater for several years, but began gymnastics at age six. Two years later, she moved to Moscow to train full-time at the Round Lake Gymnastics Center. By age fourteen, she was a member of the Soviet national team.
She won her first world medal, a bronze on balance beam, at the 1987 World Championships. She went on to compete in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where she won four medals: gold in the team competition, gold on vault, silver on floor, and bronze in the individual all-around.
Just three days after the Olympics, Boginskaya's longtime coach, Lyubov Miromanova, committed suicide. Miromanova had been a surrogate mother to Boginskaya, coaching and caring for her after she moved from Minsk to train full-time in Moscow. After her death, Boginskaya began training with Tatiana Grosovivich Under Grosovivich's tutelage, Boginskaya became world champion in 1989 and later dedicated her performance to her late mentor.