Alexandra Timoshenko
Encyclopedia
Olexandra Olexandrivna Tymoshenko born 18 February 1972 in Boguslav, Ukraine
, USSR) is a former Soviet
Individual Rhythmic Gymnast
. She started gymnastics in 1980 at age 8 and she retired at age 20 in 1992. She was coached by the famous mother/daughter combination of Albina and Irina Deriugina
. Olexandra won the All-Around Bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
and at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics she won the Gold.
When Olexandra was seven, her father (a construction engineer) was invited to work in Kiev
. There Alexandra started training at the Deriugins School of Rhythmics. At age 14 she became The Junior Soviet Champion and, shortly after, collected three medals at a European championships: a gold for the Rope
, a silver for the Hoop
and a bronze for the Ribbon
. Then, during a regular Soviet competition, she placed second behind the top of the Soviets, Marina Lobach of Belarus
, and so won the right to go to the 1988 European championships.
At the 1988 European Championships in Helsinki
, Finland
she shared the All-Around title with two Bulgaria
ns, Elizabeth Koleva and Adriana Dunavska. There she also won 3 golds - Hoop, Clubs and Rope. Several months later she won the All-Around Bronze at the Seoul Olympics, and after that she became the USSR All-Around Champion for the first time.
In June 1989 at the Soviet Championships in Krasnoyarsk
, Siberia
, Olexandra was performing her Ball
routine while another girl had already started her Ribbon routine. When Olexandra was performing a salto, the other girl accidentally hit her in the eyelid with the stick end of her ribbon. Doctors were able to stop the bleeding and Alexandra received several stitches. Despite the injury, she went on to win the All-Around title.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, USSR) is a former Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Individual Rhythmic Gymnast
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
. She started gymnastics in 1980 at age 8 and she retired at age 20 in 1992. She was coached by the famous mother/daughter combination of Albina and Irina Deriugina
Irina Deriugina
Irina Deriugina is a Ukrainian former individual Rhythmic Gymnast. She is the only Soviet rhythmic gymnast who possesses two all around world titles, which she won in 1977 and 1979. Her mother, Albina, was her coach...
. Olexandra won the All-Around Bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics she won the Gold.
When Olexandra was seven, her father (a construction engineer) was invited to work in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. There Alexandra started training at the Deriugins School of Rhythmics. At age 14 she became The Junior Soviet Champion and, shortly after, collected three medals at a European championships: a gold for the Rope
Rope (rhythmic gymnastics)
Rope may be made of hemp or a synthetic material which retains the qualities of lightness and suppleness. Its length is in proportion to the size of the gymnast. The rope should, when held down by the feet, reach both of the gymnasts' armpits. One or two knots at each end are for keeping hold of...
, a silver for the Hoop
Hoop (rhythmic gymnastics)
A hoop is an apparatus in rhythmic gymnastics and may be made of plastic or wood, provided that it retains its shape during the routine. The interior diameter is from 51 to 90 cm, and the hoop must weigh a minimum of 300g...
and a bronze for the Ribbon
Ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics)
Ribbon is a component of rhythmic gymnastics.-The stick:This can be of any colour and made of wood, bamboo, plastic or fibreglass with a maximum diameter of 1cm at its widest, a cylindrical or conical shape and should have a length of 50–60cm...
. Then, during a regular Soviet competition, she placed second behind the top of the Soviets, Marina Lobach of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, and so won the right to go to the 1988 European championships.
At the 1988 European Championships in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
she shared the All-Around title with two Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
ns, Elizabeth Koleva and Adriana Dunavska. There she also won 3 golds - Hoop, Clubs and Rope. Several months later she won the All-Around Bronze at the Seoul Olympics, and after that she became the USSR All-Around Champion for the first time.
In June 1989 at the Soviet Championships in Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Olexandra was performing her Ball
Ball (rhythmic gymnastics)
The Ball is a piece of apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. It is made of either rubber or synthetic material provided it possesses the same elasticity as rubber. It is from 18 to 20 cm in diameter and must have a minimum weight of 400g. The ball can be of any colour...
routine while another girl had already started her Ribbon routine. When Olexandra was performing a salto, the other girl accidentally hit her in the eyelid with the stick end of her ribbon. Doctors were able to stop the bleeding and Alexandra received several stitches. Despite the injury, she went on to win the All-Around title.