Vitaly Scherbo
Encyclopedia
Vitaly Venediktovich Scherbo (or Shcherbo) , born 13 January 1972 in Minsk
, Byelorussian SSR
, is a Belarus
ian and former Soviet
artistic gymnast. Arguably the greatest or most successful male gymnast of all time, he is the only male gymnast ever to have won a world title on all 8 events (Individual All-Around in 1993, Team in 1991, Floor in 1994, 1995 and 1996, Horizontal Bar in 1994, Parallel Bars in 1993 and 1995, Pommel Horse in 1992, Rings in 1992, Vault in 1993 and 1994). At the 1992 Olympics, he won 6 of 8 events (team, all-around, and 4 of 6 event finals - more golds at a single Olympics than any other gymnast in Olympic history), becoming the most successful athlete at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Scherbo's first international performances were in 1990-1991, when he competed for the USSR team at the World Championship
and the World Cup. He was the 1991 World All-Around silver medalist behind teammate Grigori Misutin; scored a perfect 10.0 on the vault
at the European Championships in 1990; and starred at the Goodwill Games in Seattle. But he had occasional bouts of inconsistentcy and as the 1992 Barcelona Olympics approached, the Unified Team
coaches regarded him as less of a medal prospect than his more experienced and reliable teammates.
However, as he had done so many times throughout his career, he proved his coaches and audiences wrong. In one of the most dominant performances in history, Scherbo won six out of the possible eight awarded gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, Spain
. His golds came in the team event, the all around, pommel horse (tie), rings, vault, and parallel bars. Only Michael Phelps
and Mark Spitz
have ever won more golds in a single Games, and only Phelps and Eric Heiden
have won as many individual gold medals (five) at a single Games. Scherbo's cocky personality and uncanny ability to come up with perfect performances when it mattered the most made him an instant hit with worldwide audiences. He traveled with and performed in a highly successful post-Olympic tour, featuring Shannon Miller
, among others, where his popularity with American audiences dramatically increased. Vitaly also appeared alongside compatriot Svetlana Boginskaya
in the music video "Revolution Earth" by The B-52's
.
Soon after the 1992 Olympics, Scherbo married his wife Irina, and the two had a daughter Kristina. However, life in Scherbo's native Belarus became increasingly turbulent, and his family was frequently victimized. Their apartment was burglarized wherein money, valuables, and Olympic memorabilia was stolen. Fortunately, no one was home at the time, and his six gold medals from Barcelona were safely stashed at his mother's house. Weeks later, his wife Irina overheard some thugs on the street plotting to kidnap their newborn daughter, Kristina. The Scherbos promptly packed their bags and moved to the U.S, settling in State College, Pennsylvania
. The move not only ensured the family's safety, but enabled Vitaly to take advantage of his Olympic success. The charismatic media darling secured multiple endorsement deals, sponsorships, and gala appearances, becoming the first former Soviet athlete to successfully market himself in the U.S.
Scherbo followed up on his Olympic triumph by winning the 1993 World All-Around title, and the 1993 and 1994 American Cup, as well as numerous individual apparatus medals on the way.
In 1996, his wife Irina was involved in a horrific single car accident, in which she skidded off a road and slammed into a tree. She suffered multiple fratcures to her ribs and pelvis, lapsed into a coma, and her internal injuries were so severe that doctors told her husband that she only had a 1 in 100 chance of surviving. Scherbo stayed with his wife everyday, and abruptly stopped his training altogether. He gained 15 pounds, and began abusing alcohol. After one month, Irina finally woke up from her coma, and insisted that her husband resume his training for the upcoming Olympic season. As his wife made a miraculous recovery, Scherbo similarly began to regain tip top physical condition winning yet another World title in 1996. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, his performances reflected his lack of preparation time due to his wife's accident and to recent shoulder surgery. His performances were marred by uncharacteristic mistakes, and the gold medals that had made him so famous were not forthcoming. Though Scherbo was clearly disappointed and frustrated at his inability to win gold, he was a decided crowd favorite and they clearly viewed his four bronze medals as an impressive triumph after a tumultuous year. His popularity was demonstrated when he received a rapturous reception from the crowd at the post competition gala.
Scherbo had planned to compete in the 1997 World Championships, but broke his hand in a motorcycle accident beforehand, and retired soon after. He now lives and works in Las Vegas
where he owns and runs his own gymnasium.
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Byelorussian SSR
Byelorussian SSR
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It was one of the four original founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922, together with the Ukrainian SSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
, is a 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 ,...
ian and 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....
artistic gymnast. Arguably the greatest or most successful male gymnast of all time, he is the only male gymnast ever to have won a world title on all 8 events (Individual All-Around in 1993, Team in 1991, Floor in 1994, 1995 and 1996, Horizontal Bar in 1994, Parallel Bars in 1993 and 1995, Pommel Horse in 1992, Rings in 1992, Vault in 1993 and 1994). At the 1992 Olympics, he won 6 of 8 events (team, all-around, and 4 of 6 event finals - more golds at a single Olympics than any other gymnast in Olympic history), becoming the most successful athlete at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
History
Scherbo was introduced to gymnastics at the age of seven by his mother in an attempt to channel the energy of her highly intelligent but uncontrollable young son. The coaches at his local club fared no better but, recognizing his talent, arranged for him to be sent to a state boarding school for young athletes. There he continued to delight and infuriate his tutors in equal measure, making huge progress as a gymnast but refusing to submit to any discipline.Scherbo's first international performances were in 1990-1991, when he competed for the USSR team at the World Championship
World Gymnastics Championships
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
and the World Cup. He was the 1991 World All-Around silver medalist behind teammate Grigori Misutin; scored a perfect 10.0 on the vault
Vault (gymnastics)
The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault...
at the European Championships in 1990; and starred at the Goodwill Games in Seattle. But he had occasional bouts of inconsistentcy and as the 1992 Barcelona Olympics approached, the Unified Team
Unified Team
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée...
coaches regarded him as less of a medal prospect than his more experienced and reliable teammates.
However, as he had done so many times throughout his career, he proved his coaches and audiences wrong. In one of the most dominant performances in history, Scherbo won six out of the possible eight awarded gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His golds came in the team event, the all around, pommel horse (tie), rings, vault, and parallel bars. Only Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
and Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz
Mark Andrew Spitz is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics....
have ever won more golds in a single Games, and only Phelps and Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
have won as many individual gold medals (five) at a single Games. Scherbo's cocky personality and uncanny ability to come up with perfect performances when it mattered the most made him an instant hit with worldwide audiences. He traveled with and performed in a highly successful post-Olympic tour, featuring Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller
Shannon Lee Miller is a former artistic gymnast from Edmond, Oklahoma. She is the most decorated gymnast in U.S. History, and considered one of the greatest gymnasts the United States has ever produced...
, among others, where his popularity with American audiences dramatically increased. Vitaly also appeared alongside compatriot Svetlana Boginskaya
Svetlana Boginskaya
Svetlana Leonidovna Boginskaya , is a Soviet/Belarusian gymnast. She was called the "Belarusian Swan" and the "Goddess of Gymnastics" because of her height, balletic grace, and long lines. She is especially renowned for the drama and artistry she displayed on floor exercise...
in the music video "Revolution Earth" by The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
.
Soon after the 1992 Olympics, Scherbo married his wife Irina, and the two had a daughter Kristina. However, life in Scherbo's native Belarus became increasingly turbulent, and his family was frequently victimized. Their apartment was burglarized wherein money, valuables, and Olympic memorabilia was stolen. Fortunately, no one was home at the time, and his six gold medals from Barcelona were safely stashed at his mother's house. Weeks later, his wife Irina overheard some thugs on the street plotting to kidnap their newborn daughter, Kristina. The Scherbos promptly packed their bags and moved to the U.S, settling in State College, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The move not only ensured the family's safety, but enabled Vitaly to take advantage of his Olympic success. The charismatic media darling secured multiple endorsement deals, sponsorships, and gala appearances, becoming the first former Soviet athlete to successfully market himself in the U.S.
Scherbo followed up on his Olympic triumph by winning the 1993 World All-Around title, and the 1993 and 1994 American Cup, as well as numerous individual apparatus medals on the way.
In 1996, his wife Irina was involved in a horrific single car accident, in which she skidded off a road and slammed into a tree. She suffered multiple fratcures to her ribs and pelvis, lapsed into a coma, and her internal injuries were so severe that doctors told her husband that she only had a 1 in 100 chance of surviving. Scherbo stayed with his wife everyday, and abruptly stopped his training altogether. He gained 15 pounds, and began abusing alcohol. After one month, Irina finally woke up from her coma, and insisted that her husband resume his training for the upcoming Olympic season. As his wife made a miraculous recovery, Scherbo similarly began to regain tip top physical condition winning yet another World title in 1996. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, his performances reflected his lack of preparation time due to his wife's accident and to recent shoulder surgery. His performances were marred by uncharacteristic mistakes, and the gold medals that had made him so famous were not forthcoming. Though Scherbo was clearly disappointed and frustrated at his inability to win gold, he was a decided crowd favorite and they clearly viewed his four bronze medals as an impressive triumph after a tumultuous year. His popularity was demonstrated when he received a rapturous reception from the crowd at the post competition gala.
Scherbo had planned to compete in the 1997 World Championships, but broke his hand in a motorcycle accident beforehand, and retired soon after. He now lives and works in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
where he owns and runs his own gymnasium.