London 2012

Olga Korbut

Olga Korbut

In the same year as the London Olympics, 2012 also marks the 40th anniversary of Olga Korbut's gold-medal performances at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.

Korbut was born in Belarus, then part of the Soviet Union, and took up gymnastics when she was nine.

She won six Olympic medals in her career and changed the way her sport was viewed across the world.

Fascinating Facts

  • In 1994, she was named one of Sports Illustrated's 40 greatest athletes.
  • Olga was the first gymnast to be inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1988.

In her first event in Munich - the balance beam - Korbut performed something which no-one had previously attempted at an international competition - the backward flip on the beam.

She pulled off the move, which later became known as the 'Korbut flip'.

Revolutionary

Due to her success and appeal, there was great media interest in the young gymnast and it proved to be revolutionary within the sport.

Before 1972, the focus was on elegance rather than acrobatics, with gymnasts generally being older.

Following her Olympic performances, that all changed. It also saw a huge increase in the number of young girls joining their local gymnastics clubs - a great legacy for the sport.

At the Montreal Games in 1976, she was slightly overshadowed by Romanian Nadia Comaneci's "perfect 10" score, yet she still went on to win the gold medal in the team event and a silver on the beam.

Korbut retired from competition in 1977 and now lives in Arizona. She likes exercising and cooking and is even still involved in gymnastics on a daily basis.

Olga Korbut

  • DOB: 16/5/1955
  • Event: Gymnastics
  • Medals: 4 gold, 2 silver

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