German Gymnastics Team Gets Boost from 33-Year-Old Medalist
At her fifth Olympic Games in Beijing, 33-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina finally claimed an individual medal. It's her story of determination and heartache that has won the hearts of viewers around the world.
Oksana Chusovitina is one of a kind. Not only is she the oldest woman in over half a century to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics, she's been competing for nearly two decades already -- that's longer than many of her teammates have been alive. And she's competed in five Olympic Games under three flags. In 1992, just after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, she joined the unified ex-Soviet squad and in 1996, 2000 and 2004 she competed for her home country Uzbekistan, where she had already become something of a national hero. But this year, after claiming German citizenship in 2006, she is a member of the German team. Germany has traditionally not been shown particular strength in gymnastics and Chusovitina's silver on Sunday in vault was Germany's first Olympic medal in gymnastics in 20 years -- a much needed boost to the team. Son's illness shaped gymnast's path Chusovitina began her Olympic career in 1992 with a team gold in Barcelona. Besides coming up dry after that in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, the 16-year quest for an individual medal was a rough one for the Uzbek athlete. In 2002, Chusovitina's son Alisher, then three years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. Since she already had close ties to the gymnastics team in Cologne, where she had competed in the German national league, she moved to Germany with her husband Bakhodir Kurpanov, a former successful wrestler, and their son. In Cologne, Chusovitina was able to train with the German team and seek medical attention for Alisher. She competed like mad in the years that followed, using her prize money to cover medical bills. Claiming German citizenship in 2006 allowed the gymnast and her family to stay in Germany for Alisher's follow-up examinations -- and it allowed her to strive for a fifth Games. Chusovitina hadn't abandoned her hopes for an individual. Ready for London in 2012 And Sunday's silver shows that, in a sport dominated by teenage prodigies, she has only improved with age. "I don't feel 33, I feel 18," said Chusovitina. "This medal is for my son. I can't say how happy I am." And she's not thinking about retirement. Instead, she's got the 2012 London Games on her mind. "By then I'll be 37; if I can I'll do a sixth Olympics," she said.
German Gymnastics Team
Olympic Games
Olympic_Games Athletics_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1996_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics 2008_Summer_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Summer_Olympic_Games Athletics_at_the_1980_Summer_Olympics 2016_Summer_Olympics 2004_Summer_Olympics
Beijing
Beijing China_Open_(tennis) 2008_Summer_Olympics Beijing_National_Stadium Beijing_women's_volleyball_team Beijing_Subway Government_of_China Beijing_Capital_International_Airport Beijing_Sinobo_Guoan_F.C. Beijing_railway_station Beijing_Ducks Beijing_Lions Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Beijing 2013_China_Open_(tennis) 2014_China_Open_(tennis) Beijing_dialect
gymnast
Oksana Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
Oksana Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
Olympic
Olympic_Games Summer_Olympic_Games Winter_Olympic_Games Ancient_Olympic_Games RMS_Olympic Alpine_skiing_at_the_Winter_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_sports Rowing_at_the_Summer_Olympics Equestrian_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_FC Olympic_Theatre Olympic_(band)
Olympic Games
Olympic_Games Athletics_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1996_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics 2008_Summer_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Summer_Olympic_Games Athletics_at_the_1980_Summer_Olympics 2016_Summer_Olympics 2004_Summer_Olympics
1992
Soviet Union
Soviet_Union Soviet_Union_national_football_team Soviet_Union_national_ice_hockey_team Soviet_Union_national_basketball_team Soviet_Union_national_junior_ice_hockey_team Soviet_Union_women's_national_basketball_team Soviet_Union_at_the_Olympics Cinema_of_the_Soviet_Union Russia_women's_national_volleyball_team Russia_men's_national_volleyball_team Russia_national_speedway_team Soviet_Union_at_the_1980_Summer_Olympics Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union Russia_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction Soviet_Union_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics Soviet_Union_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics
Soviet
Soviet_Union Soviet_(council) Cinema_of_the_Soviet_Union Soviet_people Red_Army Soviet_Navy Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic Soviet_Army Soviet_Championship_League Soviet_Air_Forces Soviet_Armed_Forces Soviet_space_program Soviet_partisans Cinema_of_Russia Soviet_occupation_zone Ukrainian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic
1996
2000
2004
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan_national_football_team Uzbekistan_Football_Association Uzbek_Soviet_Socialist_Republic Uzbekistan_national_under-23_football_team Uzbekistan_national_under-20_football_team Uzbekistan_Davis_Cup_team Uzbekistan_Fed_Cup_team Football_in_Uzbekistan Uzbekistan_Super_League Uzbekistan_national_under-17_football_team Uzbekistan_women's_national_football_team Uzbekistan_national_basketball_team Elections_in_Uzbekistan LGBT_rights_in_Uzbekistan Uzbekistan_national_futsal_team
German
2006
German
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
Sunday
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Olympic
Olympic_Games Summer_Olympic_Games Winter_Olympic_Games Ancient_Olympic_Games RMS_Olympic Alpine_skiing_at_the_Winter_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_sports Rowing_at_the_Summer_Olympics Equestrian_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_FC Olympic_Theatre Olympic_(band)
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
Olympic
Olympic_Games Summer_Olympic_Games Winter_Olympic_Games Ancient_Olympic_Games RMS_Olympic Alpine_skiing_at_the_Winter_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_sports Rowing_at_the_Summer_Olympics Equestrian_at_the_Summer_Olympics Olympic_FC Olympic_Theatre Olympic_(band)
1992
Barcelona
Barcelona FC_Barcelona Province_of_Barcelona Barcelona_S.C. FC_Barcelona_Handbol FC_Barcelona_Bàsquet Barcelona_Open_(tennis) Circuit_de_Barcelona-Catalunya FC_Barcelona_Hoquei FC_Barcelona_Femení CN_Barcelona Barcelona_(Congress_of_Deputies_constituency) Barcelona_(Parliament_of_Catalonia_constituency) Barcelona–El_Prat_Airport Barcelona,_Venezuela House_of_Barcelona
Atlanta
Atlanta Atlanta_Hawks Club_Atlético_Atlanta Atlanta_Thrashers Atlanta_(TV_series) Atlanta_Dream Atlanta_Falcons Atlanta_Motor_Speedway Hartsfield–Jackson_Atlanta_International_Airport 2016–17_Atlanta_Hawks_season 2015–16_Atlanta_Hawks_season Atlanta_Braves 2017–18_Atlanta_Hawks_season 2014–15_Atlanta_Hawks_season 2009–10_Atlanta_Hawks_season 1987–88_Atlanta_Hawks_season
Sydney
Sydney Sydney_Swans Sydney,_Nova_Scotia Sydney_Cricket_Ground Central_railway_station,_Sydney Sydney_International Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Sydney Sydney_Airport Sydney_Roosters Electoral_district_of_Sydney Sydney_Uni_Flames Division_of_Sydney Anglican_Diocese_of_Sydney University_of_Sydney 2000_Summer_Olympics Sydney_FC
Athens
Athens Athens,_Georgia Athens,_Ohio Classical_Athens Athens,_Alabama Ancient_Athens Athens,_Texas Athens_County,_Ohio 2004_Summer_Olympics Athens,_Tennessee Athens_Prefecture History_of_Athens Hellinikon_Olympic_Canoe/Kayak_Slalom_Centre Athens,_Pennsylvania ATP_Athens_Open Athens,_New_York
Uzbek
2002
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
son
Alisher
Cologne
Cologne Köln_Hauptbahnhof Electorate_of_Cologne Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Cologne University_of_Cologne Cologne_Grand_Prix Cologne-Weidenpesch_Racecourse 1._FC_Köln Eau_de_Cologne Cologne,_Minnesota Lanxess_Arena Bombing_of_Cologne_in_World_War_II Archbishop_of_Cologne Cologne_Cathedral Cologne_(region) Cologne_Bonn_Airport
German
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
husband
Bakhodir Kurpanov
Cologne
Cologne Köln_Hauptbahnhof Electorate_of_Cologne Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Cologne University_of_Cologne Cologne_Grand_Prix Cologne-Weidenpesch_Racecourse 1._FC_Köln Eau_de_Cologne Cologne,_Minnesota Lanxess_Arena Bombing_of_Cologne_in_World_War_II Archbishop_of_Cologne Cologne_Cathedral Cologne_(region) Cologne_Bonn_Airport
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
German
Alisher
German
2006
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Alisher
Games
Games_played Game Games_pitched Video_game Games_(magazine) Cap_(sport) PC_game Games_(film) Olympic_Games Games_(Chuckii_Booker_song) Ludi Game_theory Ford_&_Lopatin Games_(New_Kids_on_the_Block_song) FEI_World_Equestrian_Games Games_(House)
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
London
London London,_Ontario London_GAA London_Cricket_Club Greater_London London_Records London_Stadium London_(European_Parliament_constituency) County_of_London City_of_London University_of_London West_End_theatre London,_Kentucky Bishop_of_London London_(electoral_district) London,_Ohio
2012
Sunday
Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
2012 London Games
2012_Summer_Paralympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics Swimming_at_the_2012_Summer_Paralympics Swimming_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics
Olympics
Olympic_Games Figure_skating_at_the_Olympic_Games Summer_Olympic_Games Winter_Olympic_Games Tennis_at_the_Summer_Olympics 2012_Summer_Olympics Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics 2008_Summer_Olympics Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics 2016_Summer_Olympics Ice_hockey_at_the_Olympic_Games Tennis_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics Table_tennis_at_the_Summer_Olympics Alpine_skiing_at_the_Winter_Olympics Equestrian_at_the_Summer_Olympics 1996_Summer_Olympics
Olympic Games
Olympic_Games
iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::unknown sport_event::20001177 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
2012 London Games
2012_Summer_Olympics
iptc::15000000 sport::unknown sport_event::20001177 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Soviet Union
Soviet_Union
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::gpe0-x type::location type::other
Oksana Chusovitina
Oksana_Chusovitina
gender::female iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20000942 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
German Gymnastics Team
Germany_women's_national_gymnastics_team
iptc::15000000 sport::20000942 topic::sport type::entity type::organization type::sport_team
Beijing
Beijing
slot::in topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe2 type::location
gymnast
topic::none type::role type::value
1992
topic::none type::time type::value
1996
topic::none type::time type::value
2000
topic::none type::time type::value
2004
topic::none type::time type::value
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
German
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
2006
topic::none type::time type::value
Germany
Germany
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Sunday
topic::none type::time type::value
Barcelona
Barcelona
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe2 type::location
Atlanta
1996_Summer_Olympics
iptc::15000000 sport::unknown sport_event::20001177 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Sydney
2000_Summer_Olympics
iptc::15000000 sport::unknown sport_event::20001177 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Athens
2004_Summer_Olympics
iptc::15000000 sport::unknown sport_event::20001177 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Uzbek
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
2002
topic::none type::time type::value
son
topic::none type::role type::value
Alisher
gender::male meta::todo topic::none type::entity type::person
Cologne
Cologne
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe2 type::location
husband
topic::none type::role type::value
Bakhodir Kurpanov
gender::male meta::todo topic::none type::entity type::person
2012
topic::none type::time type::value
Spain
China
slot::in
London