Ludmilla Tourischeva

Ludmilla Ivanovna Tourischeva (Russian: Людми́ла Ива́новна Тури́щева; also transliterated as Ludmilla Turischeva, Ludmilla Tourischcheva, and Ljudmila Turichtchieva, born 7 October 1952) is a Russian former gymnast. She won nine Olympic medals for the Soviet Union. She also won the World Championships all-around gold in 1970 and 1974.

Tourischeva cortada.JPG

1972 Summer Olympics

Personal information
Full name: Ludmilla Ivanovna Tourischeva
Country Represented: Soviet Union
Date of birth: (1952-10-07) October 7, 1952 (age 71)
Place of birth: Grozny, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Hometown: Kiev
Discipline: WAG
Level: Elite
Head coach(es): Vladislav Rastorotsky

She was known for her calmness. In the 1975 World Cup in London, the uneven bars broke and fell as she was landing. She saluted the judges and left the floor without even turning to see the damage. She won all gold medals for the Cup including the all-around medal.[1] Her trainer Vladislav Rastorotsky said about her: "Ljudmila would fight to death in any situation".[2]

Tourischeva was also known for her graciousness. At the 1976 Olympics, she walked around the podium to personally congratulate champion Nadia Comăneci. Tourischeve shook Comăneci's hand before accepting her own medal.[3]

In 1977, she married sprinter Valeriy Borzov. He was a two-time Olympic champion in 1972. Tourischeva keeps involved in gymnastics as a coach and an international judge.

Ludmilla Tourischeva is 1 of only 2 women to win the grand slam of all-around titles: Olympics, World Championships, World Cup, and European Championships. Yelena Shushunova is the other.

References

  1. "And the steel was broken". Olympic Panorama (3): 33–34. July–September 1990.
  2. National Property. Novaya sportivnaya gazeta. 2003-03-26. 
  3. Comăneci, Nadia (2003). Letters to a young gymnast. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-01276-0.