This bio is on my all time personal favorite. Oksana Omelianchik!
She first stepped into the spotlight in 1985 when she won the USSR National Championships. Because of this she was chosen to compete in the European Championship, where she won a bronze in the AA, and a gold on the Beam. Many think she could have won the AA had she competed in the last round instead of Shushanova, who did win. At the Euros, for the first time, she did her increadible back to back tumbling, a RO ff double twist punch front in to a RO ff arabian handspring into a RO one and a half twisting dive roll, increadible! It stole the hearts of the crowd, and a silver in the FX finals
The next big compition on Oksana’s list was the 1985 World Championships. She once again did her remarkabla back to back tumbling that helped her tie for the AA title and win another gold in the FX finals with a perfect ten. Her bar work was increadible too. She did a great Delchev right into a tuck back fly away to catch the low bar.
1986 was not Oksana’s best year. She competed at the Goodwill Games, but unfortunetly had 2 falls from the bars and only placed third. She did however do a new skill her. A back dive with 3/4 turn on the beam. Oksana Also competed in the World cup where she placed 3rd again.
1987 wasn’t any better of a year for her. She made some mistakes on beam and floor in the team compition of the worlds, and the Soviets lost to the Romainians in the team compition. She qualified for the AA, but do to a 9.650 on beam only finished 6th.
In 1988, Oksana would see Olympics pass with her on the sidelines. Her hand grip came off during her compolsery bars routine at the 88 Soviet Nationals, and she only finished 8th. This was the offcial reason for her not being picked for the Olympic team, but many suspect she was being punished for the Soviets losing to the Romianians the year before. She was, however, the alternate, and did a great job in cheering her teammates on.
She continued until 89, but the Soviets had so much dept that they left her off the National team. With them needing her no longer, she was forced to retire.
If you've never seen this gymnast preform, I highly recamend you get some tapes of her. She is a delight to watch, if you’ve ever seen her you'll know what I'm talking about.
If you've never seen her, her are a list of mpegs you can download of her
Oksana's bars rouitne from the 85 Euros
Oksana's balence beam rouitne from the 85 Euros
Oksana's FX rouitne from the 85 Euros
Oksana doing "her" move on the beam (a back dive wiht a 3 quater turn)
Oksana doing her vault (RO, half turn, pike front)
Oksana's FX routine from the 87 worlds