Olessya Dudnik

                

                

 

Olessya Dudnik was one of the most beatiful gymnasts of all time.  Unfortunatly, she was also one of the gymnasts from the Soviet gymnasts that we only get to see at one competition and then suddenly disapears.  The only world event Dudnik competed at was the 1989 World Championships where she made the best of her chance to compete.  Relatively unknown, compared to her more experianced teammates, Dudnik made a big splash in 89.  She won the gold medal with her team, gold medal on the vault and silver medal on the beam.  Despite scoreing three 10.00s, trouble on compulsory and optional bars kept her out of the AA final.  Besides her grace, charm and incredible line, Dudnik's trademarks include a beautiful double twisting Yurchenko, one of the most incredible beam rutines performed to this day which included an aerial cartwheel to two layout stepouts,  a roundoff layout full, and a roundoff backhandspring tripple twist dismount (yes I am talking about the 10 cm beam), and a 2 1/2 twist punch front on floor.