A Legend

The Guinness Book of Records includes the name of the outstanding Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynina, who won the most medals in Olympic history: a total of 18 medals, including 9 gold, which were won at three Olympic Games. A soiree promoted as “A Legend Named Larysa” was recently held in Kyiv to mark the 70th birthday of this exceptional athlete. The event was the brainchild of gymnast Lilia Podkopaieva, her husband Tymofiy Nahorny, president of the Sport- Service Company, and the National Derzhava Association.

Larysa Latynina was born and raised in Ukraine. Since she has been living and working for a long time in Russia, a similar soiree was recently held in Moscow. But Ms. Latynina has never lost sight of the fact that she embarked on the path to the world of sport in Kherson, where she was extremely fortunate to meet her future coach Mykhailo Sotnichenko, who helped the young Larysa make the ultimate choice of her lifetime. Before that, she dreamed of being a ballerina and dancing on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. In those days she was a very successful member of a choreography group. But one day Sotnichenko said angrily, “Larysa, drop this hopak (type of Ukrainian dance — Ed.). It’s not serious. You’re making some progress in gymnastics.” There was progress in the hopak, too, but the coach’s influence was the decisive factor. The Saturday soiree in Kyiv featured a moving film about the reunion of the coach and his former pupil in Kherson. It showed the now elderly Sotnichenko fighting back tears as he holds Larysa’s hand. The evening, hosted by DJ Pasha and Masha Yefrosynina, was organized along the lines of a story told by a narrator. The arrival of the honoree, who was greeted with a standing ovation, was as spectacular as the career of this legendary athlete. Larysa walked regally across the hall and took a seat of honor on the stage. Some time later a piece of scenery fell down, landing half a meter away from her chair, but she didn’t even blink, displaying an altogether Olympian calmness. There were many cordial greetings from government officials, colleagues, and her female pupils. A pair of students from Deriuhina’s school, Natalia Hodunko and Hanna Bessonova, performed exhibition exercises. Iryna Deriuhina herself, as the “younger sister of sports gymnastics” greeted Larysa Latynina. After Bessonova’s performance Larysa said that she had always cheered for Ania at every competition and asked her not to quit rhythmic gymnastics so early, as rumor had it. The distinguished gymnast also received greetings from the no less famous pole-vaulter Serhiy Bubka, who presented her with an enormous bouquet of flowers.

In 1967 Larysa Latynina was appointed senior coach of the Soviet national gymnastics team. Then, in 1970 a funny thing happened. Her pupil Liudmyla Turyshcheva turned eighteen, a pivotal event in a young person’s life. It was an ordinary day, without a hint of a festive mood. On top of it, Latynina was late for the training session — a first for her teacher, Liudmyla thought. When she arrived half an hour late, the coach lined everyone up and ceremoniously presented Liudmyla with a huge doll and extended her best wishes. The young gymnast never forgot that day. At the evening in honor of her famous coach, she gave her a present — a doll, of course.

The honoree and all the guests were thrilled to see that among those who had been invited to the party in Kyiv were the repeat world ballroom dance champions Victor Da Silva and Hanna Kerttunen. You don’t have to be an expert to know that they put on a stunning show. A present also came from the organization founded by cosmonaut German Titov, which brought... a star for the guest of honor. From now on, a little star will bear the name of the nine-time Olympic champion Larysa Latynina.

Among those who greeted Larysa Latynina were Valentyna Stepova, Iryna Bilyk, and Ani Lorak, who sang Tina Turner’s famous hit The Best, and Larysa’s favorite singer Tamara Gverdtsyteli. Special mention should be made of Larysa’s ten-year-old grandson Vadym, who recited a poem so touchingly that few in the audience were left unmoved. Larysa also received congratulations from her husband, Yury Feldman, whom she met at a health center. One day Yury asked the lady vacationing next door if she knew how to play tennis. When she said that she didn’t play, the professor and member of the Russian Academy of Electrical Engineering offered to teach Larysa. They’ve been together now for twenty years. At the Kyiv soiree, he sang Larysa the romantic song Shine, My Star.