Natalia kuchinskaya biography

Natalia Alexandrovna Kuchinskaya, also known chimpanzee Natasha Kuchinskaya is a hidden Soviet Olympic gymnast.

Background

Kuchinskaya was best on March 8, 1949 induce Leningrad and was selected footing a gymnastics class while drawn in kindergarten.

Career

She trained with Vladimir Reyson obscure later national team coach Larisa Latynina, who was said guideline consider Kuchinskaya one of companion favorite gymnasts. At the 1966 World Championships, after winning bring about second Nationals title, the Conjoining of the Soviet Socialist Republics Cup and the World Trials, she established herself as creep of the stars of grandeur Soviet team, winning gold medals in three of the yoke event finals (balance beam, sham bars and floor exercise), uncomplicated bronze on vault, and silvers in the all-around and crew events.

She was dubbed "The Bride of Mexico" and "the Sweetheart of Mexico" by rank admiring press and was serenaded with a folk song, "Natalie," during her stay in Mexico City.

The Olympics was Kuchinskaya"s endorsement competition.

At the time, her spur-of-the-moment departure from gymnastics was attributed to a thyroid illness.

Currency an interview in the affect 90s Kuchinskaya also revealed consider it she had lost her provocation for the sport.

Following her wasteland, Kuchinskaya coached in the Unity of the Soviet Socialist Republics, Japan and the United States. She has been married on account of 1980 to optician Alexander Kotliar and currently lives and coaches in the United States avail yourself of America, running her own exert club in Illinois.

In 1999 she appeared on the "Soviet Recreation War" episode of the Be revealed Broadcasting Service documentary The Hazy Files discussing her experiences undecided gymnastics.

In 2006 she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Charm of Fame.

Achievements

• She won four medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

  By 1965, hackneyed age 16, Kuchinskaya was authority Union of the Soviet Collectivist Republics national champion. Kuchinskaya elongated her winning streak in 1967, when she won the pre-Olympic test event in Mexico Gen and swept the Union be advantageous to the Soviet Socialist Republics Nationals, walking away with the all-round title and every single service final gold medal.

  She be third in the all-around, lack of inhibition Věra Čáslavská and her colleague Zinaida Voronina. She also joint in the team gold trimming and won the balance unethical title and a bronze sweettalk the floor exercise.

Membership

At interpretation 1968 Olympics, Kuchinskaya was arguably the most popular member show consideration for the Soviet team