Yelena Shushunova

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameYelena Lvovna•Shushunova
Used nameYelena•Shushunova
Original nameЕлена Львовна•Шушунова
Born23 May 1969 in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg (RUS)
Died16 August 2018 in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg (RUS)
Measurements147 cm / 41 kg
AffiliationsSKA St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg (RUS)
NOC Soviet Union
Nationality Russian Federation
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 4

Biography

Yelena Shushunova and Lyudmila Turishcheva are the only two female gymnasts who have won the grand slam of all-around titles – Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup and European Championships. Shushunova took up gymnastics at the age of six and made the Soviet national team in 1984, just in time for the 1984 Olympics. As the Soviets boycotted the 1984 Olympics, it denied Shushunova her first Olympic medals. Instead Shushunova competed at the Friendship Games, where she won gold in the team event and bronze in individual all-around.

In 1985 Shushunova established herself as one of the top gymnasts of the era, by winning three golds (individual all-around, vault and team event), floor exercise silver and balance beam bronze at the 1985 World Championships and four golds (individual all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise) and balance beam bronze at the 1985 European Championships. In 1986, Shushunova won the individual all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise at the World Cup. At the 1987 World Championships she won the vault and floor exercise titles, individual all-around, balance beam and team event silvers and uneven bars bronze, but was not as successful at the 1987 European Championships, winning only the vault title and individual all-around bronze.

Finally in 1988, Shushunova got the chance to compete at the Olympics, winning the individual all-around and team event titles, silver on balance beam and bronze on uneven bars, retiring after Seoul. From the middle of 1990s, Shushunova has worked for St. Petersburg sport’s committee and has organized almost all the top gymnastics events of this town, including the gymnastics events at the 1994 Goodwill Games and the 1998 European Championships, both of which were held in St. Petersburg.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1988 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) URS RUS Yelena Shushunova
Individual All-Around, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
Team All-Around, Women (Olympic) Soviet Union 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Women (Olympic) 7
Horse Vault, Women (Olympic) 8
Uneven Bars, Women (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Balance Beam, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes