Oksana Chusovitina, the iconic gymnast who made her international debut representing the Soviet Union, continues to defy age and expectations at 48 years old.
Her recent performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou showcased her enduring commitment to the sport.
Competing in the women's vault final, Chusovitina narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth place. Undeterred, she is set to participate in the balance beam event as well, proving that age is just a number for this remarkable athlete.
What makes Chusovitina's presence in the gymnastics world all the more remarkable is that most competitive gymnasts are typically teenagers. However, she remains undaunted and has set her sights on a remarkable goal: competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics, where she will be nearing her half-century mark.
If she achieves this feat, it will mark her ninth appearance at the Olympics. Chusovitina's Olympic journey began with a team gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games as part of the "Unified Team," representing 12 former Soviet states.
Chusovitina said, "I was lacking a bit today, but that's OK; life's not over. I'll train, and now I know exactly what to work on in order to compete at the Olympics."
Chusovitina had initially announced her retirement after the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, but her enduring love for gymnastics led to a change of heart.
Her first goal was to compete at the fifth Asian Games, which was postponed by a year due to China's zero-covid policy. The delay was worth it, as Chusovitina received a heartwarming reception from Chinese fans in the arena.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't secure a medal ahead of gymnasts An Chang Ok and Kim Son Hyang from North Korea and China's Yu Linmin, a trio whose combined age is only 11 years older than Chusovitina's.
Chusovitina's incredible journey began in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where she started gymnastics at the tender age of seven. In 2002, her son Alisher was diagnosed with leukaemia, prompting the family to move to Germany for his treatment.
She obtained German citizenship in 2006 and won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics, representing her adopted nation. In 2013, she made a surprising return to Uzbekistan's team.
While Chusovitina's aim is to qualify for the Paris Olympics, she maintains a pragmatic approach. "We move forward; I need to try more difficult jumps," she said. "I've had bad colds this summer, and now I am getting back in shape, so at every competition, I want to improve my basics to qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics."
Chusovitina has a storied history, including previous gold medal wins at the Asian Games, induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2017, and being named Uzbekistan's best athlete of the decade in 2020.
As for her son, he is now well and pursuing a university education, with aspirations to become a math teacher. While Chusovitina's immediate focus is on her gymnastics journey, she remains steadfast in her approach, stating, "I never set goals. I just practice, compete, and enjoy it."
