Valeri Liukin
Valeri Liukin is a former Olympic gymnast for the Soviet Union, who currently coaches his daughter, 2008 U.S. gold medalist Nastia Liukin. Liukin relocated to the United States in 1992 and co-founded the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano, Texas.1
Fast Facts
- Born: December 17, 1966
- Birthplace: Aktiubinsk, Kazakhstan
- Began gymnastics at age 7
- Moved to Moscow, Russia, at age 16
- Won 2 gold medals at the 1988 Olympics
- First man to do a triple back flip on the floor1
- Current residence: Plano, Texas
- Wife: gymnast Anna Kotchneva
- Daughter: gymnast Nastia Liukin
1988: Golden Year
At the age of 21, Liukin emerged as a star of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, earning a gold medal on the horizontal bars, a silver on the parallel bars, and helping to drive the Soviet Union gymnasts to victory in the team competition.1 He also won silver in the all-around competition.
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