Gymn Forum: Polina Astakhova Biography

Medal Total

Olympics: 5 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze
Worlds: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
Europeans: 3 Gold, 2 Silver

Polina was born on October 30, 1936 in the Ukranian SSR. During World War II. the family had to move several times, and ended up in the polar town of Severouralske. There Polina was diagnosed with a form of tuberculosis. Doctors recommended that she move to a warmer climate, and the family went to Donetsk. At age 13, Polina began gymnastics; she was coached by Vladimir Smirnov. Astakhova competed in three Olympic Games, and became a coach of the USSR women's team. In 1960, she was awarded a small three-room apartment from the Soviet government. Astakhova died on August 5, 2005.

1956
Olympics: 1st Team, 17th AA
USSR Championships: 3rd AA, 3rd UB, 3rd FX

1958
USSR Championships: 3rd AA, 3rd V, 2nd UB, 3rd UB, 4th B
World Championships: 1st Team, 7th AA, 3rd UB

1959
European Championships: 7th AA, 1st B
GDR-USSR Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA
USSR Championships: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 2nd B
USSR Cup: 2nd AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 3rd B

1960
Olympics: 1st Team, 3rd AA, 1st UB, 2nd FX, 6th V
USSR Championships: 4th AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 2nd B
USSR Cup: 1st AA

1961
European Championships: 2nd AA, 1st UB, 1st B, 2nd FX
USA-USSR Dual Meet (Pennsylvania): 1st Team
USSR-USA Dual Meet (Moscow): 1st Team, 1st AA, 1st B, 1st FX, 2nd UB
USSR Championships: 2nd AA, 1st B, 2nd UB, 2nd FX, 5th V
USSR Cup: 5th AA, 1st B, 2nd UB,

1962
USSR Championships: 3rd AA, 2nd UB, 3rd FX, 5th B
USSR Cup: 4th AA,
World Championships: 1st Team, 8th AA, 4th UB, 4th FX

1963
USSR Championships: 3rd AA, 1st UB, 2nd FX, 4th B
USSR Cup: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 2nd V, 2nd B

1964
Olympics: 1st Team, 3rd AA, 1st UB, 2nd FX, 4th B
SWE-USSR Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA
USSR Championships: 1st FX, 2nd UB
USSR Cup: 5th AA

1966
Tiflis Invitational: 3rd AA
USSR Championships: 3rd AA, 4th FX, 6th B
USSR Cup: 8th AA
USSR World Trials: 3rd AA
World Championships: 2nd Team, 13th AA, 5th UB