46-Year-Old Gymnast Competing In 8th Olympics Is Proving Age Is Just A Number

Jul 27, 2021 by apost team

The Olympics are known for showcasing and highlighting the world’s most elite and skillful athletes in various sports. The games are a staple for many, as athletes from all over the world are able to compete and showcase their incredible skills and athleticism. One of the most successful gymnasts to compete in the Olympics, as well as plenty of other competitions, is Oksana Chusovitina. Born on June 19, 1975, Chusovitina is 46 years old currently, and competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which is currently being held in the year 2021.

Proving that age is just a number, Chusovitina has competed in eight different Olympic Games over the course of her life and has continued to prove herself at each and every one of them. She holds the record for the most individual world championships medals for a single event, with nine total on vault. The current games marked the end of her career as a professional gymnast, as she had decided to retire following her time competing at the Tokyo Olympics. On July 25, Chusovitina officially retired as she failed to advance to the next round of the competition after competing on vault.

Even though she will no longer be competing at a professional level, Chusovitina has been a trailblazer for many people over the course of her long career, especially other female gymnasts. After an astonishingly long run as an Olympian, the athlete hung up her leotard. During her immensely successful career, Chusovitina paved the way for many aspiring athletes, both young and old, to continue to follow their passions and never give up on chasing their dreams.

Chusovitina has been competing as a gymnast in the Olympics since 1992 and has represented Germany, the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan. In Tokyo, the elite gymnast represented Uzbekistan and was even selected to be the flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony, as per Republic World. According to CBC News: The National, the established athlete has five complicated moves named after her.

According to Republic World, Chusovitina won her first gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and went on to earn a silver medal on vault in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She has proven time and again that she has complete control over the way her body moves as she has become a master at executing the full-twisting double layout.

Republic World reported that Chusovitina is on record as being the oldest gymnast to ever compete in the Olympics. At the age of 46, she showed up to the games with plenty of optimism and strength and put her best foot forward as she showed off her amazing skills as a vault specialist. Even though she failed to advance to the next level, Chusovitina’s legacy is sure to carry on in the years to come to prove that athletes can show up and compete well at any age. 

In a video from CBC News: The National, Chusovitina bid farewell to her coaches and fellow teammates after completing her time competing. As she left the competition floor for the final time, Chusovitina blew a kiss and waved goodbye, and received a round of applause and standing ovation in return. 

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