Lilia Podkopayeva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lilia Podkopayeva
Podkopayeva in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Lilia Alexandrivna Podkopayeva
Nickname(s)	LilyPod, Golden Lily (in Ukraine)
Country represented	Ukraine
Born	(1978-08-15) 15 August 1978 (age 46) Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Spouse	Tymofiy Nahornyi (m. 2004; div. 2009)
Height	1.49 m (4 ft 11 in)
Discipline	Women's artistic gymnastics
Club	Dynamo
Head coach(es)	Lilia Puhachova (Choreographer), Halyna Lozynska
Eponymous skills	Vault round-off, back-handspring with 1/2 turn on - piked salto forward with 1/2 turn off Floor double front salto, also with 1/2 twist out
Retired	1997
Medal record Representing  Ukraine Women's artistic gymnastics Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 1 0 World Championships 2 3 0 Goodwill Games 2 0 2 European Championships 4 1 4 European Team Championships 0 0 1 European Cup Final 2 2 2 Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta All-Around Gold 1996 Atlanta Floor Exercise Silver 1996 Atlanta Balance Beam World Championships Gold 1995 Sabae All-Around Gold 1995 Sabae Vault Silver 1994 Brisbane Balance Beam Silver 1995 Sabae Balance Beam Silver 1995 Sabae Uneven Bars Goodwill Games Gold 1994 St Petersburg Mixed Team Gold 1994 St Petersburg Vault Bronze 1994 St Petersburg Team Bronze 1994 St Petersburg Floor Exercise European Championships Gold 1994 Stockholm Floor Exercise Gold 1996 Birmingham All-Around Gold 1996 Birmingham Uneven Bars Gold 1996 Birmingham Floor Exercise Silver 1994 Stockholm Balance Beam Bronze 1994 Stockholm Team Bronze 1994 Stockholm Vault Bronze 1996 Birmingham Team Bronze 1996 Birmingham Vault European Team Championships Bronze 1997 Paris Team European Cup Final Gold 1995 Rome Uneven Bars Gold 1995 Rome Balance Beam Silver 1993 Brussels Vault Silver 1995 Rome Vault Bronze 1993 Brussels Balance Beam Bronze 1995 Rome Floor

Lilia Oleksandrivna Podkopayeva (Ukrainian: Лілія Олександрівна Подкопаєва; born August 15, 1978) is a famous Ukrainian former artistic gymnast. She was known for her amazing mix of power, style, and grace. Lilia became the world all-around champion in 1995. She also won the Olympic all-around and floor exercise titles in 1996.

Lilia Podkopayeva's Gymnastics Journey

Early Career and World Championships (1993–1995)

In March 1993, Lilia won her only National All-Around Title in Ukraine. A month later, she competed at the 1993 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in England. She reached the vault final but had a tough landing, finishing last.

At the 1994 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Australia, Lilia placed sixth in the all-around competition. She also performed well in other events. She finished eighth on vault, fifth on uneven bars, and second on balance beam. Later that year, she helped the Ukrainian team finish fifth at the World Team Championships in Germany.

The next year, in 1995, Podkopayeva competed at the 1995 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Japan. Her strong performance helped Ukraine secure a spot for a full team at the 1996 Olympics. Lilia then won the all-around final, becoming the world champion. In the individual event finals, she won gold on vault. She also earned silver medals on uneven bars and balance beam.

Olympic Glory in Atlanta (1996)

At the start of 1996, Lilia faced a challenge. She fractured two ribs after falling from the balance beam during practice. Despite this injury, she recovered and competed at the European Championships in May. There, she helped the Ukrainian team win bronze. Lilia also won the individual all-around title. She took home gold medals on uneven bars and floor exercise, and a bronze on balance beam.

Atlanta Olympics Performance

In July 1996, Podkopayeva competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. In the team final, her scores helped the Ukrainian team finish in fifth place. She then went on to win the all-around final, becoming the Olympic champion.

Lilia continued her success in the individual event finals. She placed fifth on uneven bars and won a silver medal on balance beam. Her incredible performance on the floor exercise earned her another gold medal. She was the fourth gymnast ever to win the Olympic all-around title after being the world champion. She was also the first female gymnast to win the all-around without her team winning a medal.

Retirement from Gymnastics (1997)

Lilia had planned to keep competing after the 1996 Olympics. She was even chosen for the Ukrainian team for the 1997 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. However, injuries prevented her from competing. These injuries later led her to retire from gymnastics.

Lilia's Signature Moves

Lilia Podkopayeva has two special moves named after her in the official Code of Points. This means other gymnasts can perform these moves, and they are recognized as her unique creations.

Life After Gymnastics

After retiring from gymnastics, Lilia Podkopayeva remained active. In 2002, she started the Golden Lilia International Sports Festival. This event showcases amazing artistic and rhythmic gymnasts, acrobats, and dancers. She wanted to inspire new generations by showing them the best talent.

In 2005, Lilia became a United Nations goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS awareness in Ukraine. She also serves as an Ambassador for the Council of Europe, promoting sport, tolerance, and fair play.

In 2007, Lilia won Ukraine's version of Dancing With the Stars with her partner Sergiy Kostetskyi. The next year, she represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008. She and her partner Kyrylo Khytrov placed third in the competition.

In 2014, Podkopayeva performed at a gala event in Mexico. She used choreography similar to her famous Olympic floor routine. She even showed off some of her old moves like back handsprings.

More recently, in 2019, Lilia joined the coaching staff at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta's Perimeter Gymnastics. She continues to inspire young gymnasts with her experience and passion.

See also

In Spanish: Lilia Podkopayeva para niños

• List of Olympic female gymnasts for Ukraine