Lina Cheryazova facts for kids
Cheryazova on a 2001 stamp of Uzbekistan
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 1 November 1968 Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union |
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| Died | 23 March 2019 (aged 50) Novosibirsk, Russia |
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| Height | 164 cm | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 60 kg | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Freestyle skiing | ||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Dmitri Kavunov | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Lina Anatolyevna Cheryazova (born November 1, 1968 – died March 23, 2019) was a famous Uzbek freestyle skier. She was especially good at aerials, which is a type of skiing where athletes perform amazing flips and twists in the air. Lina made history by winning a gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics. She is the only athlete from Uzbekistan to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympics! Because of her great success, she was named an Honored Athlete of Uzbekistan.
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Lina Cheryazova's Early Life and Training
Lina Cheryazova was born in Tashkent, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Before she became a freestyle skier, Lina trained in other sports. She started with gymnastics, which helped her learn about balance and body control. She also practiced trampolining, which taught her how to jump high and perform acrobatic moves. These skills were very helpful when she later started freestyle skiing.
Starting Freestyle Skiing
Lina began freestyle skiing in 1987. This sport combines skiing with acrobatics, especially in the aerials event. Skiers go down a ramp and launch themselves into the air. While airborne, they perform flips, twists, and other cool tricks before landing. Lina's background in gymnastics and trampolining gave her a great advantage.
Amazing World Cup Success
Lina Cheryazova quickly became a top athlete in freestyle skiing. She first competed in the World Cup in December 1989. The World Cup is a series of international competitions where skiers earn points.
Winning Seasons
Lina had two incredibly successful seasons in the World Cup.
- In the 1992–93 season, she was the overall winner. She won six out of eight races, showing how dominant she was.
- In the 1993–94 season, she won again. This time, she won six out of 11 races. These wins proved she was one of the best aerials skiers in the world.
Olympic Gold Medalist
Lina Cheryazova's biggest achievement came at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She competed in the aerials event.
Making History at the Olympics
At the 1994 Winter Olympics, Lina performed incredibly well. She scored 166.84 points, which was enough to win the gold medal. This was a very special moment for her and for her country. Uzbekistan had never won a Winter Olympic medal before Lina's victory. Her gold medal made her a national hero.
Challenges and Retirement
After her Olympic win, Lina faced a serious challenge. In the summer of 1994, she had a bad accident while training. She fractured her skull and was in a coma for over a month.
Returning to Competition
Lina worked hard to recover from her injury. She started competing again in the autumn of 1995. However, she was never quite able to get back to her previous amazing form. She continued to compete, even participating in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After another injury, she decided to retire from the sport.
Life After Skiing
In 1999, Lina moved to Novosibirsk, Russia. She lived there with her adopted daughter, Alina. Lina Cheryazova passed away on March 23, 2019, after being ill for some time. She was 50 years old. Her legacy as Uzbekistan's only Winter Olympic medalist continues to inspire many.
