Shoshonova, Yelena

Sport:
gymnastics

Country Represented:
Soviet Union

Years Competed:
1988

Medals Received:
gold, silver, bronze

Olympic Info:
A member of the Soviet Union women's gymnastics team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Shoshonova won four medals during the competition. She won the gold medal in the individual all-around and team combined exercises events, the silver medal in the balance beam, and the bronze in the uneven bars. She also finished seventh in the floor exercise and eighth in the horse vault.

Career Highlights:
One of the world's top gymnasts in the 1980s, Shoshonova was one of the favorites heading into the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but did not compete due to the Soviet boycott of the Games. The following year, Yelena won the individual all-around, the vault, the uneven bars, and the floor exercises, and finished third in the balance beam at the European Championships. At the World Championships, she won the all-around and vault, finished second in the floor exercises, and third in the balance beam.

In 1986, Shoshonova finished second in the all-around at the Goodwill Games and then finished second in the same event at the 1987 World Championships (she finished third at the European Championships). Following the 1988 Olympics, she retired, exhausted from the constant training and competition. In 1991, she competed in the first-ever World Professional Championships, finishing first in the floor exercises, third in the vault, and third in the uneven bars.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 23, 1969

Origin:
St. Petersburg, Russia

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