On October 30, 1936, Olympic champion and gymnast Polina Astakhova was born. She was considered the most graceful athlete of her time. The world media called it "Russian Birch Tree". She made her first appearance in the championship for the Shakhtar Sports Association in 1954. In 1955 she received the title of Master of Sports of the Soviet Union. And a year later she became the youngest 20-year-old member of the Soviet gymnastics team at the Olympics in Melbourne. Teenagers were not yet admitted to the sport at that time. Astakhova is the owner of 10 Olympic medals, including five gold medals. She was a two-time world champion in the team championship (1956, 1962), a silver medalist in the team championship (1966), a bronze medalist in uneven bars (1958). Since 1972, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR Polina Astakhova has been training. news | discuss.

On October 30, 1936, Olympic champion and gymnast Polina Astakhova was born. She was considered the most graceful athlete of her time. The world media called it "Russian Birch Tree". She made her first appearance in the championship for the Shakhtar Sports Association in 1954. In 1955 she received the title of Master of Sports of the Soviet Union. And a year later she became the youngest 20-year-old member of the Soviet gymnastics team at the Olympics in Melbourne. Teenagers were not yet admitted to the sport at that time. Astakhova is the owner of 10 Olympic medals, including five gold medals. She was a two-time world champion in the team championship (1956, 1962), a silver medalist in the team championship (1966), a bronze medalist in uneven bars (1958). Since 1972, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR Polina Astakhova has been training. news | discuss.