Oksana Chusovitina; a true hero
While her Gold Medal winning performance in vaults fell to the corruption of judging, Oksana Chusovitina is a true hero and one of the greatest stories of these Olympics.
For those not familiar with her, the thirty-three year-old five-time Olympic has competing for the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan and now Germany. Six years ago her son was sadly diagnosed with leukemia. At that time she and her family moved to Köln, so that he could begin treatment. Costs were naturally high but with the assistance of her club Toyota Köln and the gymnastics community, she has been able to pay for these performing in exhibitions and giving clinics and her son is said to be making a full recovery.
In her post competition interview Mrs. Chusovitina commented:
"I won it for my son. That makes me happy."
She went onto further say: "I could go to London in 2012," she said. "I will only be 37."
If you were to read the story of Mrs. Chusovitina, many will focus upon her athleticism, her five Olympics or how she has competed under three flags but to me, this is simple. She is a great hero, that leads not through bravado but with a noble spirit of the heart, honor and integrity. Silver medal or not, she is one of the greatest stories of these Olympics.
Oksana Chusovitina on the left after her Gold Medal performance (Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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