Born: 27 December 1934

Birthplace: Kherson (Ukraine)

Nationality: Russian Federation

Sport: Gymnastics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Melbourne / Stockholm 1956

Rome 1960

Tokyo 1964

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 9

Silver: 5

Bronze: 4

Other results:

World Championships

Gold: 8 (58, 62)

Silver: 4 (58, 62, 66)

Bronze: 1 (62)

Most Medals In History

Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynina holds several important Olympic records. She is the only athlete in any sport to have won eighteen career medals; she is one of only four athletes to have won nine gold medals; she is the only athlete to have won fourteen medals in individual events and she is one of only three women to have won the same Summer Olympics event three times. In 1956, Latynina, then 21 years old, edged Agnes Keleti for the gold medal in the All-Around event. In the apparatus finals she finished first in the vault, second on the uneven bars and in the floor exercise and fourth on the balance beam. She also led the Soviet Union to victory in the team event and was a member of the Soviet team that placed third in the since discontinued portable apparatus event. At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Latynina defended her All-Around title and won another gold medal in the team event. She also earned a second gold medal in the floor exercise, picked up silver medals on the uneven bars and the balance beam and a bronze medal in the vault. In 1964, Latynina won her third team gold medal and gained a silver medal in the All-Around event. In the apparatus finals she earned a silver medal in the vault, bronze medals on the uneven bars and the balance beam and won the floor exercise for the third straight time. Latynina completed her competitive career by winning six medals in each of the three Olympics in which she took part. She also coached the Soviet team from 1967 until 1977.