Hobbies
Dogs, riding horses. (gazeta.uz, 11 Jun 2020; Athlete, 22 Sep 2019)
Education
Coaching - Uzbek State University of Physical Education and Sport, Chirchiq, UZB
Family
Husband Bakhodir Kurbanov, son Alisher [1999]
Spoken languages
English, German, Russian
Coach
Andrey Markelov [personal], UZB
Sporting relatives
Her husband Bakhodir Kurbanov represented Uzbekistan in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. (tokyo2020.org, 21 Feb 2021)
Injuries
She was suffering from a foot and ankle injury at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea, and decided not to take part in the all-around competition. (ndtv.com, 25 Sep 2014; insidethegames.biz, 24 Sep 2014)
She had an operation on her shoulder in 2008 and required back surgery in January 2009. (gymmedia.de, 17 Jan 2009)
She tore her Achilles tendon at the 2008 Swiss Cup in Zurich, Switzerland. (intlgymnast.com, 02 Nov 2008)
She sustained a leg injury ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, which meant she was only able to compete on vault. (Gymnastica, 27 Oct 2005)
Start sporting career
She took up gymnastics at age seven in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Athlete, 22 Sep 2019; Asiad Daily, 26 Sep 2014)
Reason for taking up the sport
She followed her older brother into the sport. "My mother did not want me to do gymnastics, she was worried about me all the time. I wanted to prove to her that I was not doing it in vain, and I think that eventually I succeeded in that." (gazeta.uz, 11 Jun 2020; Athlete, 22 Sep 2019)
Milestones
She became the first artistic gymnast to have appeared at eight editions of the Olympic Games when she competed at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (eureporter.co, 15 Aug 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 27 Sep 2021)
Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, and to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (Athlete, 04 Jan 2023; sports.uz, 01 Oct 2021)
Philosophy / Motto
"I never look back. Everything that has been has passed. I only live in the present. I like to look only forward." (argumenti.ru, 17 Jun 2020)
Awards
In recognition of her performance at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, she received the title of Honoured Sports Teacher from the president of Uzbekistan. (president.uz, 13 Aug 2021)
In 2020 she was named the Best Athlete of the Decade in Uzbekistan after a public vote held by the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. (olympic.uz, 24 Aug 2020)
She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in May 2017. (intlgymnast.com, 21 May 2017)
She has received the titles of Honoured Athlete and Honoured Coach in Uzbekistan. (olympic.uz, 19 Jun 2022)
Additional information
General
RETIREMENT RETHINK
Having initially announced her retirement after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, she later reversed her decision and said she had set her sights on the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "I just can't finish my career without a medal for Uzbekistan. I thought about it well and decided that after the Asian Games I will also prepare for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The biggest motivation is my desire. I want to perform, I like it. I love gymnastics, and this occupation brings me great pleasure. I'm just doing what I love, why should I stop?" (sport-express.ru, 24 May 2022; olympic.uz, 08 May 2022; olympics.com, 30 Sep 2021; sports.uz, 01 Oct 2021; gazeta.uz, 13 Aug 2021; gymnovosti.com, 26 Jul 2021)
CAREER
Born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, she made her international debut for the Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, she represented the Unified Team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and later began competing for Uzbekistan. In 2002 her son Alisher was diagnosed with leukaemia, so her family moved to Germany, where he could receive treatment. She obtained German citizenship in 2006, winning a silver medal for her adopted nation at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She returned to compete for Uzbekistan in 2013, having been given special dispensation by the executive committee of the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG]. (heraldscotland.com, 16 Oct 2015; uznews.net, 06 Mar 2013)
ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE
In October 2017 she was elected as the women's artistic gymnastics representative for the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG] Athletes' Commission. (gymnovosti.com, 06 Oct 2017)
Last update : 2023-01-05
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