The Svetlana Bio: Svetlana was born on February 9, 1973. When she was young, Svetlana was a rambunctious rable-rouser. As a Kindergardener, Soviet officials selected her to be a gymnast. When her mom refused to let her train, Svetlana threw fits, broke plates, and snuck off to the gym anyway. Finaly, her mom agreed to let her stay in gymnastics. From the beginning, Svetlana's aggressive competitive nature showed. When she was suspicious of another girl's talents, she would kick them, pull their hair, throw apples at them; anything it took to make them afraid of her. Her desire to be the best quickly paid off. By 1985, six years after starting gymnastics, Svetlana had won the prestigious Jr. International competition in Japan. One year later, she beat future world champion Aurelia Dobre to become European Jr Champion. Already she showed her signatures of perfect form and stoned-face composure; smiling when nessesary. Yet still, in 1987 she was just 14, and like many 14 year olds, was cheesy. She was yet to stand out in any odvious way, but her unusual style showed promise. The 1988 Olympics proved to be her coming out party. She showed the style that would be hers, and hers alone, for the rest of her career. One could argure that her "Carmen" interperetation was one of the most unusual, original, dramatic, and amusing performances ever. The comparisons to Ludmilla Touresheva were already beginning. At the same time, she had secured a place as one of the best gymnasts in the world by placing 3rd in the Olympics only to the dominant Shushunova and Silivas. Upon retirment of Shushunova, the Soviets placed their hopes on Boguinskays's ready shoulders. Her reputation grew as she swept through the next year finishing 2nd to Silivas in the DTB and Chinichi Cups, then beat her for the European AA crown. But Svetlana had almost quit gymnastics after her coach/surrogant mother, Lyubov Myrononova, mysteriously commited suicide just days adter the 1988 Olympics. Svetlana was heartbroken, but she finaly returned to gymnastics at the support of her teammates. She would have many rifts with her new coach, Ludmila Popkovich. After winning the world title in 1989, and facing difficulties such as weight gain, Svetlana intended to retire following the 1990 Goodwill Games. Her mind changed however, when she defended her AA title at the European Championships, and then swept the event finals, becoming only the 3rd woman in history to do this. Boguinskaya voiced her intent to continue at least until the World Cup later in that year. A new Svetlana was seen here. She had slimmed down, upgraded her routines severly on bars and floor, and looked more determined than ever to continue her winning ways all the way up to Barcelona. Her retirment threats seemed all but over. She had gotten rid of her hackneyed "Fiesta" routine and showed her most dramatic routing ever on the floor. Looking more like an actress/dancer than a gymnast, she, by this time, commanded everyone's attention with her unmatched style and mysterious disposition. The 90-91 season proved to be one more retirement threat, as Svetlana competed in very few competitons and was not on the proposed traveling list for the 1991 Worlds as close to a month before the event. But in the end, she made it there. In this 90-91 season, she put forth some of her strongest efforts and most difficult routines making this season one of her best. In Indianapolis, she was ready to defend her world title, but it was not to be. Many, including Svetlana herself, thought she should have won, and perhaps on a different day, or another country, she would have. Svetlana was not afraid to voice her feeling of being snubbed by the Americans, though she never held a grudge against Zmeskal in the future. Svetlana continued through 1992 winning some, losing some, and ultimatly closed her career with a hat-trick of wins at the DTB Cup, Arthur Gander Memorial, and Swiss Cup Mixed Pairs. (With Vitaly Scherbo) After 1992, Svetlana retired with the reputation as one of the greatest gymnasts in history. But then, sadly, Svetlana's evil twin, Suzanna Begonia, snuck up on Svetlana one day, and you know the rest. We like to think that if Svetlana was still here, she would track down Suz and exile her to Siberia. She would assure us all that she, the real Svetlana, would never be like Suz, and everyone would beleve her. And that is the truth.
Links to other sites on the Web
Svetlana's Competition History:< BR > 1985 Jr. International- 1st AA< BR >1986 Jr. European Championships- 1st AA,BB; 2nd V,UB< BR >1987 USA vrs USSR- 2nd AA< BR >1987 World Championships- 2nd TM; 3rd BB< BR >1988 USA vrs USSR- 1st AA< BR >1988 Olympics- 1st TM,V; 2nd FX; 3rd AA< BR >1988 Chinichi Cup- 2nd AA,V; 1st FX; 3rd UB,BB< BR >1988 DTB Cup- 2nd AA,FX; 1st UB,V; 4th BB< BR >1988 Tokyo Cup- 1st V,BB< BR >1989 World Sports Fair- 1st AA< BR >1989 European Championships- 1st AA,V,FX; 4th UB,BB< BR >1989 World Championships- 1st TM,AA,FX; 8th UB< BR >1990 European Championships- 1st AA,V,UB,BB,FX (that's good stuff)< BR >1990 Goodwill Games- 1st TM,FX; 2nd AA; 3rd BB< BR >1990 World Cup- 2nd AA; 3rd V; 4th UB,BB; 1st FX< BR >1990 DTB Cup- 8th AA; 1st V; 3rd UB; 4th BB< BR >1990 Chinichi Cup- 1st AA,V,BB,FX< BR >1991 World Championships- 1st TM,BB; 2nd AA; 5th V; 7th FX< BR >1992 Europeans- 5th AA; 1st BB< BR >1992 Worlds- 2nd V; 6th BB< BR >1992 Olympics- 1st TM; 5th AA,BB; 4th V< BR >1992 DTB Cup- 1st AA,UB; 2nd BB; 4th FX< BR >1992 Aurthur Gander Memorial- 1st AA< BR >1992 Swiss Cup Mixed Pairs- 1st AA< BR >
© 1997 xybq50a@prodigy.com
Get your own Free Home Page