Russian gymnast Viktoria Komova won the all-around at the 2010 Youth Olympics and was the 2011 all-around silver medalist, behind Jordyn Wieber. She was second again in the Olympic all-around final, just .259 behind American Gabrielle Douglas.
The Youth Olympics:
Komova served notice as an up-and-coming star at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore. She won the all-around, vault, and bars, and might have earned gold on beam and floor as well if she hadn't fallen on both of those events. She scored almost three points higher than the all-around silver medalist, Tan Sixin of China. Watch Komova at the Youth Olympics:
2011 Worlds:
Viktoria Komova led the field after prelims at the 2011 worlds in Tokyo, earning the highest all-around total and therefore qualifying first into the all-around final. In the finals, though, she was edged by Wieber by .033, after a less-than-stellar day. The result created much controversy, and the Russian federation criticized the final rankings, saying Komova was the true winner. After the meet, Komova told ESPN she was "very upset" but also said, "It's OK. I will prepare for the Olympic Games."
Komova came back in event finals and won the bars gold, and she also led the Russian team earlier on in the competition to a silver medal. In her first worlds, Komova earned three medals in all -- one gold and two silver.
The London Olympics:
Komova was again an all-around threat at the 2012 Olympics, topping the field in preliminaries, then finishing second overall in the all-around finals. Komova helped her team to win the silver, and qualified to the event finals on bars and beam, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively.
Cool Skills:
Komova's balletic, artistic style is reminiscent of former greats like Svetlana Khorkina and Nastia Liukin. And like both of those gymnasts, she performs unique and beautiful skills. On beam she has competed a back layout to an Arabian (at :30), and on bars she throws a Shaposhnikova-half (at :07) and a layout Jaeger (at :15). The Shaposhnikova-half is, ironically a variation of the Khorkina release move on bars.
Personal Info:
Viktoria Aleksandrovna Komova was born on January 30, 1995, in Voronezh, Russia, to Vera Kolesnikova and Alexander Komov. Her brother is also named Alexander, but called Sasha. Komova is called "Vika" by friends and family.
Both of Komova's parents were gymnasts, but her mother was especially accomplished. Kolesnikova was the 1986 Goodwill Games all-around champion and won a gold with the Soviet team at the 1985 World Championships. Kolesnikova now serves as a judge for the FIG.
Gymnastics Results:
- 2012 Olympic Games: 2nd team; 2nd all-around; 5th bars; 8th beam
- 2011 World Championships: 2nd team; 2nd all-around; 1st bars
- 2010 Youth Olympic Games: 1st all-around, 1st vault; 1st bars; third floor
