Svetlana Khorkina

Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina was a three-time world all-around champion, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist on bars.

Khorkina's career was amazing not only for its length (she competed internationally for more than 10 years), but for continued success over so many years. She won her first world all-around title in 1997, then earned two more all-around golds at the 2001 and 2003 worlds, respectively.

The Olympic all-around title eluded her, however, despite three Olympic appearances. In 1996, a fall on bars cost her a shot at the gold. In 2000, Khorkina crashed her vault -- and later it was discovered that the vault had been set too low. It was a huge mistake by the meet organizers, and gymnasts were allowed to compete again with the vault at the correct height, but it was too late for Khorkina, who had fallen off the uneven bars after her crashed vault. The competition is still regarded as highly controversial. Many argue that Khorkina would not have fallen had she thought she still had a shot at the title.

In 2004, Khorkina finally had a fall-free Olympic competition, but placed second to American Carly Patterson. Ironically, she had edged Patterson for the gold at the worlds in 2003. Khorkina later was quoted as saying, "I'm just furious. I knew well in advance, even before I stepped on the stage for my first event, that I was going to lose."

Svetlana Khorkina won an enormous number of bar titles during her career, including two Olympic golds (1996 and 2000), and five world golds (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001). When she didn't win, it was almost always because she made a major error, not because another competitor was better. Throughout her career, Khorkina continuously added new skills to her bar routine, making it more and more difficult, and helping her maintain status as one of the best in the world on the event. Watch Khorkina on bars.

Khorkina was also a great inventor of new skills. At 5 foot 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall, she stood several inches taller than most other gymnasts. This seemed to inspire her to come up with creative new skills that worked with her body type. She has skills named after her on every event in the Code of Points.

She is probably best-known for the Khorkina vaults (round-off to half-on to a piked Cuervo off, and round-off to half-on to a tucked Rudi off) and Khorkina bar releases (Shaposhnikova with a half twist, and front giant to half turn hecht over the bar).

Watch her bars releases (at :14 and :25)

Watch the Khorkina I vault

Watch the Khorkina II vault

Olympic Games:
Gold 1996 Atlanta Uneven Bars
Gold 2000 Sydney Uneven Bars
Silver 1996 Atlanta Team
Silver 2000 Sydney Team
Silver 2000 Sydney Floor
Silver 2004 Athens All-Around
Bronze 2004 Athens Team

World Championships:
Gold 1995 Sabae Uneven Bars
Gold 1996 San Juan Uneven Bars
Gold 1997 Lausanne All-Around
Gold 1997 Lausanne Uneven Bars
Gold 1999 Tianjin Uneven Bars
Gold 2001 Ghent All-Around
Gold 2001 Ghent Vault
Gold 2001 Ghent Uneven Bars
Gold 2003 Anaheim All-Around
Silver 1994 Brisbane Vault
Silver 1994 Brisbane Uneven Bars
Silver 1995 Sabae All-Around
Silver 1997 Lausanne Team
Silver 1997 Lausanne Balance Beam
Silver 1997 Lausanne Floor
Silver 1999 Tianjin Team
Silver 2001 Ghent Team
Bronze 1994 Dortmund Team
Bronze 1999 Tianjin Floor
Bronze 2001 Ghent Floor