Gymnast: Nastia Liukin

Nastia Liukin has won four national all-around titles and nine World Championship medals. A leader of the US team since 2005, Liukin has already qualified to the 2008 Olympic team and is a favorite, with teammate Shawn Johnson, to win the Olympic all-around.

All in the Family:

Liukin’s father Valeri was on the Soviet team that won gold in 1988. He also won a gold on the high bar and silvers in the all-around and parallel bars. Liukin’s mother Anna was the 1987 world champion in clubs in rhythmic gymnastics. Valeri coaches Nastia at the gym they own called WOGA, in Plano, Texas.

Cool Skills:

Liukin is well known for her balletic style and gorgeous long lines, but she does plenty of difficult tricks as well. Liukin performs an Ono-half on uneven bars, a double front on floor, and a front aerial to Arabesque on beam. She’s also competed a three and a half twist on floor and attempted a quadruple twist.

Did You Know?:

Liukin was highlighted in an Adidas commercial during the 2004 Olympics and appeared in an AT&T commercial with Deion Sanders in 2007. She’s also starred in two more commercials in 2008: for AT&T Blueroom and for Visa. She played a cameo in the 2006 gymnastics movie Stick It, and has her own line of gymnastics equipment.

Personal Info:

Born on October 30, 1989 in Moscow, Russia, Liukin currently resides in Parker, Texas with her parents.

Liukin’s Favorites:

• Food: sushi
  
• Stores: Nordstrom, Juicy Couture & Forever 21
  
• Activities: swimming & shopping
  
• Color: pink
  
• Motto: “Never give up”

Gymnastics Accomplishments:

• Liukin has tied Shannon Miller’s US record of nine medals won in World Championship competition.
  
  
• She won four straight national all-around titles from 2003-2006 (two as a senior and two in the junior division).
  
  
• Liukin has won the uneven bars title at US Nationals since 2003, and won three world medals on the event (gold in 2005; silver in 2006 & 2007).
  
  
• She placed second all-around to US teammate Chellsie Memmel at the 2005 World Championships by the smallest margin possible (.001).

Gymnastics Results:

International:

• 2008 Pacific Rim Championships: 1st team; 1st all-around; 2nd bars (tie); 1st beam; 4th floor (tie)
• 2008 Tyson American Cup: 1st all-around; 1st bars; 2nd beam; 2nd floor
• 2007 World Championships: 1st team; 5th all-around; 2nd bars; 1st beam
• 2007 Pan American Games: 1st team; 2nd bars; 2nd beam
• 2006 World Championships: 2nd team; 2nd bars
• 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships: 1st team; 1st all-around (tie); 1st bars; 2nd beam
• 2006 Tyson American Cup: 1st all-around; 1st bars; 2nd beam; 1st floor
• 2005 World Championships: 2nd all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 2nd floor
• 2005 American Cup: 1st beam (tie)
• 2003 Pan American Games: 1st team; 2nd all-around; 3rd bars; 1st beam; 3rd floor

National:

• 2008 US Olympic Trials: 2nd all-around; 1st bars; 3rd beam; 2nd floor (tie)
• 2008 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 2nd all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam
• 2007 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 3rd all-around; 1st bars; 2nd beam
• 2006 Visa Championships (U.S Nationals): 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam
• 2006 US Classic: 1st beam
• 2005 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 2nd floor
• 2005 US Classic: 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 2nd floor
• 2004 Visa Championships (US Nationals – Jr. Division): 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 1st floor
• 2003 US Nationals (Jr. Division): 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 1st floor

Nastia Liukin Photo Gallery

Next:
Top American Olympic Gymnasts
Top Contenders Worldwide
Beijing Medal Predictions
Go to the Olympic Main Page