Antarctica calling for gymnastwho defies the odds
By Chris Foley
BUSAN, South Korea, (AFP) - If there wasan Asian Games in Antarctica, Oksana Chusovitina says she wouldbe there, as the 27-year-old continues to search for new goalsand prove that age and motherhood are not obstacles for gymnasts.
Oksana Chusovitinaof Uzbekistan waves after receiving her medal for the floor eventduring the women's apparatus finals for the 14th Asian Games inBusan, 05 October 2002. Chusovitina finished in first place tograb gold together with China's Zhang Nan. AFP PHOTO/YOSHIKAZU
Long after her contemporaries have retired,the 1992 Olympic champion and former world champion remains asmotivated as ever, winning two gold and two silver medals at theAsian Games against a field of mainly 16 and 17 year olds.
The petite Uzbekistan gymnast, who has beencompeting at the highest level for 15 years after being singledout as a future star when she won the then Soviet Union juniorchampionship, remains a steely competitor with no thoughts ofretirement.
"My immediate goal is the World Cupin Stuttgart in December. I've never been in a World Cup,"she said, after injury and pregnancy kept her out in the past.
"I would also like to go to the nextOlympics in Greece and win a medal," she added.
Her immense respect in the gymnastics worldwas evident on the closing night of competition in Busan, whenRussia's most successful gymnast Svetlana Khorkina rushed fromthe stands to hug Chusovitina after her floor exercise performance.
It was a powerful routine, which allowedher to take the gold medal, albeit shared with the new Chineseprodigy Zhang Nan, 11 years her junior.
Yan Hongma, who won a gold medal for Chinaat the 1984, says Chusovitina is still superior to the young cropof gymnastics who dominate the sport.
"She's amazing for her age," saidYan, who is in Busan as a television commentator.
"Most women find that by 20 it becomestoo difficult, but she's still performing difficult moves thatthe young gymnasts can't do. She's in good shape and she has psychologicalpower."
Zhang, the 16-year-old new star of Chinesegymnastics who won four gold medals at the Asian Games, was inawe of her acclaimed rival.
"I'm very amazed to have competed againsther. I respect her very much," she said, a compliment happilyaccepted by Chusovitina who relishes being seen as a rival androle model.
"I think everybody can see I have beentraining hard and am in good condition and so strong. Maybe otherscan learn from me not to retire."
But Chusovitina, ever the competitor, wasnot happy with the Asian Games format which allows a deadheatin gymnastics, while all other major competitions insist on justone winner.
"I don't like this ruling," shesaid. "There should be one champion. The champion is thechampion," she insisted, adding that that she thought shehad performed better than Zhang.
To continue with her career, Chusovitinarelies heavily on the support of her family.
Her husband Bakhodir Kurbanov is an Uzbekistanwrestler, finishing fourth in the 66kg greco-roman division atBusan and also competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Their son Alisher, who turns three nextmonth, remained at home in the care of family.
The close family backing allows the womanwho says she is not thinking of retirement because "I justlove gymnastics" to continue on the world stage.
But for the gymnast who has won almost everythingand been almost everywhere there remains one challenge that is,for the present, out of reach.
"I would like to compete in Antarctica,"she said.