Lilia Podkopayeva Celebrates Her Birthday: How the Legend of Ukrainian Gymnastics Changed the Sport.

This has been a reason to recall one of the brightest pages in Ukrainian sports. Lilia Podkopayeva, Olympic champion, is celebrating her birthday today. Her name is known for her victories at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.

The athlete's career has become a part of the country's sports history. Today she remains a symbol of Ukrainian gymnastics, reports the portal Novini.LIVE.

In 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, she won two gold medals and a silver in the team competition. Throughout her career, the athlete won 45 medals in various international competitions, including World and European Championships. She is the only gymnast to have won the all-around title at both the World Championship and the Olympics in the same year.

In 1998, Podkopayeva retired from sports. She later worked on the development of gymnastics in Ukraine and participated in charity projects. Living in the USA, she regularly visits Ukraine. Her name has been inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

In Ukraine's sports history, Lilia Podkopayeva will be remembered forever as an exceptional athlete who won the hearts of the country with her achievements on international stages and made a significant contribution to the development of gymnastics.