Zakhrova Stella

Date of birth: 12.07.1963

Place of birth. Education. Stella Zakhrova (Khlus) was born in Odessa in a family of public servants. Her mother used to dance in the opera theater, and her father was engaged in parachute sports, being a candidate for master of sports.

In 1970, her parents enrolled the girl in a rhythmic gymnastics section. Three years later, the family moved to Chisinau, where a fateful meeting took place between the little gymnast and coach Vladimir Kuksa at a local sports boarding school, thanks to which in 1976 the 13-year-old athlete joined the youth team of the USSR.

Career. In 1978, the young and very promising gymnast was transferred to a sports school in Kyiv. By 1979, Stella Zakhrova became the holder of the World Cup in Japan and the silver medalist of the World Championships in the USA.

In 1980, the gymnast won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Moscow. After this victory, she was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. That same year, she became the absolute world champion, won silver in vault and bronze on the uneven bars. Moreover, Stella Zakhrova is a 12-time champion of the USSR, multiple holder of the Cup of Ukraine.

In 1985, she graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. After university, she returned to gymnastics as a judge. By 1989, she became a judge of the all-Ukrainian category. At that time, a choice arose: career or family? Stella Zakhrova chose the latter and, leaving judging, moved with her husband and son to Sweden, where she started working in a private sports school.

In 1997, the family returned to Ukraine. In 2000, the champion founded and headed the international charitable foundation 'Sports and Children' and created an annual international gymnastics tournament for the 'Stella Zakhrova Cup'.

In 2002, a gymnastics club named after the famous athlete appeared. In 2003, a children's sports school was established.

In 2004, Stella Zakhrova was elected president of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation.

In March 2007, she took up the position of deputy chairman of the People's Party of Vladimir Litvin on youth and sports issues.

In September 2007, she presented her autobiographical book 'By the Name of Stella' to the public.

She is actively engaged in charity work.

Family. As a student, in 1982 she married the famous football player of Kyiv's 'Dynamo', Viktor Khlus. In 1983, their son Oleg was born. In 1999, a daughter Kristina was born.

12.07.2022