Korbut, Olga (1955–)

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Korbut, Olga (1955–)

Soviet gymnast. Name variations: Olga Corbut, Olya Korbuta. Born Olga Valentinovna Korbut, May 16, 1955, in Grodno, Belarus; sister of Ludmilla Korbut (gymnast); m. Leonid Bortkevich (Soviet pop singer), Jan 7, 1978 (div.); remarried.

Placed 4th at Soviet nationals (1970); won Riga Cup (1972), University Games (1973); won Olympic gold medals for balance beam, floor exercises, and all-around team competition, and a silver medal for asymmetrical bars in Munich (1972); awarded the "Master of Sport" (1972); at World championships, won gold medals in vault and team all around and silvers in all-around, uneven bars, beam and floor (1974); won a silver medal for balance beam and a gold medal for all-around team competition in Montreal Olympics (1976); retired from competition (1977); exposed to radiation following nuclear accident at Chernobyl (1986); moved to US (1989); tested for radiation sickness (1991). Named "Woman of the Year" by United Nations (1975); inducted in International Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1982); was 1st inductee into International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1988).

See also Justin Beecham, Olga (Paddington, 1974); and Women in World History