Oksana Aleksandrovna Chusovitina - Beijing Summer Olympics
I know you're going... Who?
Granted, she's not a Michael Phelps and some say she looks like a man but I find her highly admirable.
She competed for the Soviet team in the late 80's and early 90's then returned to her home republic of Uzbekistan competing for them. In 1997 she married Uzbekistani Olympic wrestler Bakhodir Kurpanov and in 1999 they had a son Alisher.
In 2002, Alisher was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. They were told he could not be treated because they did not "have a bed available" for him. From Wikipedia... Seeking advanced medical treatment for their son, Chusovitina and her husband accepted an offer of help from Shanna and Peter Brüggemann, head coaches of the Toyota Cologne club, and moved to Germany. With prize money earned from gymnastics competitions, along with the help of the Brüggemanns and members of the international gymnastics community who fundraised and donated to the cause, Chusovitina was able to secure treatment for Alisher at the University of Cologne's hospital.
In 2006, Chusovitina obtained German citizenship and as a way of paying back her friends she competed for Germany this year at the Summer Olympics at Beijing. She took the silver medal in vaulting at the age of 33 at almost twice the age of most of the gymnasts there.
I think that's awesome.
Granted, she's not a Michael Phelps and some say she looks like a man but I find her highly admirable.
She competed for the Soviet team in the late 80's and early 90's then returned to her home republic of Uzbekistan competing for them. In 1997 she married Uzbekistani Olympic wrestler Bakhodir Kurpanov and in 1999 they had a son Alisher.
In 2002, Alisher was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. They were told he could not be treated because they did not "have a bed available" for him. From Wikipedia... Seeking advanced medical treatment for their son, Chusovitina and her husband accepted an offer of help from Shanna and Peter Brüggemann, head coaches of the Toyota Cologne club, and moved to Germany. With prize money earned from gymnastics competitions, along with the help of the Brüggemanns and members of the international gymnastics community who fundraised and donated to the cause, Chusovitina was able to secure treatment for Alisher at the University of Cologne's hospital.
In 2006, Chusovitina obtained German citizenship and as a way of paying back her friends she competed for Germany this year at the Summer Olympics at Beijing. She took the silver medal in vaulting at the age of 33 at almost twice the age of most of the gymnasts there.
I think that's awesome.