Oksana Kostina is a Soviet athlete, an outstanding Russian gymnast, who performed individual exercises.
First results
Oksana got into Kostina gymnastics at the age of seven. 1986, when the girl was 14, brought her first results: she won the competitions held between Penza schools. The athlete was appreciated, but the talent hiding in a gifted girl from Siberia was not noticed - in any case, he was not given much importance, as is often the case. No one at that time could have imagined that she would occupy such a significant place in the history of Russian and world rhythmic gymnastics, would become her prima. But Kostina Oksana, a gymnast , attracted attention two years later, when national competitions brought her to the second place of the podium with a silver medal. The adult championship, held in the same year, 1988, ended for the girl in 16th position.
National team
The following year, 1989, Kostina Oksana was mentioned in sports circles solely as a contender for participation in competitions in the national team. The final positive decision was made after the honorary bronze in Krasnoyarsk at the Union competition. The world championship, at which she made her debut this year, was very successful for the athlete: in Sarajevo she became the first in the team competition, took the prize place, speaking with the ball. Many would have calmed down, having achieved such an excellent result, but not her. Kostina Oksana did not know rest, forgot about the dream - she seemed to be obsessed with, all the time she was engaged in hard training under the strict guidance of a coach on the way to truly outstanding victories. And they began to come one after another, wherever the athlete performed. Brilliant achievements were noted in 1991 by conferring the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
The failed Olympics in Barcelona
No one doubted that the Russian athlete Kostina Oksana would represent the country at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Almost all the competitions held this year were won by her. Performances in 10 out of 12 programs brought her the highest rating from the jury. But the political showdown that engulfed the highest circles did not allow her to take part in the main competitions in the life of any athlete, to defend her leadership at the Olympics. The government of the country and its influential deputies were involved in the struggle for Kostina’s right to participate in it, but the sports committee, even with their support, could not do anything, political squabbles prevailed. Resentment was strong, a large number of tears were shed. But here, Kostina Oksana proved herself a real fighter. She managed to overcome herself, get together. Her return to sport was a real surprise for her rivals, who were sure that the gymnast’s sports career was over after such a strong shock. This return amazed skeptics doubly when the world championship hosted by Brussels proved that Kostina Oksana is the absolute champion.
Conspiracy with a trainer
In an autobiographical book written by Oksana's trainer Olga Buyanova, a separate chapter is devoted to the girl. The reader from it will find out what she encountered on the way to the championship, what Kostina Oksana overcame. The biography set forth in this work shows how difficult it was for both of them. From the very beginning no hopes were placed on the girl. She herself understood that it would be better to go to college as an engineer than to waste time on gymnastics. But only thanks to a trainer in the history of sports all her victories are recorded.
It was Olga Buyanova who did not let the girl go when her hands began to drop. Their common goal was to receive the title of master of sports of international class - only after its achievement the agreement allowed the gymnast to choose a different path. But it was destined to happen otherwise.
International Master of Sports
Oksana became them in Krasnoyarsk. To get the desired result, it was enough to take fifth place. Among the world champions, Olympic medalists, gymnasts included in the national team, one could not count on rising above. But competition can be unpredictable. The circumstances were such that Oksana Kostina entered the top three. A little later, it was decided to send all three girls to the World Cup, there was nowhere to retreat.
From that moment on, hard training began with dozens of runs. Only repeated repetitions, the load that no other gymnast was able to withstand at that time, allowed Oksana to win and beat all competitors, confirming her leadership in the competition.
In Oksana, this was immediately noticeable - any business she undertook was brought to perfection by her. Even if she then left gymnastics and became an engineer, she would have reached great heights in this profession. It could not be otherwise, that is how the people around her speak of the girl.
Geniuses go young
The girl’s life was tragically cut short in early 1993 in a car accident on the way from Domodedovo Airport, where she met her fiancé. At the funeral, Oksana was wearing a bride’s dress. All that Kostina Oksana left behind - photos, videos of performances and the talent captured on them as an example of endurance, endurance for future generations of gymnasts.
A memorial plaque is installed on her house in Irkutsk. Every year, an international level tournament is held in the city dedicated to the athlete. Participation in various championships earned her 14 medals, including 9 gold.