Wonder Woman of the Week: Nastia Liukin

With the Summer Olympics in full swing (you will laugh at this pun later), I thought it only appropriate to write about one of the modern Olympics’ top athletes. Without controversy, this week’s spotlight has a solid athletic record and embodies the meaning of Olympian outside of her sport. For any young athletes out there, this week’s spotlight continues to be an incredible role model even after retirement- maintaining a healthy lifestyle and outlook on her Olympic posterity. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Nastia Liukin.

Anastasia “Nastia” Liukin was probably born to be an Olympic athlete. Both of her parents were successful Olympic gymnasts. Liukin was born into her athletic family in Moscow in 1989 at a critical point in the history of the Soviet Union- aka the end. Liukin and her family moved to Texas in two years later and it was in their new life that Liukin’s parents introduced their daughter to their favorite sport. [1]

Because both of her parents were broke from the international move, Nastia Liukin spent the majority of her formative years at the gym with her gymnastic parents. While the two had no plans for their daughter to become an Olympian like themselves, they could not ignore her natural talent for the sport. Liukin began competing before she was six years old and by the time she was twelve, Liukin had earned the title of Elite Gymnast. [2]

In 2002, Nastia Liukin helped Team USA defeat Japan in a dual meet to take 1st place. Later that year, she went on to compete in two more tournaments. In 2003, Liukin represented the United States and helped Team USA get a gold medal at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic. Liukin continued to dominate in the team event, helping the US receive eleven 1st place medals in four years- including at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. After the 2008 Olympics, Liukin retired from international competition, before retiring from national competition in 2012. [3]

Now as a retired athlete, Nastia Liukin has loads of advice for the newest generation of Olympic gymnasts. From her days of competition before social media, Liukin’s father disallowed her from reading any articles before competition because- as Liukin states- “…if it’s negative or positive, they both affect you…” Even when asked about gymnasts from foreign nations competing against her fellow Americans, Liukin had only positive things to say and went on to stress the importance of watching women’s gymnastics seriously and analytically. [4]

Women’s sports are definitely in the midst of a revolution in how Americans and people abroad watch. Gymnastics is no different and former Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin is a shining example for the next generation of American gymnasts in how to compete on the mats and how to condone herself off of them. She was a champion athlete at her height, but has no problem with recognizing the talent in the current pool of athletes. Liukin even continues to train alongside some of the sport’s contemporary athletes.

(Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

“Nastia Liukin Biography.” Bio. A&E Television, nd. Web. 17 August 2016.

Liukin, Nastia. “Background.” Nastia Liukin Olympic Champion. np; 2014. Web. 17 August 2016.

“Nastia Liukin.” USA Gymnastics. Team USA; nd. Web. 17 August 2016.

Fincher, Julia. “Nastia Liukin on her four-year plan, polos and Olympic predictions.” NBC Olympics. NBC Universal, 6 July 2016. Web. 17 August 2016.