In Memory of
Lubov Miramanova
d.1988


Lubov Miramanova coached the legendary Belarussian swan, Svetlana Boguinskaia. Miramanova was very much a second mother to Boguinskaia. By the time the two traveled to Seoul for the 1988 Olympics, Boguinskaia had lived with Miramanova (and her two young daughters) for more than half of her life. Under Lubov's guidance, Boguinskaia earned a spot on the 1988 Soviet Olympic team. In Seoul, she earned a team gold medal, bronze medals in the AA and FX, and a gold medal on vault.

Shortly after the 1988 Olympics, Miramanova was found dead, allegedly having committed suicide. Although the exact details of the death are not known, it is believed that she hung herself on the balcony of her apartment. Despite the two's closeness, or perhaps because of it, information about Miramanova's death was kept from Boguinskaia for years. Boguinskaia expressed her sorrow over Miramanova's death in an interview with TBS during the 1990 Goodwill Games, "She was like a mother to me. I lost the thing most dear to me in life. After her death I pretty much decided I wasn't going to do gymnastics anymore. I wanted to quit, but then I thought 'What else can I do?' and I decided to continue."  

Boguinskaia later dedicated her 1989 World Championship title to Miramanova's memory.

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