Tatiana Groshkova (URS), a personal favourite!
1986 Jr. GDR-USSR Dual
Meet: 1st T,, 3rd AA
1987 Champions All: 5th AA
1988 USSR Cup: 21st AA
1989 Chunichi Cup: 8th AA
1989 Tokyo Cup: 1st FX
1989 USSR Championships: 3rd AA
1990 Avignon International: 1st AA
1990 European Championships: 10th AA, 2nd FX
1990 Moscow News: 2nd AA, 1st FX
1990 Trophee Massilia: 1st AA
1990 USA-USSR Dual Meet: 1st T, 9th AA
1990 USSR vs. the World: 1st T
1990 USSR Cup: 1st B, 11th AA
1991 USSR Championships: 6th AA
The majority of these
results were compiled from information found at Gymn Forum, in
particular Groshkova's biography
Affectionately known as
"Tanya" by friends (including best friend Natalia
Laschenova) and family, Tatiana Groshkova began gymnastics at the
age of 5. By age 6 she was enrolled in a special training group
at the Moscow Dynamo Club, coached by two-time Olympian (1972 and
1976) Elvira Saadi. Saadi trained
Groshkova along with three other girls: Novozhilova, Chernova
(competitor in the 1987 Int'l Japan Junior competition), and
Goryunova (Russian competitor at the 1993 World University
Games).
Groshkova, considered the best
gymnast of the four girls, accompanied Elvira Saadi to the USA in
1987 where she participated in clinics run by Saadi. That same
year, Groshkova and her training partners appeared in the Soviet
film about gymnasts entitled, Are you Going to the
Ball? Towards the end of her career (1991), she was
featured in a second documentary entitled, More than a Game.
On the competitive front,
Groshkova was absolutely brilliant (in her form, grace,
difficulty, originality, etc.)...but her sporadic consistency was
her downfall. She seemed to really peak towards the end of 1989
and into 1990, but even still, while she'd wow the crowd and
judges on three events, she never seemed to be able to hit four
for her. While she did compete in some major events (e.g., 1989
Chunichi Cup and 1990 Europeans), her inconsistency prevented her
from ever making a world or Olympic team. Several weeks after
Groshkova failed to make the 1991 World Championships team, Elvira
Saadi got a new job in Canada. Groshkova quit gymnastics
soon after Saadi's departure, and joined a circus for a short
time.
A few years later, Groshkova moved
to Holland. Under the tutelage of Boris Orlov, Olga Bicherova's
former coach and current Dutch Head coach, Groshkova began
serious gymnastics training once again. Although she competed in
the Dutch championships, her attempt to secure a Dutch papers (so
that she could compete internationally for Holland) was
unsuccessful. Sadly, Groshkova left Orlov's, presumably returning
home to Russia.
Interestingly, it is believed that
Groshkova left behind her FX music, because last year Dutch
gymnast Marleen Deuning used the exact rendition! If you've got a
copy of the 1998 EcoAir Cup, check it out! Although Deuning's FX
was not broadcast (at least not on the tape that I have), you can
hear the music in the background.
Tatiana Groshkova was born on December 16, 1973.
Thanks to Richard Smits for the update.
. This page was created on May 26, 1999 and last updated on December 18, 1999.
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