Tatiana Gutsu (URS/UKR)
1990 Junior European Championships: 1st AA
1990 USA vs.USSR: 4th-AA
1990 World Sports Fair
1990 International Japan Junior Invitational:
1991 World Championships: 1st T, 2nd beam, 2nd bars, 5th AA
1991 European Cup: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st UB, 1st BB, 1st FX
1991 Moscow News: 1st AA
1991 USSR Cup: 1st AA
1991 European Cup: 1st AA
1992 Moscow World Starts: 1st AA
1992 Europeans: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st UB
1992 Olympics: 1st AA, 1st T, 2nd UB, 3rd FX
1992 DTB Cup: 5th AA
The majority of these results were compiled from information found at Gymn Forum
Tatiana Gutsu, often called the "painted bird
of Odessa," began gymnastics in the Soviet system at the age
of five when she was chosen from her kindergarten class to become
a gymnast. The daughter of a railroad worker father and factory worker mother, Tatiana lived in a small apartment with her
parents and three sisters. She quickly excelled at gymnastics,
and was chosen to move to the Round Lake training center. Her
family was rewarded for 'sacrificing' their daughter to the
State: they were given a large apartment overlooking the Sea.
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Photo used with the expressed
permission of OEFC
Despite a lack of
form and polish at times, Tatiana became a lock for the 1992 Olympic
team. She was capable of throwing a extremely high degree of difficulty, far
beyond that of all of her competitors, and the Soviets were not going to leave
her behind. Strong performances at the 1990 Junior Euros (1st AA),
1991 World Championships (5th AA), and 1992 European
Championships (1st AA) helped earn her the respect of the
judges and gymnastics community, setting her up nicely for a strong
showing at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
At the 1992 Olympic Games, in a
controversial move, the Unified team coaches withdrew
Roza Galieva from the AA, citing an knee injury that even Galieva
did not know she had (!). They replaced Galieva with Tatiana, who originally
did not qualify for the AA competition due to an
unexpected fall on the balance beam.
Tatiana went on to win the title by a narrow margin,
becoming the first Olympic Champion to represent her
home country of Ukraine. Tatiana split her prize earnings with
Galieva, though the two have endured a bitter relationship ever since.
Tatiana's life since the Olympic Games
has had its peaks and valleys. Immediately following the
Olympics, Tatiana combined exhibition appearances with
competitive gymnastics. Due in part to old injuries and as a
result of conflict with the Ukrainian system, Tatiana retired
from competition in 1993. After a short-lived marriage, Tatiana
moved to the United States with her coach, Viktor Diki.
Once in the USA, Tatiana began
coaching at a gym in Indianapolis. She was later joined by former
Olympic teammate Tatiana Lysenko, and the two
roomed together for awhile. According to IG, Gutsu left the sport of gymnastics altogether for
some time and moved to Chicago to work in a department store. Around 1996 she
returned to coaching, this time in Detroit.
In 1997, Tatiana
appeared in the 1997 Rock 'n Roll Championships. Although she came to the
competition ill prepared, it was a pleasant surprise to see her compete once
again (even though only at a professional level).
Suffering back pain throughout much of her elite career, Tatiana began appearing in an advertisement for Health Quest, a chiropractice company
based in Michigan. This same company serves the Detroit Lions. In her testimonial, Tatiana comments that this therapy has helped her deal with recurring pain.
Tatiana recently attended the 2003 Worlds, where she enjoyed meeting up with
friends Alexei Nemov and Valeri Liukin. At the time, Gutsu reported to be busy
with choreography. She mentioned working with the Japanese team in the near
future.
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Gutsu meets up with Nemov and Liukin at the 2003
World Championships in Anaheim, CA in August
Photos courtesy of Grace Chiu
Perhaps THE most surprising comeback for Athens is Tatiana Gutsu, announced
in January of the Olympic year. Having gained U.S. citizenship in 2003, Gutsu is
no longer able to represent the Ukraine and will try for a spot on the U.S. team
(as a three event gymnast, choosing not to train bars). Regardless of the
success of the endeavor, Gutsu seems focused on a career in acting in the near
future. "I think Hollywood can wait for me [laughs]," Tatiana told IG.
Gutsu was born on September 5th, 1976.
. This page was created on May 1st, 1999 and last updated August 29,
2003.
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