Oksana Chusovitina, the eight-time Olympian from Uzbekistan, has faced numerous inquiries regarding her aspirations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Nevertheless, the 51-year-old gymnast remains resolute and shows no signs of slowing down in her pursuit.
Recent Performance at Asian Games
At the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in late September, Chusovitina secured an impressive fifth place in the vault final. This achievement marks a remarkable 32 years since she earned a bronze medal at the Hiroshima 1994 Games and 24 years since she claimed gold at the Busan 2002 Games.
This performance was more than satisfactory for Chusovitina, who boasts a decorated career that includes sharing the 1991 world title for the floor exercise and winning team gold at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
Confidence and Experience
“I’m happy that I made the final, for starters, and that I’m performing just as well as all the young gymnasts,” she stated in Nagoya. “I’m really pleased about that. I feel great. And now I’m even more confident that I can try to qualify for Los Angeles and make it to my ninth Olympic Games.”
While her current vaults may not feature the highest difficulty levels that could enhance her podium chances, Chusovitina attributes her consistent performances to her experience and intuition.
“I suppose I’ve become more experienced and smarter in my approach to gymnastics,” she reflected. “I listen to my body. If I know I can’t do something, I won’t attempt it. I won’t just throw myself into certain elements. I stick to what I’m confident in. That’s why I get so much more enjoyment out of competitions and training now than I used to.”
Despite being significantly older than many of her competitors, Chusovitina asserts that age is not a concern for her.
“I don’t think about that at all,” she remarked. “When I step onto the podium, I don’t even look at how old they are. Sometimes during training, when we’re practicing together, I actually find myself thinking, ‘Goodness, they still have so much of life ahead of them.’ So, I just wish them good health and hope they stay injury-free. That’s the most important thing.”
Personal Journey and Perspective
Chusovitina’s personal story is equally captivating. She met her husband, Bakhodir Kurbanov, a two-time Greco-Roman wrestling Olympian, at the Hiroshima 1994 Asian Games. Their son, Alisher, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002, prompting the family to relocate to Germany for treatment. Chusovitina became a German citizen in 2006 and resumed competing for Uzbekistan in 2013. In 2024, the Oksana Chusovitina School of Gymnastics in Tashkent was established under a presidential decree.
Chusovitina does not dwell on whether her best gymnastics years have passed. Instead, she values the perspective her age and extensive accomplishments have provided her.
“My attitude toward gymnastics is a bit different now than it used to be,” she noted. “Back then, when you arrived at a competition, you’d be thinking about what you needed to do to win a medal. Of course, every athlete wants a medal, but you have to gauge your capabilities. Honestly, and I’m not just saying this, I get so much enjoyment out of seeing the crowd and stepping onto the podium. It brings me immense pleasure, and that’s why I keep going.”
John Crumlish reported for the Asian Games News Service at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
