On December 27, his birthday celebrates the owner of the greatest number of awards in history among women athletes, nine-time Olympic champion in sports gymnastics, honored master of sports of the USSR, honored coach of the USSR Larisa Semenovna Latin.
Larisa Latynina (in Maiden - Dironi) won four golden, one silver and one bronze Olympic medals at the XVI Olympiad games in Melbourne (Australia) in 1956, three golden, two silver and one bronze - at the XVII Olympiad games in Rome (Italy) In 1960 and two golden, two silver and two bronze - at the Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo (Japan) in 1964. At the same time, she became the Olympic champion in the absolute championship and three times in the team.
Until 2012, Larisa Semenovna had the greatest (by quantity) the collection of Olympic medals in the entire history of sports - 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals. Only "Baltimore Poole" - American swimmer Michael Phelps managed to surpass Latin by the number of Olympic awards.
Latinina owner and other record - at the 1957 European Championships, she won all gold medals.
Larisa Semenovna Latynina was born on December 27, 1934 in the city of Kherson in Ukraine. Father - Semen Andreevich Diriy (1906-1943), a member of the Great Patriotic War, died in the Stalingrad battle. Mother - Pelagia Anisimovna Barabanük (1902-1975), worked as a cleaner. 
Larisa since childhood dreamed of ballet. When choreographic studio opened in the city house of folk art, mother for the last money determined Larisa. After the closure of the studio was fascinated by gymnastics, in 1950 she fulfilled the first category and as part of the team of schoolchildren of Ukraine fell to the All-Union Championship in Kazan. In the 9th grade, I fulfilled the norm of the Master of Sports. She became the first master of sports of the USSR in his hometown.
In 1953, Larisa graduated from school number 14 of Kherson with a gold medal and entered the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. A qualifying test for the World Festival of Youth and Students in Bucharest was successfully held at the All-Union Collection in Bratsevo, where he received the first gold medals. He advocated "Petrel" (Kiev). In Kiev, a student of the Electrotechnical Faculty of Polytech Larisa continued training under the leadership of the Honored Coach of the USSR Alexander Semenovich Mishakov. Sport has already mastered it and demanded more and more attention. Of the simple hobby, he has surrendered into a matter of life. She became more clearly to choose the path where the future profession will be related to sports. And when it became apparent, she switched to study at the Institute of Physical Culture. In 1954, at the World Championships, the USSR team won the first place, and Larisa Latynina (Dironi) in its composition received the first gold medal of the world champion. 
Possessing all the titles that exist in the world sports gymnastics, being a recognized form in this sport, Larisa Latynina for many years could not win the internal championship of his country - so great was competition among her girlfriends and rivals. But this tradition was put an end: in 1961, and then in 1962, Larisa became an absolute champion of the USSR.
More than 10 years Larisa Latynina was a premix of Soviet gymnastics.
At the end of the sports career Latynin became the coach. He was the coach of the women's national team of the USSR in sports gymnastics at the Olympic Games (1968, 1972 and 1976).
Great sport is often - and large intrigues. The bowl of this and Larisa Semenovna did not pass. After Montreal, she was accused of gymnasts gave way to the absolute championship of the Romanian athlete. They said: the gymnastics is no longer the one, Latynina preaches femininity, but you need tricks, speed and complex elements. In 1977, the charter from undeserved reproaches emanating from sports officials, Larisa Semenovna, without seeing further opportunity to work in such conditions, filed an application for care from coaching.
For four years, worked in the Olympiad-80 Organizational Committee, where he oversaw the preparation and conduct of gymnastics competitions.
Then he worked in the sports committee of the city of Moscow, for ten years she was the senior coach of the national team of Moscow on gymnastics. Over the years, the metropolitan gymnasts won the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, the USSR Cup.
Larisa Semenovna Beautiful writer. Her first book "Sunny youth" was published in Ukrainian in 1958. Then there were "equilibrium", "what is this girl", "Gymnastics through the years", "team". She printed in the magazines "Ogonosk", "Banner", "Theater", "Physical Education and Sport", "Sports Life of Russia", participated in television programs.
Larisa Latinina's name was made to a unique list of athletes in New York - "Hall of Olympic Glory". In 2000, at the Olympic Ball in the nomination "The Best Athletes of Russia of the 20th Century", it was included in the "magnificent ten", and on the survey of the world's leading sports journalists, Latin, along with Alexander Karelin, was among the 25th century-outstanding athletes.
Ironic Latinha likes to call himself a "grandmother of Russian gymnastics." However, fresh thoughts on the social role of sports, about the paths of development of her beloved gymnastics give the right to name Larisa Semeno by the poet, the romantic of the beautiful world of movements.
There are many Olympic champions in the world. But only one woman won gold at the Olympic Games - nine times! Gymnast, record holder Larisa Latynina, nee Diron (genus. On December 27, 1934 in Kherson), the absolute record was kept most of his life. After all, until 2012, she was the most titled Olympian athlete in history and still retains leadership among athletes. And all your victories, this amazing woman won only thanks to the work and diving.
The eight-year-old Larisa became an orphan when the father died during the Great Patriotic War. The mother worked on the two works by an extractor and a cleaner, but still managed to get money for girls studies in the choreographic studio. However, the studio (the only one in the city) closed: for Larisa, who dreamed of a preju-ballerina career, it was a blow. I had to go to classes in the studio of gymnastics. The nine-time Olympic champion got into the sport almost by chance ...
In fifteen years, Larisa participated in the All-Union Championship for schoolchildren - and with a crash lost these competitions. But failure harden the future champion.
In the ninth grade, the girl became a master of sports, the only master of sports in Kherson. And in eighteen years he won the first international awards (gold) at the youth festival in Bucharest. In the next, 1954, was Rome: Larisa Dironi (she will become Latin only after the first marriage) for the first time became the world champion.
During the speeches, Larisa demonstrated not only the technique, but also excellent artistry. Trainers even reproached the girl in the fact that she ". One way or another, the failed ballerina won the rest of the gymnasts after time. From the Melbourne Olympics of 1956, Larisa took the whole painting of medals: four gold (in absolute and team championships, in a support jump and free exercises), silver (bars) and bronze (command exercises with the subject). When the team returned to the liner in Vladivostok and drove to Moscow (long flights at that time were even rare), people welcomed gymnasts at each station and gestand.
In 1957, Larisa triumphantly completes the European Championship, winning gold medals in absolutely all nominations. However B. next year The girl could and leave the sport: The fact is that Latynina prepared to become a mother. Not being confident in his sports future, Larisa hid a pregnancy, went to the World Cup and won the first place there. What is surprising, she went on such an act on the advice of the doctor. The daughter was born quite a healthy child, subsequently became a dancer, having endorsed my mother's dream. Now Latin has two adult grandchildren.
Birth - a great test for gymnast. Nevertheless, Larisa managed to fully recover and continued the winner's career. She won gold, silver and bronze and the Roman 1960 Olympiad, and at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Latynina's sports speeches has already completed at the age of 31: a rare gymnast "longevity".
However, Larisa is not used to sit without a business and immediately began a new, no less successful career. Latynina was the head coach of the Soviet Olympic gymnasts and in Mexico City (1968), and in Munich (1972), and in Montreal (1976). The Soviet team during this period was the world leader.
However, despite all merits, Larisa was fired from his post in 1977. Later, she consisted in the Organizing Committee of the Moscow Olympiad, in the 80s he trained the Moscow national team, and in the 90s was the Deputy Director of the Foundation "Physical Education and Health". The nine-time Olympic champion and is now actively involved in the sports and public life of the country. Looking at this woman, you will not say that she is already eighty!
It still remains one of the most titled athletes in the world, although since her sports career has passed more than half a century. Larisa Latynina was the winner not only in sports, but also in life. School graduated with a gold medal, and the institute with a red diploma. And in the family she sought to ideal, but it could only achieve it with the third attempt. She had to endure cruel disappointment and learn to live after hard losses before Larisa Latynina became truly happy.
Marry Mom
With Ivan Latin Latin, Larisa Diriy met even at the time of study at the Women's School in Kherson. Cadets from the nautical school were often invited to large school holidays, and high school students were often in the evenings in Navigat.
At that time and began to care for a pretty gymnast future sailor. Ivan really liked the mother of Larisa, she began to invite him to visit, having fed him with pleasure and had already seen her son-in-law. Larisa Calculation took, but no passionate feelings have experienced a young man. She was passionate about the sport, completely laid out in training and was preparing for admission to the institute.
Larisa became a student of the Kiev Polytech, and Mom went out of Kherson to Kiev following her daughter. When she realized that young people began to pay attention to her girl, and they also accompanied her in a hostel, Pelagia Anisimovna scored anxious and telegraphs to Ivan, who served at that time in Baku, about the need for arrival.
He came to Kiev twice, and then Pelagia Anisimovna began to insist on the marriage of his daughter. Larisa for a long time to oppose the mother's wishes could not and as a result, as an obedient daughter, she resigned to the offer of Ivan Latynina consent.
However, in the life of Larisa, in addition to changing the name, at first nothing has changed: she also disappeared at the fees and competitions, in the breaks passed the session, later translated from the Polytechnic Institute to Physical Center. The reason for translation was her desire to be the first in everything, which in the Polytech she could not be achieved due to frequent absence.
Soon, Ivan and Larisa Latini had a daughter Tatiana, and in the fifth month of pregnancy, the gymnast was successfully performed at the World Championships, becoming an absolute champion.
The illusion of happiness
After the end of the sports career, Larisa Latynina began to be at home more often. And then it turned out that with Ivan Ilyich they are completely different people. Life in the family seemed gray and everyday life, and here a man who conquered her with his mind and the ability to care for his gymnasts. However, next to Ivan Latin was already a girl who dreamed of living with him.
Larisa Semenovna succumbed to his charm and soon went to his beloved man. She never mentioned him in an interview and even remember the ten years of his life, she did not want to do not want.
She simply crossed out of memory years, which were filled with pain, offend, betrayal and humiliation. And almost was able to convince himself that these years in her life was simply not.
Larisa Latynina never speaks about the death of Sergei's son, which she had a chance to survive. Since that time, quite a few years have passed, but the gymnast prefers this topic never to concern.
From the brutal depression in a difficult time it was saved only work. By the time of parting with a civil husband, she just prepared the national team of gymnastics to competitions and spent almost all the time with athletes.
The champion has already completely set the cross on his personal life, considering her lot just work and communication with his daughter and grandchildren. Fans of Larisa Semenovna, of course, were. They invited her to the theater or at the exhibition, but he had no heart attachment to anyone.
Almost resort novel
Shortly before its 51st birthday, Larisa Latynina in the recreation house "Voronovo" became acquainted with the chief engineer of the Dynamo plant Yuri Feldman. It all started with the offer to play tennis, which Larisa Semenovna gladly accepted, noting that she could not play, but would not refuse to learn.
Yuri Feldman began to learn Larisa Latin to play. Later, they began to go to the movies, and then at the factory, where Yuri worked, a fire happened, and he rushed to the enterprise, having taken care of Larisa to his friend with whom he lived in one room. The buddy surrounded Larisa attention and care, and I was incredibly delighted late in the evening, seeing Larisa. And in the impulse of the feelings took her hand and touched his lips to the place on the wrist, where the thin veins shine. In that moment, Larisa Semenovna suddenly understood: this man is ready to go to the fire and into the water.
True, he was married, and loved about three years Met sure. And then Yuri Israelich came to her with a small suitcase and simply said that now it does not discern with it. He held a senior position, was a member of the partner, and therefore the announcement of his divorce led to a challenge for steaming, study and conversations. However, this did not make it in the decision to marry Larisa Latin.
Since then, more than 30 years have passed. Larisa Latynina and Yuri Feldman live happily together in her house in the Moscow region and lead a non-public lifestyle. The famous gymnast met his true love already in a mature age, but the more flutterly protects it from any adversity.
The fate of Larisa Latynina and in sports, and in his personal life, was quite happy. But among her colleagues athletes, who were lucky much less. Their names were well known not only in the USSR, but also abroad, they were called the legends of the Soviet Sport and the pride of the country, they showed brilliant results at competitions and brought home gold medals home. Everyone had their own reasons.
The most titled gymnast Larisa Latynina was often called: invincible, unique, gold, later - legendary. A few years ago, this epithet "weaned". Larisa Latynina became the winner number 1 of the National Sports Prize "Glory" in the nomination "Legend".
And recently, the first in the history of the awards of the Association of National Olympic Committees (Anok) for prominent Olympians has passed in Bangkok. The founders of this award have not yet come up with the names, so they chose her in the sports "Oscar". Russia has been awarded two awards: one awarded to our Olympic Committee for holding winter games in Sochi, the second - the best athlete of all time Larisa Latynina "For outstanding achievements in sports."
Larisa Latynina - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, a multiple world champion and Europe, a participant of three Olympiads: Melbourne-1956, Roman 1960 and Tokyo-1964, where she won 18 Olympic medals, among whom nine are gold. It entered the fourth of the best olympians of the twentieth century. Her name was made to the Guinness Book of Records, in the unique list of the New York Hall of Olympic Glory, perpetuated in the Kiev "Alley Stars". So, our athlete received a high prestigious award of the Association on right.
A wonderful gift for my 80th anniversary! - Latynina said, receiving an elegant statuette of an athlete who keeps an anok emblem in his hand. And the crowded hall exploded with applause. After all, it was difficult to believe, looking at this energetic, slim, who was a daily woman that she had such a respectable age.
My girlfriends, knowing that I have long been familiar with Latin, asked you to take a prescription youth.
Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a ballerina. It often imagined how dancing on a huge scene, and the audience applaud me, applaud! Once he learned about the opening in the city of choreographic studio. And upset ... Training in it was worth the solid part of the mother's wages. But Mom, for the sake of my lucky lobe, has made the necessary amount, and herself began to work at night and a stiffness.
I danced with pleasure. The choreographer urged: You are born for the scene. But our school teacher Physical culture Mikhail Afanasyevich Sotnichenko told me: "Throw, Laura, your own hopak. Go to gymnastics!"
He noticed my stubbornness and striving for victory. Since childhood, I always tried in everything first. Even boys, when we ran down chairs, I had to be reinforced! And he studied on some fives - school finished with a gold medal.
It is the competition that is not in choreography, and attracted Larisa to the gymnastics. But to defeat, one desire for victory is not enough.
I often heard that I melt, lucky in a sporting life, "says Latynina. - No, I just achieved hard work. For example, in school years, to "pump up" biceps, invented his method: I got along with a tall bed in the morning, rested in the floor and squeezed in such a position how much the strength had enough ...
Perseverance was rewarded: in the ninth grade Larisa Diriy became the first master of Sports of the USSR in Kherson. She did not cool down to the gymnastics and when he married, becoming Latin, and when he entered the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. Moreover, the sport was so necessary for her that she passed into the physical center institution.
And here is the first big success: in the national team of the USSR team in 1954 in Rome Larisa Latynina became a world champion. In the late 1956, he made his debut at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, won his first Olympic medals. All newspapers wrote about her then, showed in the newsreel. Khrushchev himself handed her the Order of Lenin in the Kremlin.
And at that time I was lucky to meet her personally. I was then only a second-storm and a beginner gymnast. Latin is my shameper, my idol, and suddenly it happened that we were driving from Herson in one train car. How was it not to come and not meet? Roboto went into her four-seater coupe and asked to answer a few questions.
She did not dismiss, sat down near, and answered everything. So I took my first interview with the celebrity, which was cute, charming and very earthly. Since then, she has become an example for me in life. I watched her success in sports, and many years later we met again in Moscow. Since then, I often took an interview with her, every time learning about the amazing moments in her life. For example, that at the 1958 World Championships, Latynina performed pregnant.
Tell us about it more. After all, you risked so much!
Larisa Latynina: When the day before the championship found out that I would soon become a mom, I was splashing in the doctor's office. I explained to him that I would very much to bring the team if I do not spend. And he, Professor Lurie, said: "Speech! Your muscles will save the child!"
But one thing is just to speak, and quite another - to win, become the absolute world champion in the fourth month of pregnancy! Yes, even get "gold" for jump and bars. Isn't it a miracle? Then even her friend's friends could not believe it ...
Isn't it because since then Latin and began to call the legendary? After all, the legend is a loyalty about a wonderful event. Often fictional, embellished. Larisa Latin wonderful, but not invented, and real events in life were a lot.
Two months after birth, her daughter Tanya Latynina began training to participate in the 1960 Olympics. Should I explain how hard it was Larisa to prepare for her? After all, many women after childbirth for years even in their size of clothing can not get. And here the young mother had to return to his former sports form in a short time.
Latin's success then few people believed. But she won it all yet! In the acute struggle with Polina Astakhova, which everyone was referred to victory. It was a legendary duel. - We were divided by hundredth lobes of points on separate shells. The last way out is my favorite free exercises. But it was impossible to be careful, "says Larisa Semenovna. "I had to prove that I rightly return the title of Olympic champion."
And she proved. "Latynina with his free stolen all!" - wrote one of the newspapers. By the way, Larisa Latynina still remains the only gymnast, which was able to win gold medals in free exercises on three consecutive olympiads.
Latynina spoke up to 32 years. Last time in the form of the national team Soviet Union Released on Dortmund Posted in 1966.
My team was completely young, but already famous athletes: Olga Karaseva, Zinaida Druzhinina, Larisa Petrik, Natasha Kuchinskaya ... They said about me: "This is our mom!" I myself called myself then the "grandmother of Russian gymnastics." At this time, my daughter Tanya has already went to school.
Is your Tanya also become a gymnast?
Larisa Latynina: No, although in childhood he believed that she was due to the Medal of the 1958 World Cup. He spoke familiar: "We earned it with my mother!" When she grabbed, he got carried away with rhythmic gymnastics first, and then choreography. With the ensemble "Birch" traveled the whole world. And in distant Venezuela, she found her husband Rostislav, who went for her to Moscow and remained here. Tanya is now the grandmother itself.
Latin, finishing the speeches, became the senior coach of the women's team. What kind of gymnasts were, what names! Larisa Petrik, Elvira Saadi, Lyudmila Tourskish, Olga Corbut, Nally Kim. This miracle team was then called it in the world, three Olympiad won: in Mexico-1968, Munich-1972 and Montreal-1976. Latynina headed the team for ten years.
But the Romanian gymnast of Nadia Komanechi became the Olympic champion of Montreal in all-around. This Soviet sports leaders to forgive the senior coach of the national team. No one wanted to even listen to the team that our team won! Not Romanian, and the Soviet team became golden! And two more golden took our girls on separate shells. Only one thing was told: "Why did the mosquitoes miss?!"
Fight something to prove it is useless! I had to leave. And you know, I just just turned out to find a job. Some did the look that they do not know and help me in a hurry. And I climbed the daughter. Prayed ...
It is difficult to say how the further life of the famous gymnasts would have arisen if it were not for the fateful meeting.
I have already noted my golden anniversary when the suburbs at the near Moscow region met Yuri Feldman - a long-standing veneer, as he learned later.
Yuri in the past, too, an athlete, a cyclist, played for the national team. Then he defended his doctoral dissertation, became an academician of the International and Russian Academies of Electrotechnical Sciences, director of a large Moscow plant "Dynamo". He is a surprisingly charming person.
I learned from him in detail as spouses met. "At first he heard the energetic codes of the heels. Wrapped and found out it. She asked:" Do you play tennis? "Larisa replied:" No, I don't play, but I really want to learn! "
Build vacation home And live there with natural economy - the initiative of Yuri. Latynina agreed. They did a lot. And the house was wonderful, and the plot was tremended, growing flowers, fruits, vegetables and all living creatures - cows, horses, turks, ducks. Spouses live on their phase constantly. There's good and summer, and in winter.
So who is Latynina now? Farmer?
Larisa Latynina: Farmer sells his products, we work on yourself. And who am I now? First of all, a happy wife, mom, grandmother of three grandchildren and great-grandmother of two great-grandchildren. We have a big family with Yura. Everyone love to enjoy from the branch, beds.
Isn't you so good looking so much that lives in nature? Give your prescription youth.
Larisa Latynina: Do you think I have it? I don't even do a mask from a vegetable and fruit, no time. However, there is a recipe: Charging in the mornings, smaller food, do not envy anyone, appreciate friends, help and not wait for gratitude in response. And rejoice in peaceful life!
Do not want to lose 40 years?
Larisa Latynina: And not be near Yura? And for nothing! He is my main reward, more expensive all medals. I am happy at its age. Just not to hurt.
By the way, about medals. As far as I know, you are the owner of the largest collection of sports medals in the world. How many of them do you have?
Larisa Latynina: There are only more than 150. Of these - 53 gold.
Your record for the number of Olympic medals (you have 18) lasted 48 years. Only recently, on games in London, this record broke the American swimmer Michael Phelps. Didn't it disappointed?
Larisa Latynina: Yes, you! I was always surprised that the record was holding at all so long! Michael was a wonderful athlete. I am very sorry that he dismisted himself after the Olympics and it was forced to disqualify.
Larisa Semenovna, you "pierced" a gymnastic school in Obninsk for several years. What happened?
Larisa Latynina: Yes, children from this city really wanted to engage in gymnastics, but they did not have conditions. I had to connect. As a result, a large gymnastic school was built. And the boarding school is also open. I really hope that now new champions will grow in Obninsk.
There are many Olympic champions in the world. But only one woman won gold at the Olympic Games - nine times! Gymnast, record holder Larisa Latynina, nee Diron (genus. On December 27, 1934 in Kherson), the absolute record was kept most of his life. After all, until 2012, she was the most titled Olympian athlete in history and still retains leadership among athletes. And all your victories, this amazing woman won only thanks to the work and diving.
The eight-year-old Larisa became an orphan when the father died during the Great Patriotic War. The mother worked on the two works by an extractor and a cleaner, but still managed to get money for girls studies in the choreographic studio. However, the studio (the only one in the city) closed: for Larisa, who dreamed of a preju-ballerina career, it was a blow. I had to go to classes in the studio of gymnastics. The nine-time Olympic champion got into the sport almost by chance ...
In fifteen years, Larisa participated in the All-Union Championship for schoolchildren - and with a crash lost these competitions. But failure harden the future champion.
In the ninth grade, the girl became a master of sports, the only master of sports in Kherson. And in eighteen years he won the first international awards (gold) at the youth festival in Bucharest. In the next, 1954, was Rome: Larisa Dironi (she will become Latin only after the first marriage) for the first time became the world champion.
During the speeches, Larisa demonstrated not only the technique, but also excellent artistry. The coaches even reproached the girl in the fact that she "drags the gymnastics of ballet." One way or another, the failed ballerina won the rest of the gymnasts after time. From the Melbourne Olympics of 1956, Larisa took the whole painting of medals: four gold (in absolute and team championships, in a support jump and free exercises), silver (bars) and bronze (command exercises with the subject). When the team returned to the liner in Vladivostok and drove to Moscow (long flights at that time were even rare), people welcomed gymnasts at each station and gestand.
In 1957, Larisa triumphantly completes the European Championship, winning gold medals in absolutely all nominations. However, next year, the girl could and leave the sport: The fact is that Latynina prepared to become a mother. Not being confident in his sports future, Larisa hid a pregnancy, went to the World Cup and won the first place there. What is surprising, she went on such an act on the advice of the doctor. The daughter was born quite a healthy child, subsequently became a dancer, having endorsed my mother's dream. Now Latin has two adult grandchildren.
Birth - a great test for gymnast. Nevertheless, Larisa managed to fully recover and continued the winner's career. She won gold, silver and bronze and the Roman 1960 Olympiad, and at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Latynina's sports speeches has already completed at the age of 31: a rare gymnast "longevity".
However, Larisa is not used to sit without a business and immediately began a new, no less successful career. Latynina was the head coach of the Soviet Olympic gymnasts and in Mexico City (1968), and in Munich (1972), and in Montreal (1976). The Soviet team during this period was the world leader.
However, despite all merits, Larisa was fired from his post in 1977. Later, she consisted in the Organizing Committee of the Moscow Olympiad, in the 80s he trained the Moscow national team, and in the 90s was the Deputy Director of the Foundation "Physical Education and Health". The nine-time Olympic champion and is now actively involved in the sports and public life of the country. Looking at this woman, you will not say that she is already eighty!