You've been competing internationally for over 30 years. How has gymnastics changed over that time? Is there anything about your sport that has remained the same for decades?
First of all, the age has changed. More mature athletes are competing now, which makes me happy. Secondly, the apparatuses. They've become more comfortable and sophisticated. Gymnastics in general has become more challenging, but in my youth, people performed mostly the same elements as they do now. Back then, this was par for the course, but now it surprises many. It's a bit amusing.
Has the nature of the training itself changed?
For me personally, absolutely. Now, my life isn't just about my athletic career. I'm involved with the Oksana Chusovitina Academy, which was personally opened by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It has 155 students, both girls and boys. I used to train three times a day, but now I train once. The entire afternoon is taken up with the academy and organizational work.
Organizational work, not coaching? I was surprised to learn that you were simultaneously a member of the German national team and the head coach of the Uzbekistan national team.
That's true. There's no professional gymnastics in Germany. If a girl has the European Championships and her school exams at the same time, she won't go to competitions. If she wants to focus on her athletic career, she should complete the curriculum of one school class over two years to free up more time for training. Gymnasts there don't receive a salary, only prize money. Personal sponsorship is more common. I myself had a personal sponsor who supported me throughout my time competing for the German national team.
How do children manage to study full-time at school and at the same time progress in sports enough to reach the international level?
It's still a mystery to me. I think it's a matter of personal motivation. Those who didn't want to combine both quit sports. Some took a year or two off after school to prepare for major competitions.
Why did you return to Uzbekistan from Germany?
While my son was sick, I always wanted to return. I love my homeland and wanted to compete for Uzbekistan. In Germany, I worked with a coach from Belarus; she spoke Russian, and we quickly established a rapport. In Uzbekistan, I was assigned to a different coach.
Do you currently have a coach, or do you have enough knowledge to work independently?
I certainly have enough knowledge, but a coach is essential for any athlete. Even I sometimes need a motivating push or a quick stop to prevent injury. I often do an exercise and feel like, "That was great," but then I watch the video and find mistakes. Any so-called "beaten-down" or habitual mistake is very difficult to correct. That's exactly what I'm doing now, day in and day out. If I didn't have a coach, I'd give it up and just keep doing it the old way. But my coach forces me to do it correctly every day, and for that, I'm grateful. I have a difficult personality, but we find common ground. It seems to be going well.
You only compete on the vault. Is that an event in which you can maintain competitiveness for longer?
This might surprise you, but I plan to compete in the all-around, training all four apparatuses. I'm preparing for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
What should we expect from the Uzbekistan national team overall? What's their level?
It ebbs and flows. Right now, there's a slight decline among the girls; the boys are stronger. But a younger generation is on the way, and they will represent the country with dignity on the international stage. I haven't said my last word as an athlete yet. I won't talk about the program I'm preparing. You'll see everything for yourself in January. I have some fairly complex elements planned.
What's the secret to your athletic longevity? Is it the body's unique characteristics, or, with desire, diligence, and opportunity, many gymnasts could compete at the international level well into their 30s and even 40s?
Previously, after a gymnast turned 18, they were told they were getting old and it was time to retire. It's hard to say why this happened. Perhaps there were simply more athletes, and the competition was stronger. I still don't understand why people have to be forced to retire. Many gymnasts thank me for continuing to compete; my example inspires them and silences their critics. They even return after having children. I support this approach. I train because I enjoy it. If I feel tired and don't want to anymore, of course I'll stop.
A lot depends on your body. I'm naturally physically strong, but I'm not flexible. Svetlana Khorkina is very coordinated, so it's easier for her to learn new elements. There's no set age limit; it's individual. Bulgarian Jordan Yovchev competed until he was 40, winning medals at top tournaments
How do you build your personal relationships with your colleagues on the Uzbekistan national team and your competitors from other countries? Do you interact as equals or do you keep your distance? Are today's twenty-year-old athletes similar to you at that age, or do people of different generations have fundamentally different interests, values, and aspirations?
The very young ones address each other formally, but I ask them not to do so; I feel insecure. During the Uzbekistan Championships, others are encouraged by shouts of "Come on!" and I'm encouraged by shouts of "Come on!" It even makes me laugh a little. I try to interact with other athletes as equals. In gymnastics, there's a general camaraderie among athletes; we help each other.
It's difficult to compare people of different generations. I don't know how I would behave if I had the opportunities that today's teenagers have. The only thing that's a little surprising is the lack of drive and purpose. I see this in many.
Alexei Nemov said that he viewed sport as a social lift, an opportunity to escape poverty.
My family isn't athletic, so I got into gymnastics by chance. At first, I trained with boys. I didn't even know about World Championships and the Olympics. When people asked me what I wanted to be, they probably meant athletics. I answered, "A police officer." I still want to; it's my only unfulfilled dream: to investigate, to find clues, to find murderers...
What do you consider your most significant athletic achievement (an award, exercises named after you, the very fact of a uniquely long career...)?
It's not directly related to competitions. I'm proud that the world of gymnastics helped me cure my son. It's the greatest happiness.
What is Alisher doing now?
He lives in Germany and is finishing university. He'll work as a primary school teacher—math, German, and sports. As a child, he tried many sports, including gymnastics. He has the talent: he's coordinated and flexible. But he didn't like it, and I'm against forcing someone. Alisher is fond of basketball and coaches children in his free time.
Was there a failure in your athletic career that you still can't forget? What didn't you manage to achieve, but you really wanted to?
I achieved even more than I expected. I have nothing to regret. I also have unique achievements. For example, I won both the European Championships and the Asian Championships. No other gymnast can boast that.
How do you rate the overall level of gymnastics in Asia compared to Europe?
It's quite high, and not just among the traditional leaders from Japan, China, and South Korea. At the Paris Olympics, Filipino Carlos Yulo won two gold medals, although his country had previously been a long way from winning medals at competitions of this level. Many more world and Olympic champions compete at the Asian Championships than at the European Championships. The Asian school of gymnastics is distinctive, and this is especially evident in the Japanese. We were taught that it's important to execute the first element of a routine technically flawlessly, but the Japanese demonstrate that you can start your own way—and win. Carlos Yulo, for example, trained in Japan, and this is evident in his performances.
Some time ago, you admitted that you're not fluent in Uzbek and are still learning it. Has anything changed?
I'm still learning. If I need to translate or write something, my husband and colleagues help. Generally, Uzbekistan is bilingual: Uzbek and Russian.
When you speak of colleagues, do you mean the gymnastics academy?
Yes. After the Tokyo Olympics, the President of Uzbekistan ordered the opening of a boxing school named after Bakhodir Jalolov (two-time Olympic champion – BS note) and a school of artistic gymnastics named after Oksana Chusovitina. Last year, we built a building and installed the latest equipment from Germany. Currently, 155 children are studying, living on site, eating five meals a day, and studying. The project is fully funded by the state; each year, we plan to accept 24 children from all over the country, starting in first grade, based on their exam results.
Were you involved in developing the training program?
Of course. We discuss the lesson plan with the coaches and teachers. Morning training, then classes at school, and a second training session after lunch. There are additional classes in foreign languages and mathematics. We place a strong emphasis on the educational component.
Did you use any educational institutions as models?
I myself studied at the Olympic Reserve School in Tashkent, and I borrowed a lot from its program.
When will we see academy graduates competing at top tournaments?
My goal is to raise them to be good people and to attract as many young people as possible to artistic gymnastics. It's the foundation of any sport. Sometimes we see that a child isn't quite succeeding, and we recommend them to try another sport: wrestling, boxing, track and field... Our children will study with us until 11th grade, and then their career will continue on to the national teams.
Football is probably the most popular sport in Uzbekistan. Where does gymnastics rank?
It's not football that's leading, but boxing. We recently passed a decree requiring gymnastics classes in every kindergarten. I think this will help popularize our sport.
You regularly participate in Alexey Nemov's shows. How do you assess the commercial potential of gymnastics? Can it reach the level of figure skating in this regard?
When Alexey first organized his show at Luzhniki, we were very worried about whether spectators would show up. And last year, there wasn't a single empty seat. The more we advertise our sport, the wider the audience and the greater the potential for income. It's a cumulative effect. In Uzbekistan, gymnasiums are being built in three regions; the process has only just begun. In Russia, it started earlier, which is why it's more popular.
How do you prioritize your life? Where does gymnastics rank?
Gymnastics accounts for 40 percent, followed by family and the academy. I'm already living a full life, one that includes more than just training. It's wonderful to see my children's smiles; they motivate and energize me. Being with them makes you feel younger.
Perhaps that 40 percent is the secret to athletic longevity?
It's possible. I've never been afraid of ending my career: if you have a brain, arms, and legs, you can find something you love. I know athletes who have achieved success in other fields. For example, they've become wonderful dentists. You just have to want it and do it. Over the years, I've begun to approach training more rationally: I try not to do unnecessary sets. And in three hours, I manage to work on all four apparatuses and tone up with the barbell. I've even learned a new element on the uneven bars.
Dossier / Oksana Chusovitina
Born June 19, 1975, in Bukhara
Competed for the USSR, Uzbekistan, and Germany national teams
1992 Olympic champion in team competitions, silver medalist in the 2008 Games on vault
Three-time world champion, four-time silver and four-time bronze medalist at the World Championships
European champion and two-time Asian champion
The only person in the history of gymnastics to compete in eight Summer Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
Bolshoi Sport, 31 October 2025. Photo copyright Bolshoi Sport/personal archive of the Chusovitina/Kurbanov family.
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