Hangzhou, China, September 28, 2023: There will be no slowing down for gymnastics legend Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan, who is competing in the sixth Asian Games of her career here this week.
The eight-time Olympian, who is now 48, finished fourth in the women’s vault on Thursday at Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium against many competitors less than half her age. Chusovitina received generous applause from the audience following both of her vaults.
“I feel OK. I was lacking a bit today,” Chusovitina stated. “Life is not over. We will train. Now I know what exactly to work on in order to compete in the Olympics.”
Chusovitina, who was born in the town of Bukhara in 1975 when Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union, said she must raise her performance going forward.
“I need to try more difficult jumps,” Chusovitina commented. “I have had bad colds this summer and now I am getting back in shape, so at every competition I want to improve my basics to qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics.”
Chusovitina, who first competed in the Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1994, had planned to retire after the Tokyo 2020 Games but then reconsidered her decision.
“I feel wonderful!” the 153-cm Chusovitina commented. “I have even more energy than before.”
Chusovitina, an eight-time medalist in the Asian Games, did not feel particularly sentimental after competing this day.
“I have no emotions left,” Chusovitina remarked. “But I am happy that everything that I have planned I achieved, so we will move forward.”
Regarding future goals she may have, Chusovitina said she doesn’t approach the sport in that manner.
“I never set goals!” Chusovitina exclaimed. “I just practice, compete and enjoy it.”
Chusovitina is so revered in her home country that in March 2022 the president of Uzbekistan signed a decree for the opening of the Oksana Chusovitina Gymnastics Academy in the capital city of Tashkent.