Olympic Champion Elena Shushunova Passed Away

Elena SHUSHUNOVA, a Soviet gymnast who won the women's all-around gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has died. She was 49. The Russian Gymnastics Federation said Shushunova "died suddenly" on Thursday, August 16. Russian media reported she had complications from pneumonia. Shushunova scored perfect 10.00 points in the vault and the floor exercise to beat Romanian rival Daniela Silivas by only 0.025 points to win the all-around gold.Shushunova also won gold in Seoul in the team event, silver on the balance beam and bronze on the uneven bars, as well as five gold medals at the world championships, In 2004 Shushunova was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. During her acceptance speech she said, “I believe that the all-around title is the most satisfying for a gymnast.”
* source: Russian media / International Gymnast