31. März 2023  
Kiev, UKR  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

Albina Deriugina, the legend of rhythmic gymnastics has passed away

Albina Nikolaevna DERIUGINA passes away!

With sadness the world of gymnastics learned that in the 92nd year of life the heart of the legend of world rhythmic gymnastics, the heroine of Ukraine, the member of the Executive Committee of NOC Ukraine, the well-deserved coach of Ukraine Albina Nikolaevna DERIUGINA stopped beating ...!
Albina Deryugina came to rhythmic gymnastics at the beginning of her pregnancy and since her young years is considered the founder of this sport in Ukraine. Over the years of work she has collected more than a generation of gymnasts, winning Olympic awards, winning World and European championships and increasing the sporting fame of Ukraine.

Over the years, she has trained many generations of gymnasts who have won Olympic awards, world and European championships.
Among them: Olha Shchegoleva, Olha Plokhova, Victoria Sirykh, Lyudmila Yevtushenko, her daughter Irina Deriugina, Oleksandra Tymoshenko, Oksana Skaldina, Elina Khozlu, Tamara Yerofeeva, Hanna Bezsonova, Natalia Hodunko, and Anna Rizatdinova ... and much more!
Today, her upbringing is known worldwide, and the strong foundation she laid makes it possible to bring all new and emerging talents of Ukraine to the podium of honors, which is preserved and continued in the spirit of her mother by her daughter Irina - formerly a world star of this elegant sport herself - and her unique style of Ukrainian school of rhythmic gymnastics. The death of this great coaching personality prompted the President of the World Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Morinari Watanabe, to travel directly from the junior world competitions in Antalya to Kiev, despite adventurous detours via Warsaw, to accompany Albina Derjugina to the funeral on her last journey.
The gymnastics world will never forget her life's journey!
* Until her last senior days, she actively participated in gymnastics training, as could still be seen in 2013 on the occasion of the World Cup in Kiev and even afterwards with full energy. Her lifetime achievement for modern rhythmic gymnastics remains unforgotten!
GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL
- Eckhard Herholz -

+  On Youtube we found a Ukrainian documentary dedicated to her on the occasion of her 80th birthday (Ukrainian language, but visually very informative!):
Albina Nikolaevna DERIUGINA from 2012 ...:

* Youtube (077846)