Olga Korbut Quotes

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Olga Korbut

Profession : Athlete

Birth : May 16, 1955

And, in nineteen seventy two Olympic Games I wasn't really going to be a star, and overnight I became a star.

Olga Korbut

I am not interested in medals or titles. I don't need them. I need the love of the public and I fight for it.

Olga Korbut

It's better to have a rich soul than to be rich.

Olga Korbut

Then I was lucky I met with my future husband, and I started new life with my husband, and I was happy again. He was a musician. I start to travel with him through Europe also and around the former Soviet Union.

Olga Korbut

And from that nineteen sixty four, this was my goal to go to Olympic Games. And I realized what does it mean, Olympic Games, like big celebration.

Olga Korbut

Remember before nineteen seventy two Olympic Games I was total skinny, I was small, very strong, they may be don't like to see a gymnastics like that. I don't know but, gymnastics, might. Nineteen seventy two supposed to be change somewhere.

Olga Korbut

Up to nineteen seventy six when I quit gymnastics I was very, disappointed because I didn't have anything which is, live with. I didn't have a friend so I didn't have a coach anymore.

Olga Korbut

I'd been ready too, because before Olympic Games, I wasn't compete in big competition like, World Championship, like European Championship. I just competed in national competition.

Olga Korbut

But probably this is helps to win, to win, to gold, more gold medals, and to win most my important medal, heart of people. This is most important for me.

Olga Korbut

But, I couldn't live without creation gymnastics.

Olga Korbut

But let me do I will show the world what gymnastics looks like. Well may be this is a future gymnastics.

Olga Korbut

Finally I almost dropped gymnastics because I couldn't live without create, and you know, and then, all public in the world start to say, we don't want to see gymnastics without OLGA.

Olga Korbut

This is probably why, my life is easier, and my family is very happy, because we never lie each other. This is probably all people supposed to feel each other, so be always in all of the world they'll be peace.

Olga Korbut

I think if I wasn't in very high level, I never will be in the team. Cause I was high, in very high level.

Olga Korbut

How many people in the world is, each of them is individual. And I like to eat bread, somebody don't like that. You know this is the same in gymnastics.

Olga Korbut

And I suggested to change very simple way to Olympic Games, in one competition, two different levels. Separate from, until sixteen, and after sixteen years old.

Olga Korbut

Because up to sixteen years old you feel gymnastics more. You can show your emotion, grace, like woman gymnastics, not kid's gymnastics. I feel I have good shape, and I can do it elements everything, but, it's not competition for me.

Olga Korbut

And we lost a lot because of that, and I think this is future gymnastics to separate ages. Because kids can do it more than adult. A woman and adult woman can show more than the small kids.

Olga Korbut

I think this is all my life. Because if I was split gymnastics and something else like far, fun or to go with friends. No, this, you're supposed to one go, one straight road and to do every day. And touch the wall, of the goal.

Olga Korbut

Anyway I will go same road because I, I was born in gymnastics. This is my, how to say, my life and my duty.

Olga Korbut