Irina Deriugina
Encyclopedia
Irina Deriugina is a Ukrainian
former individual Rhythmic Gymnast
. She is the only Soviet rhythmic gymnast who possesses two all around world titles, which she won in 1977
and 1979
. Her mother, Albina, was her coach. Her success influenced the further development of rhythmic gymnastics in Kiev.
At age 10 in 1968, Deriugina entered the National Ballet School, from 1976 until 1980 she was a student of the Kiev National Institute of Physical Culture. Deriugina was a member of the Soviet Rhythmic Gymnastics squad from 1972 until her retirement from the sport in 1982. After her retirement she was appointed the Ukrainian National Coach.
Deriugina was in charge of the RG technical organizing committee as Competition Director from 1988–1992. In her famous Kiev school
, she trains (under the watchful eye of her mother) forty high level gymnasts and organizes every year one of the biggest rhythmic tournaments, the Deriugina Cup, started in 1992.
Deriugina was married to Oleg Blokhin
, a Ukrainian soccer striker and coach who was European Footballer of the Year
in 1975.
She was also a judge at both the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She was involved in a large judging scandal that took place at the 2000 European Championships in Zaragoza
, Spain
. Video was used to prove that she and 5 other judges, Natalia Stepanova (Belarus
), Gabriele Stummer (Austria
), Galina Marjina (Latvia
), Ursula Sohlenkamp (Germany
) and Natalia Lashtsinkaya (Russia
), were guilty of discriminating against the gymnast, Olena Vitrychenko of Ukraine, in comparison to scores given to other gymnasts. In the end, the 6 guilty judges were suspended for one year and they could not go to the judging course in Rome. For the 2000 Sydney Olympics, those countries had to choose another judge who met the requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
. This was the first time in Rhythmic Gymnastics history that such massive inappropriate behaviour was documented and penalized.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
former individual Rhythmic Gymnast
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
. She is the only Soviet rhythmic gymnast who possesses two all around world titles, which she won in 1977
1977 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
VIII World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Basel, Switzerland from the 13th to the 16th of October, 1977.-Medal Table:-Hoop:-Ball:-Ribbon:-Rope:-All-Around:-Groups:...
and 1979
1979 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
IX World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in London, England on the 4th and 5 July, 1979.-Rope:-Ball:-Clubs:-Ribbon:-All-Around:...
. Her mother, Albina, was her coach. Her success influenced the further development of rhythmic gymnastics in Kiev.
At age 10 in 1968, Deriugina entered the National Ballet School, from 1976 until 1980 she was a student of the Kiev National Institute of Physical Culture. Deriugina was a member of the Soviet Rhythmic Gymnastics squad from 1972 until her retirement from the sport in 1982. After her retirement she was appointed the Ukrainian National Coach.
Deriugina was in charge of the RG technical organizing committee as Competition Director from 1988–1992. In her famous Kiev school
Deriugins School
The Deriugina School, also known as the Deriugins' School is a rhythmic gymnastics club in Kiev, Ukraine. It is run by the mother and daughter team of Albina Deriugina, who is the head coach, and Irina Deriugina, who acts as the assistant coach....
, she trains (under the watchful eye of her mother) forty high level gymnasts and organizes every year one of the biggest rhythmic tournaments, the Deriugina Cup, started in 1992.
Deriugina was married to Oleg Blokhin
Oleg Blokhin
Oleh Volodymyrovych "Oleg" Blokhin is a Ukrainian football coach and current head coach of the Ukrainian national team. Blokhin was formerly a standout striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team...
, a Ukrainian soccer striker and coach who was European Footballer of the Year
European Footballer of the Year
The "", literally translated as "the golden ball" and often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award, was an annual association football award. It was presented to the player who had been considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year...
in 1975.
She was also a judge at both the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She was involved in a large judging scandal that took place at the 2000 European Championships in Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Video was used to prove that she and 5 other judges, Natalia Stepanova (Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
), Gabriele Stummer (Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
), Galina Marjina (Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
), Ursula Sohlenkamp (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) and Natalia Lashtsinkaya (Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
), were guilty of discriminating against the gymnast, Olena Vitrychenko of Ukraine, in comparison to scores given to other gymnasts. In the end, the 6 guilty judges were suspended for one year and they could not go to the judging course in Rome. For the 2000 Sydney Olympics, those countries had to choose another judge who met the requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique or International Federation of Gymnastics is the governing body of competitive gymnastics. Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was founded on July 23, 1881 in Liège, Belgium, making it the oldest international sport organisation...
. This was the first time in Rhythmic Gymnastics history that such massive inappropriate behaviour was documented and penalized.