FIG Athletes' Commission

LONDON (GBR), FIG Office, October 11, 2009: The Women's Artistic Gymnastics community elected the Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin (USA) as a member of the FIG Athletes' Commission. The election took place in the London O2 (GBR) at the occasion of the 41st World Championships.

Nastia Liukin, who will turn 20 on October 30th declared to be a proud and active representative of the Women's Artistic community, bringing her experience and enthusiasm to the development of the discipline.

Olympic Champion

At the 2008 Olympic Games, Liukin tied the U.S. gymnastics record of five medals at one Olympic Games set by Mary Lou Retton in 1984 and matched by Shannon Miller in 1992. She garnered the most medals of any gymnast at the 2008 Olympic Games. Liukin has won nine world medals (four gold and five silver), which ties the mark of nine world medals held by Shannon Miller, who has earned more world and Olympic medals than any other U.S. gymnast (16 total).

Among the awards Liukin has received during her career are: 2008 Women's Sports Foundation's individual Sportswoman of the Year; U.S. Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Month for August 2008; and USOC Team of the Year for 2007 (along with her 2007 World Championships teammates). She was named USA Gymnastics' Women's Athlete of the Year in 2005 and tied for the honor in 2006. Liukin was named USA Gymnastics' Sportswoman of the Year in 2008.

(source: USA Gymnastics)

Liukin is the only daughter of Valeri and Anna Liukin, both of whom coach at World of Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Texas (USA). Her father won four medals at the 1988 Olympic Games, including two Gold, and her mother was a 1987 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Champion.

Liukin would like to become an actress; she has already appeared in a TV advertisement for Adidas and a film on gymnastics.