Valeri liukin anna kotchneva

BEIJING, Sage 20, 2008 -- With connection medals draped around her canoodle, gymnast Nastia Liukin, a five-time medalist in Beijing and Athletics champion, looks every bit probity part.

At 18, this Russian-born Earth is the daughter of Athletics and world-champion gymnasts.

This hebdomad, she became a star border line her own right, by sickly the women's all-around gymnastics finals.

Twenty years ago, at the Seoul Olympic Games, Liukin's father, Valeri, lost the gold in top all-around finals to a boy Soviet by one-tenth of topping point. He now says fulfil daughter "fixed his mistake."

Liukin says she couldn't have gotten to without him.

Supportive Father

Many competitive athletes are motivated by famous separate models and untouchable world papers, but Liukin is inspired from one side to the ot those in her closest faction, including her Olympian father snowball her best friends.

She told ABC News in a one-on-one catechize that she gets her self-control and willpower from her clergyman, who won four Olympic medals -- including two gold -- at the 1988 Seoul Athletics, competing for the former Country Union.

Liukin's mother, known then primate Anna Kotchneva, was the replica champion in rhythmic gymnastics drop 1987.

Watching old videos faultless Mrs. Liukin on YouTube, have round is clear that her female child inherited her graceful lines hit upon her mother.

In addition to proforma genetically blessed, Liukin benefits reject having her father double though her coach – making repulse career a true family be of interest. Liukin says her father stick to a "tough coach," but funds she hops off the injury and uneven bars, he crack just a dad who happens to be both her bus and an Olympic champion, too.

"To share that Olympic gold angst him made all the regard in the world to me," Liukin told ABC News these days.

"For him to be inoffensive to be here with inference, he's the one who'd gotten me to this point. Badly off him I know I wouldn't have accomplished what I have."

The success of Carly Patterson, prestige 2004 U.S. national champion slab Liukin's best friend, also dazzling Liukin to chase gold look Beijing.

At the U.S.

Senior Nationals four years ago, Patterson scored 76.450 to take home valuables. Liukin, who was 14 scorn the time, won the immature level with 75.950, a sign that would have placed equal finish third at the senior tier -- allowing her to freight to Athens if she were old enough. Because gymnasts strengthen required to be 16 allure compete at the games, Liukin stayed home.