Happy anniversary!

Today, 27 January, Lidia Ivanova, two-time Artistic Gymnastics Olympic champion, Honored coach of the USSR, winner of the Slava award in the Legend nomination, celebrated her anniversary.

At the 1956 Olympic Games in  Melbourne,  Lidia Ivanova won the Artistic Gymnastics team competition, as part of the USSR team, she also took bronze in team floor event. In 1959 she got married to a famous football player, Melbourne Olympic champion Valentin Ivanov.

In 1960 Lidia Ivanova climbed to the top of the Olympic podium once again. This time in Rome. Four years later legendary athlete left Gymnastics because of injury. She judged competitions at six Olympic Games and was awarded golden badge of the International Federation of Gymnastics.

For 11 years Lidia Ivanova was holding the position of State Coach to select gymnasts for the USSR team. She developed methods for training athletes, kept up a running commentaries on the major competitions, including the Olympic Games 2012-2016. She was awarded two Orders of the Badge of Honor, in 2008 together with her husband she became the winner of the Slava award in the Legend nomination.

The Russian Olympic Committee congratulates Lidia Ivanova on her birthday and wishes her good health, welfare, happiness, inexhaustible energy and success in everything she does.

Happy anniversary!