On the evening of July 25, Beijing time, in the women's single qualifying tournament of competitive gymnastics for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Uzbekistan veteran Chusovykina competed in the vault preliminary round, and finally ranked 14th with 14.166 points, and it was determined that she did not qualify for the final. With the applause of the audience, the 46-year-old Olympic legend completed the curtain call. In addition, she became the only gymnast in the world to participate in the Olympic Games for eight consecutive times, setting a Guinness World Record.
This is Chusovykina's eighth appearance at the Olympics, and the other 18 athletes participating in the vault preliminaries are only 28 years old, and the youngest is The 2004 youngest from the United Kingdom, Gadirova Jessica. This means that Jessica was just born two months after Chusovkina's fourth Olympic conquest.
When the final score was played on the big screen of the gymnasium, Chusovkina could no longer suppress the emotion in her heart, and tears came out of her eyes. At this time, the Tokyo Ariake Gymnastics Gymnasium erupted into thunderous applause. Referees, volunteers, media workers, and gymnastics rising stars gave a standing ovation. Surrounded by her opponents and the coaches of the various teams, Chusovkina stood on the stage again, waved her thanks, and said goodbye to her beloved gymnastics field.
In 1992, Chusovykina represented the CIS at the Barcelona Olympics and won the gold medal in the women's gymnastics team competition. In 1996, she represented Uzbekistan at the Atlanta Olympics and subsequently announced her retirement. Unfortunately, her son was diagnosed with leukemia, and Chusovkina had to return to the game and rely on the prize money to treat her son.
In 2006, in order to get her son's treatment funds, Chusovkina resolutely transferred to Germany and participated in the Beijing and London Olympic Games.
In 2014, her son's leukemia was cured, and at this time, Chusovkina no longer had worries, and the only thing that spurred her to continue to move forward was the gymnastics dream that had not yet been extinguished. At the Rio Olympics, Chusovkina changed her uzbekistan citizenship and even reached the vault final.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Chusovkina was originally chosen as the flag bearer of the Uzbekistan delegation. But before the opening ceremony, uzbekistan's two flag bearers suddenly changed to boxer Bakhodir Jallov and taekwondo athlete Nigola Tursunkulov. Chusovykina didn't even get any explanation, and senior Officials of the National Olympic Committee responded with only 7 words, "the result of comprehensive consideration."
Of course, Chusovkina, who was accustomed to the ups and downs of life, never complained again. Today, she has won back the utmost respect in the place she loves most.
Eight Olympic Games, hoping that Chusovkina will continue her legend elsewhere.