15 Facts About Lilia Podkopayeva

Lilia Oleksandrivna Podkopayeva is a Ukrainian former artistic gymnast.

Lilia Podkopayeva is the 1995 world all-around champion, and the 1996 Olympic all-around and floor exercise champion.

In March 1993, Lilia Podkopayeva won her only National All Around Title in Ukraine.

Lilia Podkopayeva helped Ukraine place fifth and qualify a full team to the 1996 Olympics.

Lilia Podkopayeva then won the all-around final with a score of 39.248.

At the beginning of the year, Lilia Podkopayeva was seriously injured when she fell from the beam in practice, fracturing two ribs.

In July, Lilia Podkopayeva competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lilia Podkopayeva then won the all-around final with a score of 39.255.

Lilia Podkopayeva was the fourth gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion, and the first gymnast to win the all-around without winning a team medal.

Lilia Podkopayeva was the last female gymnast to win the all-around title and an event-final gold medal until Simone Biles did this in 2016.

Lilia Podkopayeva originally intended to continue competing after the 1996 Olympics, and she was named to the Ukrainian team for the 1997 World Championships.

Lilia Podkopayeva has two eponymous skills listed in the Code of Points.

Lilia Podkopayeva is an Ambassador of the Council of Europe for Sport, Tolerance, and Fair Play.

In 2014, Lilia Podkopayeva did a gala event in Mexico, using similar choreography to the floor routine she performed in Atlanta, as well as doing back handsprings and round-offs.

In 2019, Lilia Podkopayeva joined the coaching staff at Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta's Perimeter Gymnastics.