Nastia Liukin Biography

Fast Facts

• Was named Individual Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation, Female Athlete of the Year by the U․S․ Sports Academy, and Sportswoman of the Year by USA Gymnastics in 2008
• Won the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2005 and 2007
• Hosts the Nastia Liukin Cup to recognize young gymnasts, proceeds from which go the Nastia Liukin Fund, a partner of the National Gymnastics Foundation
• Attends New York University, where she studies Sports Management
• Her parents both have gymnastics backgrounds; her father, Valeri Liukin, was an Olympian and her mother, Anna Kotchneva, was rhythmic gymnastics champion in the 1980s
• First competed in a national gymnastics competition in 2002 at the U․S․ National Championships, where she finished 15th
• Began practicing gymnastics at the age of 3, largely because her parents were gymnastics instructors
• Was part of the cast and creative team of the Kellogg's Tour of Olympic Champions following the 2012 London Olympics
• Best known as a retired artistic gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
• Has had cameo appearances on a number of TV series, including "Gossip Girl" in 2008 and "The Biggest Loser" in 2010