Honorary president of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, member of the executive committee of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), honored coach of Ukraine Albina Derugina passed away at the age of 92, according to the NOC Facebook page on Wednesday.
“On behalf of the entire Olympic family we express our sincere condolences to Albina Nikolayevna’s family, friends, colleagues and pupils. Blessed and kind memory,” the message reads.
The NOC noted that Deryugina came to rhythmic gymnastics at the dawn of its birth and is considered the founder of the sport in Ukraine.
“Over the years she brought up more than one generation of gymnasts who won Olympic awards, won world and European championships, increasing the sporting fame of Ukraine. Today her students are known throughout the world and the solid foundation she laid allows her to bring more and more Ukrainian talents to the podium, maintaining the unique style of the Ukrainian school of rhythmic gymnastics,” underlined the Committee.
Deryugina was the head coach of the USSR national rhythmic gymnastics team until 1992 and since 1986 she has been the President of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation. In Kiev, she organized a school of rhythmic gymnastics, which gained worldwide fame.
After 1992 she was a head coach of the Ukrainian team, a member of the executive committee of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. Deryugina is a Hero of Ukraine, Honored Coach of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine.
