Irina Deriugina
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Irina Deriugina Russian: Ирина Дерюгина Irina Deryugina (born 11th January, 1958 in Kyiv, Ukraine) was an Individual Rhythmic Gymnast. She is the only Soviet rhythmic gymnast who possesses two all around world titles - 1977 & 1979. Her mother, Albina was her coach. Irina was an expressive and ballerina-esque gymnast. Her success influenced the further development of rhythmic gymnastics in Kyiv.
At age 10 in 1968, Irina entered the National Ballet School, from 1976 until 1980 she was a student of the Kyiv National Institue of Physical Culture. Irina was a member of the Soviet Rhythmic Gymnastics squad from 1972 until her retirement from the sport in 1982. After her retirement she was appointed the Ukrainian National Coach.
Irina was in charge of the RG technical organizing committee as Competition Director from 1988-1992. In her infamous Kyiv school, she trains (under the watchful eye of her mother) forty high level gymnasts and organizes every year one of the biggest rhythmic tournaments, the Deriugina Cup, started in 1992.
Irina was married to Oleg Blokhin - a Soviet/Ukrainian soccer striker and coach who was European Footballer of the Year in 1975. They have a daughter.
Irina was a judge at both the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She was involved in a large judging scandal that took place at the 2000 European Championships in Zaragoza, Spain. Video was used to prove that herself and 5 other judges, Natalia Stepanova (Belarus), Gabriele Stummer (Austria), Galina Marjina (Latvia), Ursula Sohlenkamp (Germany) and Natalia Lashtsinkaya (Russia), were guilty of discriminating against the gymnast, Elena Vitrichenko of Ukraine, in comparison to scores given to other gymnasts. In the end, the 6 guilty judges were suspended for one year and they could not go to the judging course in Rome. The countries had to choose another judge for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, who met the requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. This was the first time in Rhythmic Gymnastics history that such massive inappropriate behaviour was proven and penalized.
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