50 greatest Summer Olympians in history

By John Buhler | Jul 29, 2016

Nov 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of the American flag during the national anthem prior to the Thanksgiving day game between the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

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38. Polina Astakhova, Gymnastics.

At the height of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was dominating the mat in gymnastics, Ukrainian Polina Astakhova was a force in three different Games (Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960, and Tokyo in 1964).

Astakhova won gold in the team event in all three Olympiads, along with a pair of golds in the uneven bars in the 1960 and ’64. All told Astakhova would accumulate 10 medals before retiring from international competition in 1967.

Astakhova also won silver in the floor exercise in ’60 and ’64, as well as bronze in the all-around in both Rome and Tokyo.

After a strong 13-year campaign competing for the USSR (1955-68), Astakhova was enshrined in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2002. Three years later, at the age of 68, Astakhova passed away after succumbing to pneumonia.

Next: 37. Alexei Nemov.

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