Galina Shamrai
Encyclopedia
Galina Yakovlevna Shamray (also known as Galina Rudko, Galina Ilyina after marriages; born October 5, 1931, Tashkent
, USSR) is a retired Soviet
gymnast
and the first women's all-around World Champion from the USSR.
She trained at the Iskra club and later at the Burevestnik sports society in Moscow
. Shamrai began competing at the USSR Championships in 1950, where she placed eighth in the all-around. She was added to the team roster for the 1952 Summer Olympics
, which were the first Olympic performance for Soviet athletes. Shamrai didn't compete in the event finals, but was 8th in the all-around, contributing to the team's gold. She also won the team's silver in the portable apparatus event. In December of the same year, Shamrai earned the silver medal on the floor exercise at the USSR Championships. She continued a progressive movement upwards in 1953, placing fourth in the all-around at the Nationals.
1954 World Gymnastics Championships
was the culmination of her competitive career. She won the all-around title, a gold medal in the team competition, a silver on bars and the team's silver in the portable apparatus. After this success she earned one more gold medal on the balance beam at the 1955 Nationals and retired in 1956.
Shamrai graduated from the Lenin Pedagogical Institute of the Moscow Region and worked as a coach at the Spartak
club in Moscow. She married Anatoly Il'in, who played for Spartak and became the Olympic Champion in football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. The couple had a daughter, Elena, in 1958. Since 1975 Shamrai judged international gymnastics events.
In 1957 Galina Shamrai was awarded Order of the Badge of Honor
. She lives in Moscow.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
, USSR) is a retired Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
and the first women's all-around World Champion from the USSR.
She trained at the Iskra club and later at the Burevestnik sports society in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Shamrai began competing at the USSR Championships in 1950, where she placed eighth in the all-around. She was added to the team roster for the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
, which were the first Olympic performance for Soviet athletes. Shamrai didn't compete in the event finals, but was 8th in the all-around, contributing to the team's gold. She also won the team's silver in the portable apparatus event. In December of the same year, Shamrai earned the silver medal on the floor exercise at the USSR Championships. She continued a progressive movement upwards in 1953, placing fourth in the all-around at the Nationals.
1954 World Gymnastics Championships
1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Rome, the capital of Italy, on June 28 - July 1, 1954.-Medals:- All-around :- Floor exercise :- Pommel horse :- Rings :- Vault :- Parallel bars :- Horizontal bar :...
was the culmination of her competitive career. She won the all-around title, a gold medal in the team competition, a silver on bars and the team's silver in the portable apparatus. After this success she earned one more gold medal on the balance beam at the 1955 Nationals and retired in 1956.
Shamrai graduated from the Lenin Pedagogical Institute of the Moscow Region and worked as a coach at the Spartak
Spartak
Spartak is the name of a sports society which existed in the former Soviet Union and other socialist countries. For some history of the Moscow club see FC Spartak Moscow...
club in Moscow. She married Anatoly Il'in, who played for Spartak and became the Olympic Champion in football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. The couple had a daughter, Elena, in 1958. Since 1975 Shamrai judged international gymnastics events.
In 1957 Galina Shamrai was awarded Order of the Badge of Honor
Order of the Badge of Honor
The Order of the Badge of Honour was a civilian award of the Soviet Union.It was instituted on 25 November 1935 and conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in production, scientific research and social, cultural and other forms of social activity, for promotion of economic,...
. She lives in Moscow.
Achievements (non-Olympic)
| Year | Event | AA | Team | Team PA | VT | UB | BB | FX | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | USSR Championships | 2nd | |||||||
| 1954 | World Championships 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Rome, the capital of Italy, on June 28 - July 1, 1954.-Medals:- All-around :- Floor exercise :- Pommel horse :- Rings :- Vault :- Parallel bars :- Horizontal bar :... |
1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | ||||
| USSR Championships | 3rd | 3rd | |||||||
| 1955 | USSR Championships | 1st | |||||||
| 1956 | USSR Championships | 2nd |