Sofia Muratova
Encyclopedia
Sofia Ivanovna Muratova (July 13, 1929 in Leningrad
- September 25, 2006) was a Soviet
gymnast, who competed in the 1950s and 1960s, training at Dynamo in Moscow
, and won eight Olympic medals.
during the Siege
, her mother died there. In 1941 Muratova was evacuated from the city, but due to the war, she had not the ability to go to school regularly. Meanwhile, going in for sports became dominant in her life from the very beginning. She began artistic gymnastics
in 1943, entering a children's sports school, and just three months later she competed in the Russian SFSR Championships for girls. In 1944 Muratova went to Moscow
, where she continued training sessions at the Young Pioneers Stadium
. Her trainer was Igor Zhuravlev.
vs USSR Dual Meet in Budapest
. She became one of the strongest Soviet gymnasts, and finally became the only one to win five all-around titles in the USSR Championships. At the same time, she was sometimes fatally unlucky in the major international events.
due to injury, but one of the most disappointing was her injury at the 1954 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics. Muratova won gold in the Team Competition event and was a leader on all apparatus in the all-around, but had broken her arm during the warming-up and was out. Her husband Valentin Muratov, who competed in the men's competition, swore to win a gold medal for her and had kept his word, becoming the all-around champion. She debuted at the 1956 Summer Olympics
, winning the Team gold and two bronze medals in the all-around and on the uneven bars. At the rather unsuccessful 1958 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics in Moscow
Muratova won the team gold and two bronzes on vault
and on the balance beam. Injuries haunted her on the way to the 1960 Summer Olympics
, and many people didn't believe her participation there. But with the help from the professor Zoya Mironova (:ru:Миронова, Зоя Сергеевна), who operated Muratova just three months before the Olympics, she managed to compete there and even won three medals — the team gold, all-around silver and bronze on the beam. She presented her gold medal to Zoya Mironova as a token of gratitude. Her two all-around medals (1956, 1960) in the sport was a rare feat - only 6 other woman gymnasts have accomplished this.
She also successfully competed in the Nationals, where she won seven all-around titles, including the 1955 USSR Cup, held for the first time. Sofia Muratova finished her competitive career in 1965 and worked as a coach for 34 years. She was awarded Order of the Red Banner of Labour
in 1957.
Muratova died on September 25, 2006, her husband Valentin Muratov died on October 6 of the same year.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
- September 25, 2006) was a 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, who competed in the 1950s and 1960s, training at Dynamo 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...
, and won eight Olympic medals.
Early life
Muratova's childhood passed in LeningradSaint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
during the Siege
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
, her mother died there. In 1941 Muratova was evacuated from the city, but due to the war, she had not the ability to go to school regularly. Meanwhile, going in for sports became dominant in her life from the very beginning. She began artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
in 1943, entering a children's sports school, and just three months later she competed in the Russian SFSR Championships for girls. In 1944 Muratova went to 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...
, where she continued training sessions at the Young Pioneers Stadium
Young Pioneers Stadium
The Young Pioneers Stadium was a sports complex in the Soviet Union, intended exclusively for children and youth training, the largest in Europe of this kind. It was located in Moscow...
. Her trainer was Igor Zhuravlev.
First successes
In 1945 Muratova won her first major competition, the USSR Junior Championships, and four years later enjoyed the first international success, winning in the team competition event at the HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
vs USSR Dual Meet in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. She became one of the strongest Soviet gymnasts, and finally became the only one to win five all-around titles in the USSR Championships. At the same time, she was sometimes fatally unlucky in the major international events.
World Championships and Olympics
Muratova missed the 1952 Summer Olympics1952 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...
due to injury, but one of the most disappointing was her injury at the 1954 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics. Muratova won gold in the Team Competition event and was a leader on all apparatus in the all-around, but had broken her arm during the warming-up and was out. Her husband Valentin Muratov, who competed in the men's competition, swore to win a gold medal for her and had kept his word, becoming the all-around champion. She debuted 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...
, winning the Team gold and two bronze medals in the all-around and on the uneven bars. At the rather unsuccessful 1958 World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics 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...
Muratova won the team gold and two bronzes on vault
Vault (gymnastics)
The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault...
and on the balance beam. Injuries haunted her on the way to the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, and many people didn't believe her participation there. But with the help from the professor Zoya Mironova (:ru:Миронова, Зоя Сергеевна), who operated Muratova just three months before the Olympics, she managed to compete there and even won three medals — the team gold, all-around silver and bronze on the beam. She presented her gold medal to Zoya Mironova as a token of gratitude. Her two all-around medals (1956, 1960) in the sport was a rare feat - only 6 other woman gymnasts have accomplished this.
She also successfully competed in the Nationals, where she won seven all-around titles, including the 1955 USSR Cup, held for the first time. Sofia Muratova finished her competitive career in 1965 and worked as a coach for 34 years. She was awarded Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
in 1957.
Muratova died on September 25, 2006, her husband Valentin Muratov died on October 6 of the same year.
Achievements (non-Olympic)
| Year | Event | AA | Team | VT | UB | BB | FX | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | USSR Championships | 1st | 2nd | |||||
| 1950 | USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||||
| 1951 | USSR Championships | 3rd | ||||||
| 1954 | World Championships | 1st | ||||||
| USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | ||||
| 1955 | USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | |||
| USSR Cup | 1st | |||||||
| 1956 | USSR Championships | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | ||||
| 1957 | USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||
| 1958 | World Championships | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | ||||
| USSR Championships | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | ||||
| 1959 | USSR Championships | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | ||||
| 1960 | USSR Championships | 1st | 3rd | 1st | ||||
| 1962 | World Championships | 1st | ||||||
| USSR Championships | 2nd | |||||||
| 1963 | USSR Championships | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | |||
| USSR Cup | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | |||||
| 1964 | USSR Championships | 2nd | 3rd | |||||
| USSR Cup | 1st |