Irina Deriugina: biography and the personal life of the gymnast

Irina Deryugina is a real star and legend of Soviet sport of high achievements. The only representative of the Soviet Union, twice the world champion in rhythmic gymnastics in absolute terms. Soviet sports did not know more talent, yet not a single star shone so brightly.

Having finished active performances in the big sport, Irina Ivanovna did not quit artistic gymnastics, switching to coaching, and later opening her own school. Many of her pupils achieved the highest achievements in the international sports arena. Irina Deryugina is still in the spotlight today. She is not only a venerable mentor of youth and an authoritative judge of competitions, but also a successful businesswoman, although she has a very difficult character.

The birth of the future star

Irina Ivanovna Deryugina was born into a sports family. Her father - Ivan Konstantinovich - wore the proud title of the Olympic champion in pentathlon. And my mother - Albina Nikolaevna - was the leading coach of the Ukrainian Republic in rhythmic gymnastics. Thus, the future of the girl, who was born on January 11, 1958 in Kiev and named Irina, was practically predetermined. She just had to become an athlete.

Indeed, since childhood, Irina has been selflessly engaged in artistic gymnastics under the guidance of her mother. Moreover, at the age of 10 Irina Deryugina was accepted as a student at the Higher Ballet School, which she successfully graduated with. In parallel with the performances for the USSR national team, Irina graduated from the Kiev Institute of Physical Education in 1980.

Sports career Irina Deryugina

A talented sportswoman was in the titled USSR team at the age of 14. Then it was very difficult to do this, because this medal-looking kind was the visiting card of the USSR and the competition among gymnasts was insanely high. Soviet sports have not yet seen such a huge talent. For 11 years of her performances for the national team (from 1972 to 1982) I. Deryugina managed to become one of the most titled gymnasts not only of the Soviet Union, but of the whole world.

Gymnast Irina Deriugina became the absolute champion of the Union five times, won the same title on the Cup of the USSR as many times, became the 4-time winner of the prestigious Intervision Cup. At international competitions of the highest rank, Deryugin twice (in 1977 and 1979) became the absolute winner of the world championships, which none of the Soviet gymnasts did before, nor after her.

About how successful Irina Deryugina was in her youth, speaks eloquently of her unique achievement. For five years (from 1975 to 1979 inclusive), she only once missed the rival to the highest step of the podium - it happened at the 1978 European Championships.

End of career and coaching activities

In 1982, Irina Deriugina finished her performances in the international arena - in gymnastics, 24 years old is considered to be a respectable age. But her sports career continued in a different form. Together with her mother Albina Nikolaevna, she formed a coaching duo, who headed the Ukrainian SSR team. A talented sportswoman and an outstanding coach (Albina Deryugina later even received the title of Hero of Ukraine) brought up a number of outstanding gymnasts, among whom there are two Olympic champions and eleven world champions.

Over 20 years of Irina Ivanovna Deriugina's mentoring work, her pupils won 120 gold medals and 30 awards forged from silver and bronze at international competitions of a very different rank, including at competitions of the highest level, Olympics, world and European forums.

School of Rhythmic Gymnastics of Mom and Deryugins' Daughter

With the arrival of new economic realities in the countries of the former USSR and with the independence of Ukraine, Albina and Irina Deriuginy opened their own private family school of rhythmic gymnastics. Simultaneously, Irina did not leave her post at the head of the national team. Such a combination is quite in the nature of Irina Ivanovna. According to the testimony of people who know Deriugin well, she always had incredible work ability and ability to endure. She speaks for herself either in jest or in seriousness, which is one of the most traumatized sportswomen in the history of rhythmic gymnastics. Big sport taught her to endure the pain and go to her goal, paying no attention to any difficulties.

The official activities of Irina Deriugina

In addition to coaching, Irina Deryugina also performed other duties at different times. So, for example, she has a judge's patent for quite a long time, allowing her to participate in the jury of international competitions of the highest rank. In addition, in independent Ukraine she became the vice-president of the national federation of her favorite sport, she was the organizer of quite prestigious competitions "Deriugina Cup". At the same time, Irina Ivanovna, who is so good at mentoring, has the title of Academician of the Ukrainian National Sports Academy, from time to time performing teaching functions within the walls of the university.

Irina Deryugina: personal life

At one time, even in the period of active performances for the USSR national team, the young Deryugina got acquainted with the famous football player of Kiev Dynamo and the USSR national team Oleg Blokhin. The wedding of two legendary athletes, held in the Olympic 1980, was the subject of heated discussion not only in sports circles, but throughout the country. Such a happy marriage of two outstanding personalities with a stubborn character was too beautiful to be true. Nevertheless, in 1983, the couple had a daughter - Irina Olegovna Blokhina. And the marriage lasted until 2000, when the couple decided to part with a divorce.

By the way, Blokhin's daughter and Deriugina also turned out to be not deprived of talent. Actress and singer Irina Olegovna Blokhina, well-known in Ukraine, became the author of words and the performer of the football Euro-2012, which Poland and Ukraine co-hosted.

The current life of Irina Ivanovna Deriugina

Irina Ivanovna Deryugina and to this day holds the responsible post of head coach of the national team of his country. From time to time, various scandals associated with the corruption component and with the dissatisfaction of certain athletes and coaches with too authoritarian style by Deriugina's leadership become the property of the press. But this is the character of the famous athlete - strong-willed, ambitious and uncompromising.

However, Irina Deryugina is not used to scandals and conflicts. As a judge, she was twice disqualified by the International Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics. And both times - on charges of biased judging. The first time (in 2000, in Zaragoza), she was removed from the refereeing for 1 year. But for the second time (in April 2008) the punishment turned out to be much more severe - 8 years of disqualification. However, after consideration of the appeal, the term of punishment was reduced by exactly half.

Irina Deriugina's business

In addition to the fact that Deriugina has a private school of rhythmic gymnastics, she is also engaged in other types of business that have nothing to do with sports. According to the information regularly published in the press, Irina Ivanovna together with her former husband Oleg Blokhin owns a construction company and an enterprise specializing in retail trade.

About the extent to which Irina Ivanovna Deryugina can be successful not only as an athlete, coach or sports functionary, but also as an entrepreneur, is evidenced by the fact that she repeatedly appeared in the first hundred of the rating of the popular Ukrainian edition of Focus.

This rating, which includes the most influential women of Ukraine, brings the last juicy touch into the bright and diverse portrait of Irina Deriugina.