Larisa latynina gymnastics bar

At the Olympics in Tokyo, Latynina won gold medals in floor exercises and team competition; silver medals in all-around and vault; and bronze medals in un-even bars and beam. In an article in the London Times, a reporter commented that because Latynina was twenty-nine at the time, her career might be winding to a close, and "we may never see her like again….

But at such moments as she gave us this evening, hope springs eternal. At the European championships in , Latynina won four silver medals, in all-around, uneven bars, beam, and floor exercises, and a bronze medal in vault.

At the Olympics in Tokyo, Latynina won gold medals in floor exercises and team competition; silver medals in all-around and vault; and bronze medals in un-even bars and beam.

Latynina's daughter Tanya expressed no interest in following in her mother's footsteps. Tanya's father, Ivan Latynin, told Maryamov that he was grateful for this: "One gymnast in the family is quite enough! I'm a nervous wreck every time Larisa competes. Latynina's coach, Alexander Mishakov, told Maryamov, "It's a pleasure to work with Latynina because she demands so much of herself.

At the time, she was doing graduate work at the Kiev Physical Training Institute, and had been elected to the Kiev City Soviet for five years in a row. In addition to these duties and her intense gymnastics training routine, she found time for the theater, movies, fishing, dancing, getting together with friends, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Part of her intense activity was a result of the Soviet system of training athletes: athletes received many privileges in the Soviet system, but they were then obligated to serve their government by giving lectures and undertaking public service. Latynina's stint in the Kiev City government was part of this obligatory service. Maryamov asked Latynina if she had a favorite medal, and Latynina replied, "The small gold medal I was awarded in for graduating from school with honors.

Aged just 21, Latynina made her Olympic debut at the Melbourne Games.

She told Maryamov, "I'd say they all help in my gymnastics work. I suspect that without them I'd be less of a gymnast. Knowing that she could not continue competing forever, Latynina began planning a career shift, from competing to coaching.