Antonina Koshel Soviet athlete (gymnastics), Honored Master of Sports of the USSR Date of Birth: 20.11.1954 Country: Belarus

Biography of Antonina Koshel

Antonina Koshel is a former Soviet athlete in artistic gymnastics. She was born in the small town of Smolevichi and had dreams of becoming a ballerina. However, after being rejected by the ballet school, she decided to try her hand at gymnastics.

Under the guidance of coach Vitaly Zitsirman, Antonina spent two years training in Smolevichi, stretching and learning various gymnastic moves. She then decided to pursue her dreams further and attempted to enroll in a sports boarding school in Minsk. Unfortunately, her initiative was not supported by her parents due to the financial burden and the fact that she was the only athlete in the family.

However, fate intervened when her former coach, Viktor Khomutov, who had previously rejected her from the ballet school, came to her hometown to convince her parents to let her pursue gymnastics. In 1970, Antonina won four first-place titles at the USSR Youth Championships and solidified her place in the national team.

The Belarusian gymnastics team was known for its talented athletes during that time, and in 1971, they emerged as winners in the team competition at the Spartakiade of the Peoples of the USSR. Antonina's performance in the following years made her a strong candidate for the Olympic Games in Munich.

In April 1972, just a few months before the Olympics, Antonina fell ill with a high fever. Despite her condition, she insisted on competing and managed to secure a sixth-place finish. Her determination impressed her coach, Larisa Latynina, who noted her resilience in her diary.

Antonina was invited to the final training camp in Minsk before the Olympics, where she showcased her skills and secured a spot in the team. However, only six gymnasts were allowed to compete, and the final decision was made the night before the competition. Antonina was chosen as the sixth member of the team, a decision that surprised many due to the presence of another Belarusian gymnast.

At the Olympics, Antonina performed flawlessly on the balance beam, setting the tone for the team's success. The Soviet team went on to win the gold medal, and Antonina's contribution was instrumental in their victory.

After her Olympic success, Antonina continued to compete and won another team gold medal at the Spartakiade of the Peoples of the USSR in 1975. She retired from competitive gymnastics shortly after and currently works as a coach for the Ministry of Sports and Tourism. Antonina Koshel's achievements in gymnastics will forever be remembered in Belarusian sports history.