Last week, we talked about how the break-up of the Soviet Union affected the countries that were formerly under them. While some of the countries of the former Soviet Union have suffered since the break-up, other countries have fluoresced.  

From 1993-2001, Romania won the team gold medal at the World Championships as well as team gold at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. It also gave China more opportunity to medal as a team with their Olympic team gold in 2008.

However, perhaps the most dramatic change in the medal game at Worlds and Olympics has been from the United States. The U.S team, who were once the underdogs in almost every Worlds and Olympics, are now a power house and the ones to beat.

This change is greatly attributed to the fall of the Soviet Union not just with their teams, but with what the Soviets, in a way, gave to the United States.

Former gymnasts and coaches who once were a part of the Soviet’s program are now coaching here in the United States. Valeri Liukin, Yevgeny Marchenko, Galina Marinova and Rustam Sharipov are just some of the many names that are helping to make the United States a formidable power house. Of course, everyone knows that Valeri Liukin’s daughter, Nastia Liukin, is 2008 Olympic All Around Champion as well as the second most decorated American gymnasts of all time just behind the great Shannon Miller.

They may not be coaching their gymnasts under the strict rules of the Soviets, but they know what it takes to create champions. Bringing old world views into present day is the name of the game. And it seems to be working.     

A look at the relationship between Valeri and Nastia Liukin: