ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA: Ukraine's top 10 Olympic gold medal hopefuls (07/07/96)

ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA

Ukraine's top 10 Olympic gold medal hopefuls

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Although a few of Ukraine's Olympians have gained worldwide recognition for their achievements, the squad of athletes arriving now in Atlanta is, for the most part, known only to enthusiasts of particular sports. 1994 Olympic figure skating champion Oksana Baiul has become a household name; Sergey Bubka, the pole vaulter who holds the new world record for number of world records broken, has also achieved considerable name recognition.

But how many diaspora Ukrainians have heard the name Rustam Adzhi, the champion Greco-Roman wrestler? And what about Olena Vitrychenko, a top rhythmic gymnast who may well bring gold home this summer.

We bring you Ukraine's top 10 Olympic hopefuls (of 220 athletes competing in 25 events), as picked by a journalists' poll conducted by the Kyiv-based sportsmagazine Olympiyska Arena (Olympic Arena) in its first issue of 1996.

- Compiled by Yarema A. Bachynsky, based on reports in Olimpiyska Arena.

Inessa Kravets: This 29-year-old from Kyiv is the world champion and record-holder in the triple jump, with a best leap of 15.50 m. Her career includes numerous European, national and international victories, among them a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain. While setting the world record, Ms. Kravets failed to step on the run-up board, cheating herself of 25 cm., and even so astonished spectators with what was called "a leap into the 21st century." Ms. Kravets has been awarded the Presidential Medal. Her coach is Mykola Kushnir. She trains with the Ukrainian Armed Forces Team.

Sergey Bubka: Perhaps the best known of Ukraine's Olympians coming into Atlanta, Mr. Bubka has set world records in the pole vault 35 times during the course of his career, as The New York Times reported on February 1. The 32-year-old from Donetske has won numerous competitions, among them the International Amateur Athletic Federation's "Grand Prix." According to Mr. Bubka, "beating world records at my age requires real competition, where you feel you adversary's breath on your back." Mr. Bubka is coached by Arkadiy Shkvyra and Oleksander Solomakhin. He belongs to Club Ukraina.

Liliya Podkopayeva: Another Donetske native, Ms. Podkopayeva was the 1995 world gymnastics champion. The 17-year-old possesses unusual "beauty, grace and technical proficiency," according to sports journals commenting on her appearance in the front ranks of amateur gymnastics. Ms. Podkopayeva is a very tough competitor, easily adapting to changes in surroundings, conditions, etc. Her coach is Halyna Losynska. She trains with Club Dynamo.

Kateryna Serebrianska: Hail-ing from Symferopil, the 19-year-old Ms. Serebrianska was the 1995 over-all world champion in rhythmic gymnastics (together with Bulgaria's Maryna Petrova), as well as champion in exercises with the ball. In 1994 she was European Champion in the ball and ribbon exercises. Her coaches are her mother, Lyubov Serebrianska, and Albina and Iryna Deriuhina. On the lighter side, Ms. Serebrianska enjoys dancing and baking a "napoleon" with mom for New Year's Eve. She trains with Club Dynamo.

Ihor Razorionov: For this year's Games, Ukraine's main port, Odessa, has produced a little-known weightlifter in the 108 kilogram class. This 1995 gold medalist in the clean and jerk and silver medalist in the snatch has hefted a combined 420 kilograms of iron in his best performances. According to the 26-year-old Mr. Razorionov, he is setting his sights on the Olympic and world records in Atlanta. His coach is Yuriy Kuchynov. He belongs to Club Kolos.

Rustam Adzhi: Greco-Roman wrestling requires extreme quickness and agility from competitors and this 24-year-old from Mariupil is one of the quickest. Ukraine's first self-identifying Olympian of Roma (Gypsy) heritage, Mr. Adzhi was the 1995 world champion in the 68 kg class. His coaches are Mykola Pustovalov and Hennadiy Uzun. Mr. Adzhi trains with Club Ukraina.

Elbrus Tedeyev: This 20-year-old from Kyiv oblast took the 1994 European junior champion's slot and was 1995 World champion in the 62 kg. class in freestyle wrestling. He is renowned for pinning his opponents rather than waiting around to score extra points in a match. Mr. Tedeyev is coached by Borys and Ruslan Savlokhov. He trains with the Ukrainian Armed Forces Team.

Olena Vitrychenko: The 19-year-old Odessa-based rhythmic gymnast is world champion in ribbon exercises, and has taken silver and bronze in other events in the sport. At the most recent European Cup she finished second to Kateryna Serebrianska. "The Olympics may well be my last chance to show that I am not weaker than Serebrianska," said Ms. Vitrychenko, referring to her persistent second-place finishes to the star from Symferopil. She is coached by her mother, Nina Vitrychenko.

Hryhoriy Mysiutin: Among today's gymnasts this 26-year-old inhabitant of Luhanske stands out as a veteran. All-around world champion in 1991, Mr. Mysiutin was No.1 in the vault last year in addition to finishing second in floor exercises and third on the pommel horse at the European Cup competition. His coach is Mykola Dehtiariov. Mr. Mysiutin trains with Club Dynamo.

Svitlana Lysianska: From Kyiv comes an experienced martial artist. Twenty-six-year-old Ms. Lysianska has been at the top of her discipline, judo, since Soviet times, when she won the USSR Cup. Last year she was world champion in individual competition and her team finished third overall. Ms. Lysianska trains with Club Dynamo. The veteran athlete's coach is Borys Hudiyev.

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