Meet the world’s oldest gymnast, Oksana Chusovitina

Chennai

When we say gymnastics, young, cherubic and petite teenagers flash our mind who performs complex moves on the beam with ease. But last Sunday, in Rio Olympics venue, all lights fell on 40 years old Oksana, who caught the attention of the onlookers and judges with her mind-blowing moves and agility, qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympic games.

Here are things you did not know about the world’s oldest gymnast:

Hailing from Uzbekistan, this will be Chusovitina's seventh Olympic game but what catapults her into the limelight is that she will be competing with fellow gymnasts who were not even born when she made her Olympic debut in the year 1992. In fact, some of the gymnasts are barely 20 years of age. By the time she competes in Germany, Oskana will be 41, making her the oldest gymnast of all time.

Oskana has competed internationally for Soviet Union, Uzbekistan, Germany, Unified Team and switched back to Uzbek. At her first Olympics, she earned a gold medal for her team (Unified Team) and at Beijing 2008, she clinched a silver medal as a German. Oskana owns 11 Worlds Medals, quite an impressive number under her belt.

It is noteworthy that back in 2012, Oskana told New York Times that 'she doesn't feel old and that gymnastics keep her young'.

India’s Dipa Karmakar, will also be taking part in the 2016 Summer Olympic games. She is the first ever Indian gymnast to have qualified for the Olympics after 52 years.