Born: 1976 (Romania)
Lavinia Corina Miloșovici, born on October 21, 1976, in Romania, is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast. Known as Milo in the gymnastics community, Miloșovici is considered one of Romania’s greatest gymnasts and one of the most accomplished female all-around medalists in history. Over a span of six years, she earned a total of 19 World Championships or Olympic medals, making her an exceptionally successful athlete on the international competition circuit.
Miloșovici’s career was characterized by her remarkable consistency and versatility, as well as her mastery of all four gymnastics events. She is only the third female gymnast, after Larisa Latynina and Věra Čáslavská, to have won at least one World Championships or Olympic title on all four apparatuses. Her skill set, longevity, leadership abilities, and ability to perform at the highest level made her a formidable competitor in the gymnastics world.
Born into a family with Serbian roots, Miloșovici started gymnastics at the age of six and quickly excelled in the sport. Recognizing her potential, she moved to the Deva National Training Centre, where she continued to develop her skills. However, her gymnastics career faced two significant challenges. At the age of 10, she contracted scarlet fever, which nearly derailed her progress. Moreover, the Romanian Revolution in 1989 led to the temporary closure of the Deva training center. Despite these setbacks, Miloșovici persevered and continued to train, ultimately representing Romania in international competitions such as the American Cup and the World Sports Fair.
In 1991, Miloșovici made her debut as a senior gymnast, winning her first all-around title at the Romanian National Championships. She then joined the Romanian team at the 1991 World Championships, contributing to the team’s bronze medal and securing her first individual World Championships title on the vault. Additionally, she took home a bronze medal on the balance beam.
The following year, at the 1992 World Championships, Miloșovici won her second individual world title on the uneven bars. However, it was at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona that she truly showcased her talent and captured the world’s attention. She won a total of four medals at the Olympics, including a bronze in the all-around competition and a silver with the Romanian team. Miloșovici was in a strong position to win the all-around gold, being tied for first place with Tatiana Gutsu after three rotations. Unfortunately, a big hop on her beam dismount and a small hop on her uneven bars dismount in the final rotation cost her the victory. Nevertheless, her performance was outstanding, earning her worldwide recognition.
Miloșovici’s legacy extends beyond her Olympic success. She was the last gymnast, along with Lu Li, to ever receive a perfect score of 10.0 in an Olympic competition. She was also the last gymnast to receive the benchmark score of 9.95 at the World Championships. Her contributions and achievements in the sport of gymnastics led to her induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2011.
As one of Romania’s most celebrated gymnasts, Miloșovici inspired future generations of athletes. Her remarkable accomplishments and enduring impact on the sport continue to motivate young gymnasts around the world. Through her dedication, perseverance, and extraordinary talent, she solidified her place in women’s gymnastics history and left an indelible mark on the sport.
Awards:
– Inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2011.