The Ukrainian Olympic champion, a survivor of rape in the USSR, won a beauty pageant in the United States. Photo fact

Tatiana Gutsu, a two-time Olympic champion (1992) in artistic gymnastics, has won the Mrs. Michigan beauty pageant. The 47-year-old native of Odesa posted a photo shoot with her crown on Facebook, thanking everyone for their support.

Now the Ukrainian woman will compete for the title of Mrs. USA. The contest will be held on August 3 in Omaha, Nebraska.

"The official photo shoot as Mrs. Michigan. A big thank you to my team, my son Anthony and my husband Robert. I love you all and thank you for your support," Gutsu wrote on social media.

After the Olympics, 15-year-old Gutsu ended her career. In 1994, she was invited to the United States to open a gymnastics school. The 17-year-old Gutsu agreed to travel overseas, and this shaped her life.

In 2016, Tatiana opened her own gymnastics academy in Michigan, which reminds her of her native Odesa. Three years later, she organized the Tatiana Gutsu Crystal Cup competition.

In 2017, the Ukrainian woman found the strength to tell that 26 years ago in Stuttgart, her 15-year-old self was raped by the multiple Olympic gymnastics champion, Belarusian Vitaliy Shcherbo, who, as Tatiana said, was "a monster who kept me in a cage for many years."

This is how Tatiana looked in 1992.

This is what she looks like in 2024

Gutsu can be considered Ukraine's first multi-medalist at the Olympic Games. 32 years ago, in Barcelona 1992, she won gold in the team and individual competition, silver on the uneven bars, and bronze in the floor exercise. Yes, she came to Spain to compete as part of the CIS team, but in honor of Tatiana's victory, the Ukrainian anthem was played and the blue and yellow flag was raised

Currently, the titled athlete lives in the United States, where she got married and gave birth to a son. The Odesa resident does not forget to help Ukraine.

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