Would you train your whole life just to have a very slim chance of standing on the first place podium for just one minute? Nastia Liukin took that chance and stood on that first place podium in 2008.

 Born on October 30 th 1989  Born in Moscow Soviet Union  She began competing at age 6  Attended southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas  Her full name is Anastia Valeryevna Liukin  She became a member of the junior national team at age 12

 Competed in 2008 Olympics  Held in Bejing  Nastia Liukin won all around in 2008 Olympics  Shawn Johnson (one of her best friends and the one on the left) won 2 nd in 2008 Olympics  The U.S.A. team won the silver, behind the Chinese team

 Nastia Liukin came from a family of gymnasts  Her dad medaled 4 times (2 of which were gold) in the 1988 Olympics  Her mom was a rhythmic gymnast  Her parents didn’t want her to do gymnastic but she loved gymnastics and got to be in a gym a lot because her parents coached

 Won the 2008 Olympics  Nastia was on the tour of gymnastics super stars  Shares the record with Shannon Miller for most world champion medals (nine)  Won worlds both times she competed in them  She has a gymnastics meet named after her, The meet is named the Nastia Cup

 She plans on making a come back and competing in the 2012 Olympics  She is on the national team right now and on her was to the Olympics for the second time

 She hasn’t given up on gymnastics  Inspires others to keep trying hard to get what they want  She reminds people that if you work hard you can accomplish a lot

 Wikepedia  About.com  Nastia Liukin Biography  My Brain