43-year-old Oksana Chusovitina wins gold at the World Challenge Cup series in Paris

Paris, the capital of France, hosted the final stage of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Challenge Cup Series last weekend.

Legendary athlete Oksana Chusovitina, defending the honor of our country, earned gold on vault at this prestigious competition. Second and third places were taken by the representatives of Canada and Slovenia respectively.

“I would like to thank my mother for my longevity in the sport because she's the one who didn't want me to do it,” she said. “I wanted to prove her wrong. So, thank you, Mom.”

It should be noted that, if Chusovitina makes Tokyo 2020, she would be the oldest Olympic gymnast in 100 years. She is already the oldest female Olympic gymnast.

Chusovitina debuted at the world championships in 1991, winning gold with the Soviet Union, the Olympics in 1992 with the Unified Team and the Asian Games in 1994 with Uzbekistan.

She also represented Germany from 2006 through 2012. She had moved there to seek treatment for son Alisher’s leukemia.

Chusovitina, winning silver on vault at the Asian Games 2018, shared the podium with gold medalist Yeo Seojeong of South Korea and bronze medalist Pyon Rye Yong of North Korea, who are both younger than her son.