Turishcheva, Liudmila Ivanovna

Born Oct. 7, 1952, in the city of Groznyï. Soviet athlete. Honored Master of Sport (1970).

Turishcheva was all-around gymnastics champion of the USSR (1972, 1974), Europe (1971, 1973), the world (1970, 1974), and the Olympics (1972). She was champion of the USSR six times between 1970 and 1974 and European champion six times between 1971 and 1973. She was also world champion three times between 1970 and 1974 and Olympic champion in separate competitions of combined events in 1972. She won the World Cup in 1975 and the USSR Cup five times between 1967 and 1974 in combined events. As of Sept. 1, 1976, she had won 39 medals in official international competitions, including 24 gold medals, three of which were for team championships at the Olympics in 1968,1972, and 1976.

Turishcheva has been a member of the Central Committee of the Komsomol since 1974. She has been awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.