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Liukin Does What Dad Couldn't

Daughter scores gymnastics gold as silver medalist father watches

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2008 2:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – Growing up in Texas, Nastia Liukin eyed her father's four Olympic gold medals, won for his gymnastics exploits as a USSR star. But one always eluded him: the all-around individual medal, which he came within a tenth of a point of in 1988. "I hope that I made up for that and I hope that he feels just as as proud as I am," Nastia said today after capturing the prize, the Canberra Times reports.

Nastia “fixed my mistake,” Valeri Liukin gushed. “I was second, and she fixed that.” Nastia, too, grasped the significance of the moment. “It just makes it even more amazing knowing that exactly 20 years ago my dad competed at the '88 Olympics and he was so close to winning that all-around gold medal,” she said.

US gymnasts Shawn Johnson, right, and Nastia Liukin embrace after the pair won silver and gold medals in the individual all-around finals. Liukin's father, coach Valeri Liukin, looks on.
US gymnasts Shawn Johnson, right, and Nastia Liukin embrace after the pair won silver and gold medals in the individual all-around finals. Liukin's father, coach Valeri Liukin, looks on.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin performs on the balance beam during the womens' gymnastics individual all-around finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008.
U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin performs on the balance beam during the womens' gymnastics individual all-around finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
US gymnast Nastia Liukin kisses her father, coach Valeri Liukin after her performance on the vault during the womens' gymnastics individual all-around competition in Beijing, Aug  15, 2008.
US gymnast Nastia Liukin kisses her father, coach Valeri Liukin after her performance on the vault during the womens' gymnastics individual all-around competition in Beijing, Aug 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
US gymnast Nastia Liukin embraces her father Valeri after winning the gold medal in the womens' gymnastics individual all-around competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Aug 15, 2008.
US gymnast Nastia Liukin embraces her father Valeri after winning the gold medal in the womens' gymnastics individual all-around competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Aug 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
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