Olena Biryuk

Olena Vasylivna Biryuk (Ukrainian: Олена Василівна Бірюк; 8 October 1932 – 9 September 2021) was a Soviet and Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast and coach.

Biography Biryuk was born in the village of Malaya Struzhka, Kamenets-Podolsky region of the Ukrainian SSR. Almost immediately after her birth, the family moved to the Urals.

She studied at the Sverdlovsk Physical Education College at the Labor Reserves School, in 1954 she graduated from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport.

She became a four-time champion of the USSR (1956–1958, 1963) and a 12-time champion of the Ukrainian SSR in rhythmic gymnastics.

After her retirement she taught at the Department of Physical Education at the Kiev State Institute of Physical Culture (1954–1958); then worked as an associate professor of this university (1958–1993). At the same time, she worked as a coach of the Burevestnik club. She was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour and the Medal for Labor Valor.

Biryuk died on 9 September 2021 from coronary artery disease at the age of 88, she is buried in the Southern Cemetery in Kyiv.