Stella Zakharova

Stella Heorhiivna Zakharova (born 12 July 1963) is a retired gymnast who competed internationally for the former Soviet Union between 1977 and 1982. She won gold in the team event at the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1981 World Championships, as well as team silver at the 1979 World Championships. Individually, she won two silver vault medals at the World Championships (1979, 1981). She is currently vice-president of the men's artistic gymnastics division in the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation.

Career Zakharova won her first all-around championship at the 1976 All-Union School Spartakiade. That same year, she placed second overall in the Junior USSR Championships. Zakharova was the first woman to incorporate three double back somersaults into her floor routine and specialized in vault and floor exercise.

She broke her leg in 1977. She returned to the gym to train on the uneven bars while her leg was still in a cast. She won team gold and a second World vault silver medal at the 1981 World Championships.

Post-competitive career Zakharova has worked as a judge. Despite past conflicts with the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, she is currently the vice-president of its men's artistic gymnastics division.

In 2000, she founded her own gymnastics competition, the Zakharova Cup.

Personal life Zakharova married Dynamo Kyiv football player Viktor Khlus, with whom she has a son and daughter. She graduated from the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture.