Tatiana Kravtchenko

Tatiana Kravtchenko, a statuesque blonde, was one of the pioneers of rhythmic gymnastics in the 1960s. She competed at the first World Championships held in Budapest, winning the individual All-around silver medal. She won another silver medal in All-around at the 1965 World Championships.

Group exercises debuted on the World stage at the 1967 World Championships in Copenhagen. Kravtchenko and Ludmila Savinkova were among the six gymnasts in the Soviet team for Group Exercise and won the gold medal, marking the beginning of the Soviet rhythmic gymnastics school's international successes. Both Savinkova and Kravtchenko were coached by Tamara Lisitzian, and later on, by her sister Maria Lisitzian.

At the start of the 1960s, rhythmic gymnastics was still looking for the right direction of development and the execution artistry was considered by some to be rather important. Throughout her career, Kravtchenko remained faithful to the Soviet classical style and music. Her best known routine was the one without hand apparatus to "Russian theme" music. It brought her the world gold medal in Freehands on this piece at the 1965 World Championships in Prague.

Kravtchenko finished her education at the High Institute for Physical Culture in Moscow. She then earned a degree at the High Institute for Arts.[1]

• Tatiana Kravtchenko at the International Gymnastics Federation