13 January 2022
Vitaly Scherbo: ‘If you want to achieve something, never give up’

Six-time Olympic champion, four-time bronze medalist of the Games, 12-time world champion, 10-time European champion, two-time winner of the World Cup, the best athlete of 1992 Vitaly Scherbo celebrates the 50th birthday.

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The achievements of the eminent athlete are known far beyond the border of Belarus. His success at the Games of the XXV Olympiad remains a reference point for many young gymnasts.

The future star began his sports career in the modest gym of the Trudovye Rezervy sports school under the tutelage of Leonid Vydritsky. In the seventh grade, Vitaly enrolled in a sports boarding school where he continued to hone his skills under the tutelage of Leonid Filipenko and Sergei Shinkar. Several years later Vitaly Scherbo made it to the USSR national team. Scherbo had his finest hour at the Games in Barcelona. He won six gold medals (in the individual all-around, team, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and in the vault).

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After the triumph, the Belarusian repeatedly medaled at the world championships, and at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. As part of the independent team of the Republic of Belarus, he won four bronze medals.

Vitaly Scherbo lives in the United States where he runs his own school “Vitaly Scherbo School of Gymnastics”.

“About 500 kids aged between 1.5-18 are enrolled in my school. My students have become U.S. champions and members of the national gymnastics team. Of course people know about my titles, but we do not make much of it. Young Americans focus ore on training conditions and coaching methods,” Vitaly Scherbo said.

Despite his busy schedule, he makes the time for his children from his second marriage. His 12-year-old daughter Victoria is doing well in gymnastics. His younger son Rodion is yet to find his future path.

Vitaly Scherbo plans to celebrate his 50th birthday together with his family.

“I am very busy with my school. There are a lot of competitions right now. Now when I am 50 I am planning to step away from management and do coaching only. It is challenging to work six days a week with only one day off.

Remembering his triumph in Barcelona, Vitaly Scherbo credited much of his success to his first coach Leonid Vydritsky.

“I had to outdo myself in order to get noticed and stand out among the leaders of that time - Ihor Korobchynskyi and Valentin Mogilny. In 1990 I became the absolute champion of the USSR, and then everything changed. If you want to achieve something in your life, you should never give up,” the famous gymnast said recalling his Barcelona triumph. 


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