Olympic Gymnastics Leotard, worn by Nastia Liukin

Object Details

Liukin, Nastia

Elite Sportswear, L.P.

Description (Brief)

Nastia Liukin (b. 1989) grew up in the gyms where her parents trained top athletes after moving to America from her hometown of Moscow at just two and a half. She went on to become one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time and the first American gymnast to attempt a quadruple twist on floor. She is a five time Olympic medallist, four time World Champion, nine time World medallist, four time US National Champion and has won two American Cup titles and both a Senior and Junior Pacific Rim Championship. Nastia wore this leotard during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China when she won the gold medal for the individual, all-around champion in women’s gymnastics. Following her 2008 win Nastia was named FIG Athlete of the Year, Womens Sports Foundation Individual Sportswoman of the Year and the United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year.

The 2008 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad were held in Beijing, China with 204 countries, 6,305 men and 4,637 women athletes participating. The swimming competition included 65 World and Olympic records being set which most attribute to the use of the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit developed in part my NASA. Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at these games, the most of any athlete in a single Olympic Games and broke many records. The LZR Racer was subsequently banned from competition as they gave the competitor a technical edge that was deemed unfair by FINA, the International Federation used by the International Olympic Committee for overseeing international water sport competitions. BMX racing was added to the cycling events and American Nastia Liukin won gold in the all-around gymnastic competition. Two disabled athletes competed in the Olympics instead of the Paralympics because neither used a prosthesis to give them an advantage in competition. The United States won the medal count with 112 but China won the gold medal count with 12 more than the Americans.

Location

Currently not on view

2008

ID Number

2009.0198.01

accession number

2009.0198

catalog number

2009.0198.01

Object Name

gymnastics leotard

gymnastics leotard, summer olympics

leotard, gymnastics

gymnastics leotard, olympics

Physical Description

polyester (overall material)

nylon (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 20 in x 11 in; 50.8 cm x 27.94 cm

See more items in

Cultural and Community Life: Sport and Leisure

Highlights from the Culture and the Arts Collection

National Museum of American History

subject

Sports

Olympics

Amateur

Gymnastics

related event

Olympic Summer Games: Beijing, 2008

Record ID

nmah_1372119

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-c9dc-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa