Bocharova, star of first Soviet Olympic gymnastics team, dies

Nina Bocharova died aged 95 in Rome on Monday, according to the International Gymnastics Federation.

Nina Bocharova won four medals at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. - TWITTER (@gymnastics)

Nina Bocharova, an Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast in the first Soviet Union team sent to a Games, has died. She was 95.

The Ukraine-born Bocharova died in Rome on Monday, the International Gymnastics Federation said on Thursday. The cause of death was not stated.

Bocharova was the Soviet all-around national champion in 1949 and ‘51, then part of a dominant team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, the governing body said. She won gold medals in the team event and individual balance beam, plus silvers in the all-around behind team-mate Maria Gorokhovskaya and team event for portable apparatus.

“With women’s artistic gymnastics still in its infancy, Bocharova exuded strength and grace,” the FIG added.