USA Gymnastics - 2008 Olympic Games

Pronunciation: Nah-stee-ah Lookin
Residence: Parker, Texas
Birth Date: Oct. 30, 1989
Gym: WOGA
School: Spring Creek Academy (2007)
Coach: Valeri Liukin (father)
Began Gymnastics: 1993

Photo Gallery from 2008 Competitions

Video highlights from Gymnast.com

Personal Info
Liukin, whose full first name is Anastasia, automatically qualified for her first Olympic Games after finishing second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics. In 2008, she won the all-around titles at both the Tyson American Cup and the Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus. At the 2008 Visa Championships, she won both the uneven bars and balance beam titles, as well as finished second in the all-around. On the uneven bars, she scored a 17.050 and a 17.100, which are believed to be among the highest scores awarded in the world on uneven bars and are the highest by a U.S. woman (at that time). By winning three medals at the 2007 World Championships (gold in team and balance beam, and silver on uneven bars), Liukin increased her career world medal total to nine (four gold and five silver), tying the mark of nine world medals held by Shannon Miller, who has earned more world and Olympic medals than any other U.S. gymnast (16 total). At the 2007 World Championships, Liukin helped the U.S. women win just their second team world title in history and the first won at a World Championships held outside the United States. She claimed the uneven bars and balance beam world titles in 2005, along with world silver medals in the all-around and floor exercise; and in 2006, she earned world silver medals in the team and the uneven bars. An injured ankle limited her to competing only in the team and uneven bars event finals at the 2006 World Championships.

From 2003-06, Liukin won four straight U.S. all-around titles (junior in 2003-04 and senior in 2005-06), and 11 national individual event crowns (six junior and five senior). In 2006, she won the women’s title at the Tyson American Cup and tied for first at the Pacific Alliance Championships. Liukin was named USA Gymnastics' Women's Athlete of the Year for 2005.

Liukin was born in Moscow, Russia, and moved to the United States when she was two and a half years old. She is the only daughter of Valeri and Anna Liukin, both of whom coach at WOGA. Her father won four medals at the 1988 Olympics, including two gold, and her mother was a 1987 rhythmic gymnastics world champion. She says her dad is her role model because he has had the experience of the Olympic Games and is a wonderful coach and dad. In her spare time, Liukin enjoys swimming and shopping. She has appeared in TV advertisements for adidas and Visa, and a film on gymnastics. She was picked as one of 24 people to watch in 2007 by Newsweek. Nastia also has a video out on AT&T’s blue room, allowing fans an inside look into her life. You can view her video at http://www.seehowtheylive.com/nLiukin.php. Liukin graduated from Spring Creek Academy in 2007 and has been accepted at Southern Methodist University. Her personal Web site is www.nastialiukin.com.

Favorite music: Colbie Calliat, Kelly Clarkson, The Veronicas, Corinne Bailey Rae
Favorite book: Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Favorite TV show: The Hills, Life of Ryan, and Gossip Girl
Favorite food: Sushi

Past Results

Legend: AA=all-around; VT=vault; UB=uneven bars; BB=balance beam; FX=Floor Exercise