Irina Devina

Irina Devina (Russian: Ирина Девина; born 8 May 1959 in Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast Russia SSR, Soviet Union) is retired Soviet rhythmic gymnast who has competed both as an individual and in group. She is a (1979, 1977) World Champion in Group all-around and won the 1981 USSR Championships in all-around.

Irina Devina
Country represented	Soviet Union
Born	(1959-05-08) 8 May 1959 Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast Russia SSR, Soviet Union
Hometown	Zhukovsky
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Level	elite
Head coach(es)	Nina Shibaeva
Retired	yes
Medal record Representing Soviet Union Rhythmic gymnastics World Championships 1977 Basel Group all-around 1979 London Group all-around 1981 Munich Ribbon 1981 Munich Clubs European Championships 1982 Stavanger Rope 1982 Stavanger Clubs 1982 Stavanger Hoop World Cup Final 1983 Belgrade Ribbon 1983 Belgrade Hoop USSR Championships 1981 Kiev All-around 1981 Kiev Hoop 1981 Kiev Clubs 1982 Tallinn Hoop 1982 Tallinn Clubs 1981 Kiev Ribbon 1982 Tallinn All-around 1982 Tallinn Ribbon 1982 Tallinn Rope

Career

Devina was an elegant and technical gymnast who started gymnastics at 6 years of age. She is twice World Champion as member the Soviet group that won the all-around gold in 1977 and 1979 (in Basel and London).

She began competing as an individual at the beginning of the 1980s, a time of the uprise and domination of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria of her generation (Iliana Raeva, Anelia Ralenkova, Lilia Ignatova, Diliana Gueorguieva) limiting her competitive victories, nevertheless Devina won gold in ribbon at the 1981 World Championships and finished 4th in all-around, the highest ranked Soviet. She also came in 4th in all-around at the 1982 Europeans. In 1983, Devina competed with teammate Dalia Kutkaitė at the inaugural World Cup Final held in Belgrade, she took two bronze medals in hoop and ribbon.

Devina won the 1981 USSR Championships in all-around ahead of silver medalist Venera Zaripova, she also won the all-around silver at the 1982 USSR Championships held in Tallinn behind Dalia Kutkaitė.

After completing her competitive career, Devina married famous Soviet Olympic Pentathlon athlete, Vasily Neffedov. She now lives in Moscow, Russia and briefly taught as a coach being a holder of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.

Influence

Devina was the first rhythmic gymnast to perform a penché pivot turn.

External links

• Irina Devina at the International Gymnastics Federation
• Rhythmic Gymnastics Results at the Wayback Machine (archived March 25, 2014)