Ihor Korobchinsky started basic gymnastics training at age seven with
coach Oleksa Stepanenko.
Since 1980 he has been coached by Anatoliy Shemyakin to achieve both
competitive and impressive performances.
In 1988 Korobchinsky placed 8th at the USSR Cup and was selected as an
alternate to the Olympics.
He won all-around competition at the USSR Cup in April, 1989, the
European Championships in May, the USSR Nationals in September and finally World
Championships in October.
A serious knee surgery prevented Korobchinsky from taking part in most
competitions during 1990.
Persistence, hard work and a desire for new victories contributed to his
recovery and led him to win two gold medals and a silver at the 1991 World Championships.
Korobchinsky won two gold and three silver medals at the European
Championships in 1992 followed by a gold, silver and bronze at the Worlds, and a team gold
and a bronze medal in floor exercise at the Barcelona Olympics.
Although he did not win any all-round medals at the 1993 and 1994 World
Championships, he was rated 1st among Ukrainian gymnasts and thus contributed to Ukraine's
team winning a bronze medal at the 1994 World Championships.
In 1996 Korobchinsky was named to his third Olympic team. He and a few
other athletes (such as Bubka and Kravets) from the former Soviet Union will no doubt
enter the trivia record books. In 1988 they were on the USSR Olympic team. In 1992 they
took part in the CIS team. Finally, in 1996 they will compete on the Ukrainian team. Three
Olympics three teams, yet the place of residence remains the same.
Outside the gym Korobchinsky's interests are varied. He is interested in
history, politics and economics, and is an avid reader. His favourite author is Jack
London. Like his mother Ludmila, who works as an inspector of the Luhansk water
purification system, Korobchinsky adores animals, especially his smoke- coloured Siberian
cat who loves to eat tangerines! His music interests range from Bach to Gershwin.
