"I’m sincerely honored to be an Ambassador for Russia’s first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is noteworthy that the Games in Sochi are not only about multi-sport competition, but they also promise very important cultural and educational changes for the people of Russia, and will leave a positive, sustainable Olympic legacy for future generations!"
I regard Sochi 2014’s initiative to establish a special Athletes’ Commission to cover all aspects of Sochi 2014 Games delivery as a real success. It is great that the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Winter Games has consulted athletes to understand their needs and recommendations. I am very proud to be a member of the Sochi 2014 Athletes’ Commission and have the opportunity to share my Olympic experience to help our Games be the most memorable in history. As a Sochi 2014 Ambassador I see my role as promoting sport participation and supporting cultural and educational activities all over the country. My aim is to make the Sochi 2014 Games an event of national heritage inspiring every single Russian to take part.”
Svetlana Khorkina is a prominent Russian gymnast, a two-time Olympic Champion in bar exercises (1996, 2000); three-time European all-around champion and three-time World all-around champion. She was named a Russian Sports Master in 1995.
Svetlana began training as a gymnast in 1983, and won a place in the Russian national artistic gymnastics team in 1992. ‘The Great Khorkina’ ended her competitive career in 2004 to concentrate on her family.
On March 12, 2007, in her native city of Belgorod, the sports complex of the Belgorod State University was opened. A statue of Svetlana decorates the front of the facility, which also bears her name.
With her sporting career finished, Svetlana Khorkina is achieving success in other walks of life. She is now a Vice-President of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation and a member of the United Russia party since 2003, for whom she was elected to the Russian State Duma in 2007. Svetlana is also a sports journalist, TV presenter, model and actress.