Vitaly Scherbo
Belarusian gymnast who won six golds at the 1992 Olympics.
Vitaly Venediktovich Scherbo (born 13 January 1972) is a Belarusian former artistic gymnast. He ranks among the most accomplished gymnasts ever, and as of at least the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he remains the only male gymnast in over a century of World Championships to have captured a world title in seven of the eight events, missing only the horizontal bar.
Scherbo’s international career began in 1990–1991, representing the Soviet Union at the World Championships and World Cup. He took silver in the 1991 World All-Around behind teammate Grigori Misutin, scored a perfect 10.0 on vault at the 1990 European Championships, and shone at the Goodwill Games in Seattle. Despite occasional inconsistency, the Unified Team coaches considered him a lesser medal threat than more seasoned teammates heading into the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. There, Scherbo delivered one of the most dominant Olympic performances ever, winning six of eight possible gold medals: team, all-around, pommel horse (tied), floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars.
After the Games, Scherbo and his wife Irina moved to State College, Pennsylvania, capitalizing on his Olympic success. He followed up by winning the 1993 World All-Around title, placing third in 1994, and third in 1995. On 13 December 1995, Irina was in a single-car accident, skidding off a road into a tree. She suffered multiple rib and pelvis fractures, fell into a coma, and doctors gave her a 1% chance of survival. Scherbo stopped training, gained 15 pounds, and abused alcohol. After a month, Irina awoke and insisted he resume training for the upcoming Olympics. As she recovered, Scherbo regained form and won another world title in 1996. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, his performances suffered from limited preparation due to her accident and recent shoulder surgery. He planned to compete at the 1997 World Championships but broke his hand in a motorcycle accident and retired soon after.
In October 2017, former Ukrainian Olympic champion Tatiana Gutsu accused Scherbo of violently raping her when she was 15, during a USSR national team training camp in 1991.
A vault bearing his name—a Yurchenko-style vault—is defined by a full twist within the back-handspring between the springboard and vaulting table.
- Born
- 13 January 1972
- Field
- Artistic gymnastics
- Nationality
- Belarusian
- Known for
- Winning six gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics; only male gymnast to win a world title in seven of eight events
Lore & Background
Scherbo's first international performances were in 1990–1991, competing for the USSR team at the World Championship and World Cup. He was the 1991 World All-Around silver medalist behind teammate Grigori Misutin, scored a perfect 10.0 on vault at the European Championships in 1990, and starred at the Goodwill Games in Seattle. Despite occasional inconsistency, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics he won six of eight possible gold medals: team, all-around, pommel horse (tie), floor exercise, vault, and parallel bars.
After relocating to State College, Pennsylvania, with his wife Irina, Scherbo won the 1993 World All-Around title, placed third in 1994, and third in 1995. On 13 December 1995, Irina was seriously injured in a single-car accident, lapsed into a coma, and was given a 1 in 100 chance of survival. Scherbo stopped training, gained 15 pounds, and began abusing alcohol. After a month, Irina awoke and insisted he resume training; he won another World title in 1996.
Reader's Guide
Vitaly Scherbo's significance lies in his unprecedented achievement at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he won six of eight gold medals, making him the most successful athlete at those Games. His career also includes the unique distinction of being the only male gymnast to win a world title in all eight events—individual all-around, team, floor, horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse, rings, and vault—a feat unmatched as of at least 2008. His dominance in the early 1990s, including World All-Around titles in 1993 and other medals, cemented his legacy as one of the sport's greatest. However, his career was marked by personal tragedy when his wife's near-fatal car accident in 1995 derailed his training, though he recovered to win another World title in 1996. His later years include a sexual assault allegation from fellow gymnast Tatiana Gutsu, which remains part of his public record. Scherbo's technical innovation is also noted in the eponymous 'Scherbo' vault, a Yurchenko-style vault with a full twist in the back-handspring.
Did You Know?
- Scherbo is the only male gymnast in World Championships history to have won a world title in all eight events.
- He won six gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the most of any athlete at those Games.
- His wife Irina survived a car accident in 1995 despite doctors giving her a 1 in 100 chance of survival.
- In October 2017, former Ukrainian gymnast Tatiana Gutsu accused Scherbo of raping her in 1991.
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