U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympian Elizaveta Pletneva | Facebook/Elizaveta Pletneva
U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympian Elizaveta Pletneva | Facebook/Elizaveta Pletneva
Elizaveta Pletneva (Liza), from Wheeling, Illinois, is set to represent USA rhythmic gymnastics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Liza started her athletic career roughly 15 years ago, according to Daily Herald. Since then she has put in the time to reach the highest echelons of athletic competition.
"I refused to let myself believe that I wouldn't make it. I just kept working," Liza told Daily Herald. "I don't know how my younger self was so strong-headed to walk around and say that to people. Because I told everyone from the age of, like, 5 that I would go to the Olympics."
The 19-year-old Olympian immigrated to the U.S. from St. Petersburg, Russia, with her family at the age of 3.
Two years later, her family entered her in the Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics in northern New Jersey.
"My family, being Russian, rhythmic gymnastics is a really big sport in Russia, so we kind of always knew about it," Liza told Daily Herald. "I just found it fun. I enjoyed the stretching and playing with the hoops and ribbons. Once I started getting a little older, I didn't want to do anything else. It became a part of me."
Liza said that she is currently focused on the upcoming rhythmic gymnastics group competition scheduled for Aug. 7 at the Ariake Gymnastics Center.
"I've been dreaming about it for so long," Liza told Daily Herald. "Everyone I've talked to who's competed in an Olympic Games just keeps telling us to enjoy every experience, from the moment we touch down in Tokyo to the village, to the dining hall, to the store, to the arena, to competing, to going to the ceremony. I can't pick just one thing I'm excited about!"
Liza is a graduate of Deerfield High School.
After the postponement of the Tokyo Summer Games, Liza used the extra year to enroll in and complete her freshman year at Harper College.
Alerts Sign-up