Sergey Bubka
Before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Sergey Bubka was unmatched as a Soviet Union pole vaulter. He was the I.A.A.F. World Champion for a record six years, was voted Athlete of the Year twice, and won an Olympic gold medal in the 1988 Games in Seoul. Sergey Bubka was such a superb pole vaulter that he primarily trained to practically beat himself each time, wrecking his own world records 35 times. He stepped down in 2001 but remains an active member of the I.O.C. in his retirement.
Mary Lou Retton
The popularity of gymnast Mary Lou Retton at the time led to her likeness being featured on a Paraguayan postage stamp in 1988. The 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are largely responsible for her rise to fame, as she made history by being the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around competition. Mary Lou Retton has a place in Olympic folklore as one of the most admired athletes ever because of her historic achievement. She now has two silvers and two bronzes to add to her collection. She had been married to Shannon Kelly, quarterback for the University of Texas, but the couple split up in February 2018.