21. May 2006  
Shrewsbury, Mass., / USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

Yuri Balanbanov passed away....

Yuri BALABANOV died....

The worldwide gymnastics family feels sorrow for the death of the former Soviet star Yuri BALABANOV (43), who passed away 2006, May 10 after a sudden heart attack in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts /USA.
Balabanov, 43, had been the head girls' coach at 'Gymnastics Learning Center' in Shrewsbury, Mass., for the past two years.
The gymnastics community is seeking donations to aid the family of former Soviet team member Yuri Balabanov, who died of a sudden heart attack May 10 in Massachusetts.

Yuri Balabanov on high bar at the Alternate Games in Olomouc (CSR) 1984

A native of Vitebsk, Belarus, Balabanov was known for his incredible flexibility and innovation. He won the all-around title at the 1985 USSR Championships and was a member of the gold-medal winning Soviet men's team at the 1984 Alternate Games in Olomouc and the 1985 World Championships in Montreal.
In Montreal he also won the bronze medal on still rings.

Balabanov is survived by his wife, Svetlana, and sons Demitri and Alex. A third son was killed in a car accident several years ago.
Svetlana and Alex, who had been a Level 4 gymnast at Gymnastics Learning Center, had recently moved back to Belarus. 'His death has been a shock', said Marianne Frongillo, president of Gymnastics Learning Center in Shrewsburry. 'Balabanov was a 'phenomenal' person and coach!'
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Fund Set Up for Balabanov Family
The gymnastics community is seeking donations to aid the family of former Soviet team member Yuri Balabanov.
Frongillo said funds collected will be used to help keep Demitri, who is a member of the dean's list for academic excellence, at Univerity of Massachusetts.
BALABANOV Family FUND
Nikolai Brovin
136 Turnpike Road
New Ipswich, NH 03071

- or:
Igor Kniazev
Gymnastics Village
13 Caldwell Drive
Amherst, NH 03031

or electronically to:
Routing #: 211391825
Member #: 5069019-6

Source: Website of INTERNATIONAL GYMNAST