{{short description|Russian rhythmic gymnast}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Natalia Lipkovskaya | image = | imagesize = | caption = | fullname = | altname = | nickname = Natasha | country = {{RUS}} | formercountry = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|04|26|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | height = 176 cm<ref name=FIG>{{cite web | title=Natalya Lipkovskaya page | url=http://exel.fig-gymnastics.com/index2.jsp?menu=disrg | publisher=International Federation of Gymnastics | accessdate=24 October 2008 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902203054/http://exel.fig-gymnastics.com/index2.jsp?menu=disrg | archivedate=2 September 2008 }}</ref> | discipline = RG | natlteam = | club = Krasnoyarsk Dynamo | gym = | collegeteam = | headcoach = Irina Viner | assistcoach = Olga Buyanova | formercoach = | choreographer = | music = | eponymousskills = | retired = yes | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = <!-- see Template:MedalRelatedTemplates --> {{MedalCountry | {{RUS}} }} {{MedalSport | Rhythmic Gymnastics}} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships}} {{MedalGold | 1995 Vienna|Team}} {{MedalGold | 1997 Berlin|Hoop}} {{MedalGold | 1997 Berlin|Team}} {{MedalSilver| 1997 Berlin|Rope}} {{MedalSilver| 1997 Berlin|Ribbon}} {{MedalSilver| 1997 Berlin|All-around}} {{MedalBronze| 1997 Berlin|Clubs}} {{MedalCompetition | European Championships}} {{MedalGold|1997 Patras|Clubs}} {{MedalBronze|1996 Asker|Clubs}} {{MedalCompetition | Grand Prix Final}} {{MedalGold|1997 Deventer|All-around}} {{MedalGold|1997 Deventer|Rope}} {{MedalGold|1997 Deventer|Hoop}} {{MedalSilver|1997 Deventer|Clubs}} {{MedalSilver|1997 Deventer|Ribbon}} }}
'''Natalia Lipkovskaya''' ({{langx|ru|Наталья Викторовна Липковская}}; born 26 April 1979) is a Russian retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 1997 World All-around silver medalist and the 1997 Grand Prix Final All-around champion. She was coached by Olga Buyanova.
== Personal life == Lipkovskaya holds a degree in psychology.<ref>{{ cite web | title=Interview with Irina Viner, November 2005 (in Russian) | url=http://www.omskportal.ru/default.asp?sidFavorites=1&sidObjectType=2&sidObjectValue=21062 | accessdate=24 October 2008 }}</ref> She now works as a psychologist working for the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation.
== Career == Lipkovskaya began gymnastics training in 1983. She trained at the Dynamo Krasnoyarsk club, coached by Olga Buyanova. She was second in the national championship in 1993 and 1995.<ref name=FIG/>
Lipkovskaya made her first international appearance at the 1995 tournament in Corbeil-Essonnes, ranking 7th. At the 1995 World championship in Vienna, she was included on the 1995 Russian team. Although Lipkovskaya won a team gold medal, she did not yet win an individual medal as opposed to her more experienced and recognized teammates Amina Zaripova and Yanina Batyrchina.
In 1996, Lipkovskaya won an international tournament in Portugal and a bronze in one event at the European championship, but missed the 1996 Summer Olympics in favor of her higher-ranking teammates. The Russian national team head coach, Irina Viner, opted to send then-Russian number one and number two Batyrchina and Zaripova to the Olympic competition in Atlanta.
In 1997, following the injury of Amina Zaripova, Lipkovskaya led the Russian national team at the 1997 World championship in Berlin, scoring two gold (hoop and team), three silver (All-around, rope, ribbon) and one bronze (in clubs). She was ranked second in the All-around finals behind Ukrainian Olena Vitrychenko. Lipkovskaya then became the 1997 Grand Prix Final champion in Deventer, Netherlands and in the event finals, she won gold in (rope, hoop); silvers in (clubs, ribbon).
Early in 1998, she began her first in a series of treatments for a recurring back injury. After several hospital stays and a short-lived return to the gym, she decided to end her career.<ref name=FIG/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{NavigationWorldChampionsRhythmicGymnasticsWomenHoop}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lipkovskaya, Natalia}} Category:Russian rhythmic gymnasts Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Irkutsk Category:Sportspeople from Krasnoyarsk Category:Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Category:20th-century Russian women Category:20th-century Russian sportswomen Category:Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships