in 100 chance of surviving. Scherbo stopped his training altogether. He gained 15 pounds, and began abusing alcohol. After a month, Irina finally woke up from her coma, and insisted that her husband resume his training for the upcoming Olympic season. As his wife made a miraculous recovery, Scherbo similarly began to regain peak physical condition, winning yet another World title in 1996. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, his performances reflected his lack of preparation time, due both to his wife's accident and to a recent shoulder surgery. His performances were marred by uncharacteristic mistakes, and the gold medals that had made him so famous were not forthcoming. Though Scherbo was clearly disappointed and frustrated at his inability to win gold, he was a decided crowd favorite, and they clearly viewed his four bronze medals as an impressive triumph after a tumultuous year. Scherbo had planned to compete in the 1997 World Championships but broke his hand in a motorcycle accident before then and retired soon after. Alleged rape In October 2017, former Soviet Olympic champion gymnast Tatiana Gutsu accused Scherbo of raping her when she was 15, in 1991. Eponymous skills Scherbo (vault) – a Yurchenko-style vault defined by its unique entry, specifically a full twist within the back-handspring between the springboard and the vaulting table. See also List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games List of multiple Olympic gold medalists List of Olympic medal leaders in men's gymnastics List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists References External links Vitaly Scherbo at Gymn Forum 1972 births Living people Gymnasts from Minsk Soviet male artistic gymnasts Belarusian male artistic gymnasts World champion gymnasts European champions in gymnastics Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Olympic gold medalists for the Unified Team Olympic gymnasts of the Unified Team Olympic bronze medalists for Belarus Olympic gymnasts of Belarus Gymnasts at the 1992 Summer Olympics Gymnasts at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic medalists in gymnastics Belarusian emigrants to the United States Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics Universiade medalists in gymnastics Universiade gold medalists for Belarus Universiade silver medalists for Belarus Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics