Williams Adds Olympic Gold Medalist Goncharov to Staff

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics head coach Mark Williams announced Friday the addition of Olympic medalist Valeriy Goncharov to the coaching staff.

"We're really happy to have Valeriy as part of our program," said Williams. "As an Olympic gold medalist and three-time Olympian for Ukraine, he brings knowledge of the process well beyond the NCAA level, where many of our guys seek to reach their highest potential.

"We look forward to having him bring that experience and knowledge into the program and help us continue to be right at the top of the NCAA and putting guys on Team USA."

Goncharov (pronounced Vuh-leer-EE Gon-CHUR-ov) won an Olympic team silver medal with Ukraine at the 2000 Sydney Games and was a gold medalist on parallel bars at the 2004 Games in Athens.

The Ukraine native has spent the last five years as a coach at Texas Academy of Acrobatics and Gymnastics in Baytown, Texas.

"I'm very excited to be a part of one of the greatest and strongest college teams in the United States," said Goncharov of joining Williams' staff in Norman.

"I've been competing or coaching gymnastics for 27 years. My hope is to help the team achieve more championships. There is always something to work on and always more to improve on and I hope to bring that to Oklahoma."

Goncharov brings a wealth of gymnastics experience to Norman. As a competitor, Goncharov compiled seven medals across Olympic, World Championships and World Cup competitions. With his move up to the college ranks, Goncharov joins former Oklahoma assistant and current Ohio State head coach Rustam Sharipov as the only two coaches in NCAA men's gymnastics with Olympic gold medals.

"As an Olympic gold medalist and three-time Olympian for Ukraine, (Valeriy) brings knowledge of the process well beyond the NCAA level, where many of our guys seek to reach their highest potential."
- Mark Williams

Prior to coming to the States, Goncharov served as a coaching consultant for the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation (UFG) for five years from 2011-2015. During his time with UFG, the Ukrainian National Team won medals at European and World Championships, along with placing fourth in the team finals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Additionally, Goncharov, a graduate of Kharkiv State Institute of Physical Culture in Kharkiv, Ukraine, served as a member of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine from 2007 to 2017.

Goncharov will join the Sooners in the fall and replace fellow Olympian and 2009 Oklahoma graduate Chris Brooks, who departs Norman after one season as assistant coach, helping the 2019 squad to a 28-1 record, MPSF conference championship and runner-up finish at NCAA Championships.

Goncharov and his wife Iryna, also a World medalist and Olympian for Ukraine in 2004, have two children, Mark and Miron.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma men's gymnastics, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_MGymnastics) and like Oklahoma Men's Gymnastics on Facebook.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Williams Adds Olympic Gold Medalist Goncharov to Staff

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