Natasha Godunko was always marked out by choreographers and coaches...She is first in elements, in the tests of stamina as well...However, Natasha has always lacked some more height. In her childhood she was competing well on the junior tournaments, on the International Youth Games in Moscow she earned a 5^th place. Even then Natasha differed from the others by her correct technique and masterly brave work with apparatus.

In 1999 when Natalia was 15 years old and had to compete with a senior programme, she has not yet opened herself. Because of her height it was difficul for Natasha to be in group event among the taller girls, that’s why she came to the World Championship in Osaka only as a reserve. However, the coaches started to pay much attention to the talented gymnast in 2000. Godunko made a debute at the Deriugina Cup tournament. The international specialists marked her as a perspective and a distinctive gymnast. The performance along with the best graces of the World demonstrated the growing masterpiece of the young Kievite. The victory on the “Sokol Cup 2000” tournament in Prague witnessed the sport’s growth of the athlete.

She coped with the switch to the new rules of rhythmic gymnastics in 2001 easier than others, because Natasha has been performing risky and difficult routines for already a very long time. After a brilliant performance on Deriugina Cup in group event, she started to prepare to competing in group event on the European Championship in Geneve (Switzerland). And Natasha became the soul, basement and hope of the team. She gave a good example of professionalism in action. It allowed other gymnasts to polish every element to perfection, to sweat and to slave and often to drop many tears. That is why the success of the Ukrainian representatives on that championship is not accidential : in the clubs final they took a “silver”

After the European Championship Natasha was working hard on her individual programme. The World Championship in Madrid, where Godunko was competing with 2 routines, brought team gold medal in the achievement’s list of Natalia Godunko....However, then the judges, specialists and fans of rhythmic gymnastics considered Natalia only as an understudy of the acknowledged primas of rhythmic gymnastics – Anna Bessonova and Tamara Yerofeeva. Despite such thoughts, in a short period of time Natalia proved that she can sing her own aria, her voice was heard in full strength. Even then her technical value scores were higher than those of Bessonova or Yerofeeva.

It seems that the Natasha’s briefness in life does not witness her leadership abilities. But it is often said that still waters run deep. Natalia again became the shank of the group in front of the World Championship 2002. And the golden medal of Ukrainian girls is mostly her achievement! A few months later, on European Championship in the Spanish Granada the whole hall was supporting her during her rope routine. And again a medal – “silver” this time. 

Having suddently burst into the elite of the world rhythmic gymnastics, Godunko quickly managed to gain the judges’ authority and fans’ love.. Natasha is often called a “Reddish imp” thanks to her unique image and style, that differs her from other athletes. On the World Championship 2003 Natalia Godunko surprised everybody : nobody has ever achieved combining competition in individual and in group events! And in both parts of her competition she brought Ukraine the license to the Olimpic Games!

On the European Championship 2004 in her hometown Kiev Natalia Godunko showed her worth from the best side. Natalia was the only gymnast of the championship that was getting the audience worked up by her outrage and courage of performing difficult routines. No other gymnast managed to show such purity and stability. Her high rhythm of work can take your breath away!

The character of a real warrior is hidden in this small, thin and tender girl. A lot of men would have become envious of her will, persistance and composure. It is difficult to imagine that Natasha can be nervious and make mistakes – she is so confident in her every move!