(cri)
Updated: 2008-02-13 09:03

Chinese retired gymnast Ma Yanhong has been selected into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Xinhua News Agency reports.

Ma Yanhong. [file]

The Oklahoma-based Gymnastics organization announced the Hall of Fame list for 2008 over the weekend.

Besides Ma, Lilia Podkopayeva of Ukraine, Shuji Tsurumi of Japan, Stoyan Deltchev from Bulgaria were also listed, raising the total number of gymnasts in the hall to 64.

Ma was the first Chinese female gymnast selected for this honor, and the second in China behind the country's gymnastic legend Li Ning.

Ma became China's first gymnastic world champion in 1979 after winning in the uneven bars competitions. She also claimed the title of the sport at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.