Yevgeny Marchenko (gymnast)

Marchenko and close lifelong friend, Valeri Liukin, moved to the United States following their retirements from Gymnastics. They had the intent of opening their own gym in New Orleans, Louisiana until a chance visit from a friend who wanted to see them in Plano, Texas. After seeing potential business opportunities in Texas, Marchenko and Liukin saved up and managed to afford their own gymnastics facility in Plano; and during the opening week, 140 gymnasts signed up to join.^[3]

Marchenko has served as the personal coach to Carly Patterson, Hollie Vise and Ava Verdeflor in the past.

• Merited Master of Sport of the USSR
• International Coach of the Year - 2001-04^[4]