Olympic star Korbut escapes theft prosecution
Former Olympic gymnastics champion Olga Korbut has escaped prosecution on shoplifting charges after agreeing to attend a ‘‘values class’’, it was revealed today.
The four-times gold medallist was accused of stealing $19 (€21.50) worth of groceries from a store in Atlanta in January.
But as part of a programme to avoid trial, she agreed to take the special class and pay $333 (€373) in court fees.
The 46-year-old must also stay out of the store where she was accused of stuffing cheese, figs and other items into her bag.
‘‘She is relieved that this unfortunate occurrence finally has been resolved in her favour,’’ said her lawyer Howard Weintraub.
Korbut, a native of the former Soviet republic of Belarus, shot to fame as the darling of the 1972 Munich Olympics when she was aged 15.
She won three gold medals in Munich and a fourth at the 1976 Montreal games.
She now lives in Norcross, Atlanta, and works as a gymnastics coach.
Her son Richard Bortkevich is a suspect in a US secret service probe into $30,000 (€34,000) in counterfeit currency found last year at Korbut’s former home.
