| Subject: Olga Korbut News Story February 10, 2002 |
Author:
Michael
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Date Posted: 14:50:31 02/13/03 Thu
Author Host/IP: DIALUP-146-128.TNKNO2.USIT.NET/216.80.146.128
Below is a newspaper story about Olga Korbt .It ran on the front page of the Gwinnett Daily Post on February 10,2002.
During this time I was interviewed by Beth Warren of the Atlanta Journal ( Who also ran a front page story that I was quoted in) 60 minutes 2 , People Magazine and by many other reporters.This story and ones similar to it ran in many other newspapers across the country and was even mentioned twice in Sports Illustrated.
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GYMNAST'S COLLEAGUE CALLS FOR SUPPORT.
By Jackie Watson
Staff correspondent.
Amid allegations of shoplifting (Charges later were not prosecuted)and an investigation by the Secret Service for counterfeit money found at her former residence (Olga was never charged for counterfeiting), former Olympic gymnast Olga Korbut is holding up as well as she posibly can be a friend of the family said"This is bone crushing hard for her"said Chaplain Michael E. Schmidt of the Trumpet of the Lord Ministries in Dacula.Schmidt, a close friend of Korbut and her husband (Alex Voinich) has launched a campaign to rally support for the four time Olympic gold medal winner.He is calling on people that believe in her innocence to send $19.35 to the Belarus-American Child Health Foundation , a foundation Korbut established to help the children of chernobyl.The amount of the contribution requested is the amount that Korbut allegedly shoplifted from a Publix store in Norcross.By asking supporters to send this amount Schmidt hopes to drive the point home."Why would Olga risk her career for $19.35?"said Schmidt, who has known Korbut and her husband for over two years."Olga Korbut has no financial reason to shoplift.She is not struggling financially."
Schmidt hopes to raise $100,000.00 for the foundation through this effort, and has a lot to say what he vehamently disagrees that she could posibally be involved in counterfeiting money."I know for a fact that Olga is involved in this and I know who is (Note:That was a mis-quote, what I said to the reporter was that "I THINK I know who is" {Richard Bortkovich, son of Russian rock star Leonid Borkovich and Olga Korbut was later charged and convicted for counterfeiting in this case).Schmidt said , regarding the investigation of counterfeiting money."In the next couple of days , the attention will turn from Olga to someone else- not Olga or Alex.The investigation started when police found more than $30,000.00 in computer generated fake $100.00 bills inside Korbut's FORMER home in Duluth when they were serving an eviction notice.Korbut had previously lived in the home with Leonid Bortkovich and their son Richard.her ex husband and their son continued living in the house after the couple divorced and Korbut moved out.Because Korbut is a past owner of the house , she is part of the investigation "But that is the only link (as past owner of the house) at this time " said Secret service Agent Bill Creel in the Atlanta office.Schmidt finds it unfair that the Secret Service is investigation Korbut in connection to the counterfeit money, specifically since she has not lived in the Duluth home for more than 18 months ( some said 2 years).According to Schmidt Korbut signed the property over to her first husband when they divorced.Korbut and her husband Alex live in Norcross(They now live in Scottsdale Arizona).Describing Korbut as a caring and private person who loves to cook and has a passion for horses, Schmidt laminates that she has not been able to tell her side of the story."Her lawyers told her not to talk"he said.
...
Though Korbut has yet to issue a statement on the trials , Schmidt thinks that Korbut could pleasd nolo contendre or have the case thrown out (Note: the shoplifting case was later dropped).
Olga and alex are not fellons ,"Schmidt said."they're not breaking the law."...
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