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Noven'kaya - The New Girl

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I hadn't seen before this Soviet produced drama. It is in the Russian language which sadly I don't speak! But do take the time to have a look, if only to appreciate the well sculpted bone structure of so many of the actors, and the incredible black and white photography which is so redolent of this particular period of Soviet gymnastics. There are some of the most incredible look alike performances including one from the lead role as Latynina.

Fast forward to parts 15 to see Petrik, Druzhinina (Voronina) and Askakhova in podium training and competition, and to 16 for amazing coverage of the Soviet team in action (around 1967/8), including bars work from Petrik and a young Tourischeva, all doe-eyed, beribboned and intense, in her leotard with an embroidered Dynamo symbol.

The purity of movement in these routines is outstanding, and I don't think Komova or Afanasyeva are so very far behind them in this respect. There is certainly a heritage of movement that informs their work, something which I think is missing in too many gymnasts these days.

You can see Part 1 here, and a link to a listing all 16 parts here.

I am unable to update my blog as much as I would like to at present as we are having a particularly busy time at work. However, please bear with me as I will be posting on the Tokyo World Championships at some point in the not too distant future.
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