It's worth watching these timeless videos. Check out the routines of Alla Shishova, especially on beam. She was ahead of her time. Also observe the magnificent artistry of Olga Mostepanova and Natalia Yurchenko. Neither gymnast had intricate choreography, but they were both captivating. Their work conveyed emotional as well as technical impact. Yurchenko moves slowly, floating through the air. Who would think that such a light, slender gymnast as Mostepanova could find all that air time in her tumbles? Technique, not muscle, gave these gymnasts their power. Their artistry came from the consummate grasp of technique, something that cannot be expressed as execution or entertainment. Ilienko, Bicherova, Frolova are other classical members of this team. They will all be remembered for a very long time.
The Soviet team managed to fall off beam even in those days, but their superior difficulty and technique lifted them above the rest of the field.
The equipment was different in those days, most clearly the vault, bars and floor but the beam is softer now. These gymnasts also had to prepare two different sets of routines, compulsory and optional. The discipline of the compulsory programme, which evaluated artistry via a close focus on technique, shows in the optional routines.
You will also enjoy seeing the work of the Romanian and British teams. Boryana Stoyanova of Bulgaria shines, as does Maxi Gnauck.
WAG team final
WAG AA final
WAG event finals
The Soviet team managed to fall off beam even in those days, but their superior difficulty and technique lifted them above the rest of the field.
The equipment was different in those days, most clearly the vault, bars and floor but the beam is softer now. These gymnasts also had to prepare two different sets of routines, compulsory and optional. The discipline of the compulsory programme, which evaluated artistry via a close focus on technique, shows in the optional routines.
You will also enjoy seeing the work of the Romanian and British teams. Boryana Stoyanova of Bulgaria shines, as does Maxi Gnauck.
WAG team final
WAG AA final
WAG event finals
ackkkkkk.........don't even get me started!!...........forget the "technique" issue, how 'bout how much variety in skills are shown in these exercises......
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed how differences in the commentary between the UK and US sourced video? Frolova's floor - delicious silence from Alan Weeks and the BBC. Boryana Stoyanova - epic over commentary from ?? including the need to point out the 'endurance' required for the final tumble. If this formed a nation's perceptions of gymnastics, it certainly explains a lot. Oh, she focuses on toe point even then, as if that explains the Soviet superiority. Just imagine, all those spectators at home thinking that toe point was what defined a champion.
ReplyDeleteOh I miss those lovely creative flowing beam routines. Now it's all long pause/something really difficult/major wobble/balance check/something really difficult again/long pause/balance check and so on.
ReplyDeleteApart from Afanasyeva of course!
Hello Queen E, have you seen this article yet? I wonder where the original interview is with this information. I know it is entirely silly to speculate on contenders for Rio already especially given the unpredictability of injury but this is interesting...wondering what the Rodionenkos plan is with this odd announcement.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flogymnastics.com/article/38610-russia-names-four-members-to-2016-rio-team
I agree that it is an odd announcement and for that reason (and also end of term fatigue) I have decided not to cover it. The only reason the Rodionenkos can be making such decisions early on can be administrative/funding, as required by the ROC or Ministry of Sport. I don't really think there is much to be learned from it, apart from perhaps the rise of junior Natalia Kapitanova - and even that is more of an observation from recent results than any announcement.
DeleteThere have been several such announcements, by the way.
Ahh, thank you as always for your thoughts! We all wait eagerly for the of this next competitive season to see what this crazy Olympic year will end up bringing for us spectators. Get some rest and Happy Holidays!
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