I came across this 1992 book about a year ago, thanks to a link on Facebook; I can't remember whose. I was lucky enough to be able to buy a copy on Amazon (it is now long out of print). In the middle of sorting out my sports books, I remembered that I wanted to share this treasure with you. A spread from the lavish hardback book : Yulia Kut, Tatiana Toropova and Svetlana Boguinskaia at Lake Krugloye, prior to the Barcelona Olympics. The author and photographer, David Turnley, made a journey through Russia shortly after the break up of the Soviet Union, and this photo journal documents his experience. It is a story of a society in transition, an art book and not a sports book, but it is still one of the best books in my collection. David speaks of the gymnasts' daily lives, and talks to Soviet team captain, 1989 World Champion, Svetlana Boguinskaia. He comments that the training is professional, but the facilities 'rudimentary', the living conditions 'sparse'....
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.