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Soviet basic training videos, 1990

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Albert at the All Around Forum posted a link to these two videos, produced by Soviet sports committee Goskomsport in 1990. This was at the very cusp of the breakdown of the Soviet Union and represents perhaps a final record of their sporting educational legacy. Top gymnasts demonstrate basic skills, and we are reminded why the Soviet Union is considered to be a leader in technical excellence twenty years after its last appearance at major competition. The videos are punctuated by character shots of major national championships, and some performances of the then current (1989) USSR All Around Champion Natalia Laschenova, whose complex skills such as the full twisting double somersault dismount from beam appear both powerful and faultless (the take up and twist in the first somersault is almost in the straight position - I think this is the best I have seen the skill performed).

The Youtube videos are annotated with the names of the gymnasts appearing, but for the sake of keeping the record comprehensive I will list them here, along with details of their key competitive achievements where appropriate. It is interesting that although many of the names are now legendary, not all of them made a Soviet team for a major championships. Those participating in the main training shots were still juniors, or pre major career achievements, with the exception of Baitova. One of them, Oksana Chusovitina, is still considered a medal contender on vault, 22 years after appearing in this video.

Svetlana Baitova - 1987, 1989 World Championships, 1988 Olympics
Irina Viatinina - Did not make a major USSR senior team but competed at the 1988 Junior Europeans
Svetlana Kozlova - Did not make a major USSR senior team
Elena Abrashitova - Did not make a major USSR senior team
Tatiana Gutsu - 1991 World Championships team, 1992 European All Around Champion, 1992 Olympic All Around Champion
Tatiana Groshkova - 1990 European Floor silver medallist
Tatiana Ignatova - Competed for Russia at the 1992 European Championships
Tatiana Lyssenko - 1990 World Cup Champion, 1991 World Championships, 1992 World Championships, 1992 Olympic Beam Champion
Tatiana Toropova - Did not make a major USSR team
Oksana Chusovitina - (for USSR) World Championships 1991, Olympics 1992. Has since competed for both Uzbekistan and Germany at World Championships and Olympics and is expected to compete for Germany at the 2012 Olympics

Part 1



Or view it on Youtube


Part 2



Or view it on Youtube.
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  1. Lyudmilla Shanzhen26 January 2012 at 07:14

    Thanks for posting! It's a wonderful video, though perhaps misnamed- many of the exercises don't look very 'basicos' to me :P. I loved the incidental shots too, among them dahhlinks Chusovitina and Gutsu, Kozlova's triple back and young Alexandrov (those were the days)!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous30 January 2012 at 22:04

    Tatyana Lisenko,Natalya Kalinina,Tatyana Groshkova and others

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lilia2 February 2012 at 10:04

    Great! I'd call it a tribute to compulsories and gymnastics basics. Now in 2012 we can add some of basic elements (connections) to front tumbling and some to bar work and issue it as a tutorial for everyone interested in gymnastics)with a foot note - choreography basics are not included, see special edition ....)) Numerous thanks to Queen Elizabeth.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Queen Elizabeth2 February 2012 at 11:10

    Hi Lilia, Alexandrov is certainly one of the best coaches in the world. I really admire the way that he kept a relatively low profile whilst in America, but raised his game again on return to his home country.

    ReplyDelete

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