This picture, of 1985 Soviet World Championships team member Irina Baraksanova, is a symbol of what is now lost to gymnastics as a whole, and Russia in particular. Black and white, the picture was taken at another time when imagery came at a premium, technology was simple and memory and emotion played an important part in documenting sports history. A similar picture taken today might be more colourful and have a sharper focus, but lack the nostalgic significance, the scope to challenge the imagination. For all its lack of precision and technical sophistication, this box brownie snap captures the feeling of a unique moment. Baraksanova, in common with many of her team mates, used floor exercise to tell an enigmatic and gentle story built on line, air and just a little bit of acrobatic magic. The position of the head, the asymmetry of the position, the downcast eyes, all speak to me. She combined grace and power, innovation and tradition to make the ...
Yay for Aliya! I missed it :( ws too nervous to go watch it. Hopefully will see it later on.
ReplyDeleteFirst gold for Russia since 2000? wow,
Where do you vote for her?
Congrats to Denis again he was really close to Gold in the vault. Congrats to Paseka for her bronze yesterday! forgot to say that.
:-) I've added a link to 'vote' for you to click on.
DeleteEnjoy.
I'm very content for Musty ... I wish Komova were there on the podium too, I was in pain the see her out like that sigh ... hope she makes it on Beam ... Go Russia
ReplyDeleteWhat a great performance by Mustafina. What a great event final today. Vault was a bit of a mess from everyone yesterday but bars was a great fight from several of the girls and Mustafina's routine was flawless. She deserved gold today!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for Mustafina, so devastated for Komova, so not impressed by Douglas' extremely slanted piked Tkatchev.
ReplyDeleteAlso, slightly puzzled as to why Mustafina was wearing the same leo from team qualifications when Komova had a beautiful new one?
I was more puzzled with fact that, during the Floor finals, Aliya come into the event with red uniform and left it with the white one. did she pack both?! 0-0
DeleteThis Gold Medal made my olympics by far...Mustafina has always been my fav gymnast ..she deserves it :-D
ReplyDeleteAnd another bronze today, she has the most medals.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Aliya!! You have the most medals!! You are now my inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI am happy for her, but thought her routine was boring compared to the others.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll appreciate this:
ReplyDeleteFrom ALL of the non-swimmer athletes at these Olympics, Tsarina Aliya is the most decorated, with an unmatched 4 medal count. And I don't think they'll get her on the next days.
So... CHEERS people! Cheers, Aliya! You're golden!
She won medals in every event she competed in, team, AA, bars and floor. If she had gone for the vault final as it turned out she could have done very well. Imagine what she would have done at full fitness.. Her confidence is just coming back too.
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