May I recommend this book to you.
Anya is a young girl living in the dark, cold climate of Norilsk, Siberia. The pollution makes it difficult for people to live healthy, happy lives and her family is riven by illlness and hardship and in particular the disappearance of her mother.
Anya is a talented gymnast and she is ‘adopted’ by the state system. Her coach, Anatoly, is brusque and unforgiving. He recognises the same ambition in Anya as he has for himself, and propels her through years of relentless training to the very top of the sport, a gold medal at the 1980 Olympics.
There is more to the book than that, though; the cultural and political environment of the Soviet Union is clearly portrayed from the point of view of an ordinary citizen. The harsh conditions for workers in Norilsk, the queues and the poverty, are well known but the book sensitively reveals the lack of options and freedoms that made life so tough. Anya’s monthly stipend as a national team member made it easier for the family to eat meat. Her earnings were a matter of survival. What she did in the gymnasium helped both to feed her family and to promote victory for the Soviet Union.
I’ve always found it hard to articulate what it is about Russia and gymnastics that I find so compelling - the brutality set against highlights of stunning beauty and emotion; the rigid politics, inspired by an ideology of sharing and equality, yet distorted by power and cruelty. This book manages to capture some of these paradoxes of the Soviet Union and Russia without turning into a moralistic parable. It uses its sources well and keeps things simple.
Some of the characters in the book (and I think it’s the characters that make it so good) are recognisable from the gymnastics histories: Elena Mukhina primarily. A creepy doctor can only have been modelled on Larry Nassar. One area I thought could have been improved upon was the relationships between the gymnasts on the national team at Round Lake - I don’t think the gymnasts were mean to each other. A little warmth would have added credibility.
A really good book though, take the time to read it if you can, and let us know what you think of it too!
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