Gymnastics competitions occupy one of the leading places in the program of the modern Olympic Games. At the first Games in 1896, the program of gymnastics competitions was significantly different from the modern one. In addition to purely gymnastic types, it also included applied types.
Until 1928, only men participated in gymnastics competitions. Gymnasts first appeared on the Olympic platform in 1928 at the IX Olympiad (Amsterdam). However, at the next Games (Los Angeles, 1932), only men competed again, and only starting from the XI Olympic Games (Berlin - 1936) men's and women's gymnastics competitions were held (for women only the team championship). Women competed for the individual championship for the first time at the XV Games (Helsinki, 1952). At the XV and XVI Games (1952 and 1956), team floor exercises with apparatus were included in the program of women's competitions.
Until 1952, the team consisted of 8 men and 8 women. Since 1956, the number of teams has been reduced to 6 people. The 5 best results in each all-around event count.
Since 1972 (XX Olympic Games), the title of absolute champion can only be contested by the 36 best gymnasts and 36 female gymnasts, who are determined based on the results of team competitions.
Since 1976 (XXI Games, Montreal), the number of teams in the competition has been reduced to 12 (both men's and women's). Moreover, each team consists of 6 gymnasts and 1 reserve. In addition to these teams, 4 additional groups of 6 Participants each, consisting of gymnasts from different countries (larvae), are formed (for men and women). In the absolute championship (in the all-around), there cannot be more than three gymnasts from one country among the 36 best, and only two representatives from a country are allowed to compete in certain events.
Soviet gymnasts, who made their debut in Olympic competitions in 1952, immediately became among the leaders, winning the individual absolute (V. Chukarin and M. Gorokhovskaya) and team championships among both men and women.
Soviet gymnasts participated in the Olympic Games eight times. The first two Olympics - in 1952 in Helsinki and 1956 in Melbourne - turned out to be victorious for our men's team. But then the leadership passed to the Japanese national team, which won the last five Olympics in a row (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976). The Soviet men's team took 2nd place each time. The victory at the XXI Games in Montreal (1976) was close - 0.4 points were not enough. And only at the XXII Olympiad in 1980 did the Soviet gymnast team finally again win the championship in the team competition.
Our gymnasts also took part in eight Olympiads and invariably won the team championship in all of them.
The first three Olympics ended successfully for our gymnasts in the individual competition. In 1952, in Helsinki at the XV Games and in 1956 in Melbourne at the XVI Games, V. Chukarin was the absolute champion. In 1960 in Rome it became B. Shakhlin. At subsequent Olympics, none of our gymnasts managed to repeat their success. And only 16 years after Rome, at the XXI Games in Montreal, the title of absolute Olympic champion in gymnastics was again won by the Soviet athlete Nikolai Andrianov, and in 1980 Alexander Dityatin became the absolute champion of the Moscow Olympics.
In 1952, the first absolute Olympic champion was the Soviet gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya. At the next Olympiads (1956 and 1960), L. Latynina won. In Tokyo (1964) and Mexico City (1968), the Czechoslovakian gymnast V. Caslavska won. In Munich (1972), the title of absolute Olympic champion went to L. Turishcheva, and in Montreal (1976) it was won by 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. At the XXII Olympics in Moscow (1980), our gymnast, 18-year-old Elena Davydova, again became the absolute champion.
35 Soviet gymnasts took part in the Olympic Games - 18 of them bear the title of Olympic champions.
36 of our gymnasts also hold the high title of Olympic champions.
Not a single athlete in the entire history of the Olympic Games has managed to win as many medals as the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won. She is the absolute record holder for the number of Olympic medals won. She has 18 of them (9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze).
Among men, before the XXII Games, the record holders were Boris Shakhlin (USSR) - 13 (7+4+2) and Takashi Ono (Japan) -13 (5+4+4), and after them Nikolai Andrianov (USSR) became the champion - he won 15 medals (7+5+3).
2004 Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva has been talking for several years about her desire to get to the Games in Beijing. But in 2007, Alina stopped performing, and was replaced by Vera Sesina and Olga Kapranova.
Vera was born in Yekaterinburg and began training in gymnastics under the guidance of coach Natalya Gorbulina. In 2001, Vera moved to Moscow and began training with the Russian national team. Trade mark of Vera Sesina - turns on the high half-finger.
Olga Kapranova is a Muscovite. I started doing gymnastics in company with my sister Katya. In 2000, little Olya was included in the Russian national team. Kapranova has the most beautiful feet. Both gymnasts were coached by Vera Shatalina.
The Ukrainian national team did not update its roster after the 2004 Games. Ukraine was represented by Anna Bessonova and Natalia Godunko
In chemistry there is a term "indicator". What is it? An indicator is a substance that allows one to obtain characteristics for assessing a particular environment. Throughout the entire Olympic cycle, Anna Bessonova was an indicator of the situation in rhythmic gymnastics.
At the 2005 World Championships, which took place in Baku, the Russian team was represented by Irina Chashchina, Olga Kapranova and Vera Sesina. For Ira, this World Championship was the last start. Vera Sesina won gold in the ribbon exercise. While performing an exercise with clubs, Olga Kapranova lost the apparatus twice, however, these mistakes did not prevent the gymnast from taking first place. Bessonova, who did not make a single gross mistake, took second place.
In some species there were some oddities. Natalya Godunko was a whirlwind in the rope exercise, performing everything flawlessly, but the gymnast did not make it onto the podium. The gold medal in this event went to Olga Kapranova, although jumping has never been Olya’s strong point. For most of the exercise, the gymnast walked on the mat with a rope around her neck. In the exercise with the ball, Kapranova won another gold medal, however, numerous gymnastics fans were unanimous that Olya took the place of the Belarusian gymnast Inna Zhukova, who performed the most interesting exercise with the ball absolutely cleanly.
In 2006, Alina Kabaeva returned to the carpet. Alina’s return took place at the European Championships, which was hosted by Moscow. While performing an exercise with a jump rope, Kabaeva lost the object outside the area. If it were not Kabaeva, but Bessonova, then such a mistake would have served as a reason to send the gymnast far beyond the top five. But it was Kabaeva. She finished second and won a silver medal.
Vera Sesina took first place. Third - Anna Bessonova. Gymnastics fans were once again unanimous in their assessment of what was happening and distributed the places as follows: 1. Bessonova 2. Zhukova 3. Sesina.
A very precise phrase was written by one fan who was watching this European Championship: “apparently they are taking us for fools...”
And in 2007, at the World Championships in Greece, something happened that no one expected. Anna Bessonova won the title of absolute world champion. And this was not just a victory, but a clear indicator of the general situation in rhythmic gymnastics. Immediately after the championship, Irina Viner burst out accusing the FIG of chauvinism and threatening the judges who judged the World Championships in Patras, promising to punish everyone without exception and to ensure that not a single judge from this team gets to the Olympic Games. Wiener was echoed by Vera Shatalina, whose students took second and third place. Olga Kapranova, who stumbled and lost objects in all types, somehow beat Inna Zhukova and took third place, also distinguished herself: the gymnast commented on her opponent’s victory, saying that she didn’t see the performance, but Vera Sesina is still better and she deserves the victory .
The situation developed even more interesting shortly before the Olympics.
In April 2008, the FIG disqualified Irina Deryugina for 8 years, banning her from coaching and refereeing activities. The FIG charged Deryugina with bribing judges, putting pressure on them, influencing the final results of competitions and other violations. Irina Ivanovna filed an appeal, and the period of disqualification was reduced to 4 years. It is noteworthy that Irina Deryugina was supposed to work on the main refereeing committee at the Beijing Games.
One cannot fail to note the subtle humor of FIG officials who accused Deryugina of bribery. It’s no secret to gymnastics fans what a deplorable state this sport is in in Ukraine. There are no conditions for training; the national team trains in a gym that does not meet standard parameters. Both gymnasts and coaches have been complaining about the disrepair of the gym for many years.
At the same time, the FIG began proceedings in the case of Irina Viner. The coach was threatened with an 8-year disqualification. The reason for the investigation was Wiener’s statements about the 2007 World Championships, which were won by the Ukrainian Bessonova. The FIG issued a disciplinary warning to Wiener. The communique said that Wiener apologized for her statements, explaining that "their meaning may have been distorted in the media and conveyed in a manner that could damage the judges and the image of gymnastics." “Having considered all the circumstances of the case, the Presidential Commission, based on Article 10 of the FIG Disciplinary Code and Article 42.2 (a) of the FIG Statutes, decided to issue a warning to Ms. Wiener. A warning is the lightest punishment provided for by the Statutes,” the document reported.
Meanwhile, another reshuffle took place in the Russian team. Alina Kabaeva competed at the 2007 World Championships. While performing one of the exercises, Alina fell. The audience gasped. The gymnast withdrew from the competition due to injury. Alina was replaced by a young student from an Omsk school, Evgenia Kanaeva. At this championship, Zhenya took 4th place, behind her more experienced teammates.
Evgenia is a student of Vera Efremovna Shtelbaums, who trained one of the most technical gymnasts of our time, Irina Chashchina. Zhenya started doing gymnastics in Omsk; in 2002, the girl was invited to Moscow for a training camp with Amina Zaripova. Amina drew attention to the promising gymnast, and Zhenya began training at the Olympic reserve school. At the junior level, Kanaeva showed good results, and in 2007 she was a reserve in the national team.
In the spring of 2008, Vera Sesina injured her leg. There was little time left before the Games, and even less time to get into optimal shape. The time has come for Evgenia Kanaeva.
Kanaeva won the European Championships in Turin, Bessonova showed the second result, and Kapranova incredibly took third place. Once again, Belarusian Inna Zhukova remained outside the pedestal.
It should be noted that the whole world of fans of this sport rejoiced at Kanaeva’s victory at the European Championships. On the carpet Zhenya was like a fresh spring wind. With incredible ease and purity, she performed the most complex turns with changes in shape, worked with the object playfully, and jumped high and easily. Thus, a new leader appeared in the Russian national team - Evgenia Kanaeva..
At this European Championship, Anna Bessonova pleased with her excellent performance and silver medal. If Kanaeva took it with ease, then Bessonova took it with maturity. Anya showed mature, feminine, meaningful gymnastics.
On August 21, 2008, the Beijing University of Technology gymnasium hosted the qualifying competition for female artists.
Evgenia Kanaeva, while performing an exercise with a skipping rope, lost the object. But this did not stop her from taking first place in qualifying. Olga Kapranova took second place, Anna Bessonova took third place.
On August 23, 2008, the all-around final took place. Before starting the story about what happened on the carpet that day, the author suggests looking at the statistics of Anna Bessonova’s ratings in 2008, before the Olympic Games:
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Jump rope |
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World Championship 2007 |
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European Championship 2008 |
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World Cup in Corbeil-Essonne |
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World Cup in Minsk |
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World Cup in Kyiv |
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World Cup in Portimao |
The gymnast's scores during this period were above 18 points. Surprisingly, on August 23, 2008, Bessonova’s scores dropped to 17. If Anya’s average score in the pre-Olympic period was 18,400, at the Games the gymnast received 0.5 points less in three events. The Olympics smelled like another revolution.
Evgeniy Kanaeva won the gold medal.
To the accompaniment of Spanish music, Zhenya flew over the carpet in an exercise with a skipping rope, performed a clean exercise with a hoop to the music from the film “Tristan and Isolde”, easily handled the clubs to the Spanish overture “Aragonese Jota” by Mikhail Glinka, and to top it off performed an easy and impressive performance a technically complex composition with a ribbon to the most popular Soviet song of the post-war period “Moscow Evenings”. While performing the exercise with the ribbon, the gymnast was slightly behind the music and completed the exercise 4 seconds after the end of the music.
Evgenia Kanaeva’s victory is one of the few that aroused the unanimous delight of rhythmic gymnastics fans. Anna Bessonova's assessments evoked the same unanimity, but now it was not delight, but indignation.
Belarusian gymnast Inna Zhukova took second place. Gymnastics fans paid attention to Inna back in 2005. Zhukova performed her exercises cleanly and won a silver medal.
Anna Bessonova earned third place with sweat and blood. At this Olympics, Anya had no equal in artistry. In the jump rope exercise, Anya brilliantly performed a series of signature jumps and also brilliantly conveyed the character of the musical composition from the film “War.” The second type is a hoop, Anya passes cleanly. The gymnast performed this exercise to the music from the drama film “Aurora.”
The next type is clubs. Anna performs an exercise to the music from the film "Spartacus". While performing the first element, Bessonova makes a mistake - she loses her balance and loses 1 point. Score 17,850. The audience whistles, Anya cries, the Ukrainian delegation files an appeal. The estimate is raised to 17,900.
The last type is ribbon. Anya comes out onto the platform with traces of tears on her face. And despite everything, he brilliantly performs the exercise to folk music. The score is not announced for a long time, the audience whistles again. The picture on the screen changes, and the audience sees the head coach of the Russian national team, Irina Viner, and the president of the FIG technical committee, Egle Abruzzini, they are reviewing the repetition of Bessonova’s exercise for a long time and discussing. Anna can barely restrain herself from bursting into tears. 18.225. Bronze.
Now a little clarification on this revolution. No one doubted that Kanaeva would win even before the Games. Evgenia approached the Games in great shape. The second Russian gymnast, Olga Kapranova, was supposed to be located somewhere very close to Kanaeva. But Olya was not stable. While performing an exercise with clubs, the gymnast fell from the first element, performed her balance very unsteadily, lost the apparatus and ultimately took 4th place.
In addition to the Ukrainian and Belarusian, the first six places were taken by students of Irina Viner.
Natalya Godunko took 7th place. Although such unique things that Natasha did, no one has done and is not doing yet. Godunko, like Bessonova, showed adult gymnastics. The girl has been performing for 10 years, which is very rare in gymnastics. Against the backdrop of mature and feminine gymnasts, whose every gesture is thought out and filled with meaning, the young graces look like diligent eighth-graders.
Spanish gymnast Almudena Cid took 8th place. These Games were Almudena's fourth; the first Games in which the gymnast competed were held in 1996.
About the prospects for the 2012 Olympic Games in the next article.
Final
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Place |
Sportswoman |
Country |
Jump rope |
Hoop |
Maces |
Ribbon |
Total |
Beauties and smart girls who have repeatedly been among the winners at world competitions
These athletes boast not only attractive appearance and charm, but also impressive sporting achievements and medal collections. All-Russian Gymnastics Day is their holiday. the site presents the top 10 most charming Russian gymnastics stars who have conquered the sports Olympus and the hearts of men.
Alina Kabaeva (34 years old)
(Photo: Anatoly Zhdanov/KP)One of the most titled athletes, whose name was included in the Guinness Book of Records. Alina Kabaeva appeared on its pages after becoming the only five-time European champion in the history of rhythmic gymnastics.
Initially, the parents saw the future champion as a professional figure skater, but due to the lack of strong figure skating schools in Tashkent, it was decided to send Alina to the gymnastics section. The girl made great progress, and her first victories were not long in coming. In 1998, at the age of 15, Alina had already won gold at the European Championship. After that, she became the absolute European champion four more times, and in 1998 she won the World Championships.
Alina Kabaeva completed her sports career in 2007. She received two higher educations in absentia in two completely different areas: in the field of service and sports. The gymnast also tried herself in cinema, starring in episodes of the Japanese adventure film “Red Shadow”. Alina has experience as a TV presenter: the ex-athlete hosted the “Path to Olympus” program and even created her own program about the lives of outstanding people, “Steps to Success.”
Margarita Mamun (21 years old)
(Photo: Mikhail Frolov/KP) Seven-time world champion, four-time European champion, multiple winner of the Grand Prix stages, who, thanks to her Bengal roots, was given the nickname “Bengal tigress” by her fans. By the way, it fully reflects her persistent character and will to win.
From his father, a marine engineer from Bangladesh, Margarita Mamun inherited an exotic appearance, oriental plasticity and special grace with which she performs all exercises. Mom, a former gymnast herself, enrolled Rita in the gymnastics section quite late - at the age of 7. Before that, Mamun was involved in figure skating, but not for long - her mother was afraid that her daughter would fall unsuccessfully on the ice. At the age of 11, Rita began consciously preparing for a career as a gymnast. Her first major successes began in 2011. At the Russian Championship, Mamun won the all-around and exercises with clubs, ball and hoop. In 2016, the gymnast became the Olympic champion in the individual all-around at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Evgenia Kanaeva (27 years old)
(Photo: Vladimir Velengurin/KP) The first ever two-time Olympic champion in the individual all-around, three-time world champion in the all-around. Rhythmic gymnastics Evgenia Kanaeva started training at the age of 6 years. Despite the fact that the girl’s mother is a coach and master of sports in rhythmic gymnastics, she was introduced to the sport by her grandmother, who was Zhenya’s most devoted fan at all competitions. At the age of 12, as part of the Omsk athletes, Kanaeva was invited to a training camp in Moscow, where she attracted attention Amina Zaripova. My wife was asked to continue her studies at the Olympic reserve school.
In 2003, she won her first international tournament, after which Irina Viner invites her to continue training at the Novogorsk training center. In 2009, Kanaeva became a real record holder - at the World Championships in Japan she won six gold medals. It seems incredible, but in 2011, at the World Championships in France, Evgenia managed to repeat this record again.
Laysan Utyasheva (32 years old)
(Photo: Larisa Kudryavtseva/KP At first the parents wanted to give Laysan Utyashevu to ballet school, but her fate was decided by chance. One day in a store, a 4-year-old girl was noticed by trainer Nadezhda Kasyanova, who immediately called the young talent for a trial lesson. At the age of 12, Laysan moved to Moscow, where her career began to rapidly gain momentum.
In 2001, Utyasheva won gold at the World Championships in Spain and became a master of sports. In 2002, during exhibition performances, she received an injury, which was not without consequences. For this reason, in 2006, the girl decided to end her sports career.
Laysan Utyasheva achieved success on television. She was a TV presenter of the programs “Main Road”, “Morning on NTV”, “Be Healthy”, “Fitness with the Stars”, “Dancing”, “Personal Trainer”. The gymnast tried herself as an actress, playing in the multi-episode youth sports drama “Champions,” and also as a radio host in the “Cafe Romantika” program.
Irina Chashchina (35 years old)
(Photo: Maxim Shemetov/TASS) Irina Chashchina called the most elegant gymnast in the world and the most charming gymnast of our time. At the World Championships in Baku, Chashchina was even awarded the special prize “Miss Elegance,” although at that time she took only second place.
Initially, Irina was involved in swimming, music and rhythmic gymnastics, but she was truly fascinated by sports. At the age of 12, Chashchina joined the Russian national team. As a junior, Irina took first place at the CIS Spartakiad. After leaving the sport in 2006, the girl began developing her own program, which was presented the following year under the name “Flexible Strength”. Chashchina received a second higher education at the Academy of Civil Service and for some time worked as deputy prefect of the Northern District of Moscow for sports and tourism. The gymnast gladly took part in several television projects, including “Circus with the Stars” and “Dancing on Ice.” In 2009, Irina played in the full-length feature film “The Path”, and in 2013 she opened her own rhythmic gymnastics school in Barnaul.
Yana Kudryavtseva (20 years old)
In your 20s Yana Kudryavtseva boasts 13 gold medals at the World Championships and 11 at the European Championships. She became the youngest absolute champion in the history of rhythmic gymnastics, conquering Europe and Asia. However, could it have been otherwise?
Yana is the daughter of the famous swimmer, Olympic champion in 1992 Alexey Kudryavtsev, so it’s not surprising that the girl became seriously interested in sports. In 2013, at the European Championships in Vienna, she showed the best result - she not only won gold, but also scored the highest number of points according to the new judging system, 19 out of 20 possible. For her grace, natural charm and beauty, Yana was given the nickname “crystal girl,” and for her elegance at the Israeli World Championships, Kudryavtseva received a special prize provided by Longines.
Ulyana Donskova (25 years old)
Russian gymnasts Anastasia Bliznyuk, Ulyana Donskova, Ksenia Dudkina (from left to right) during the Russian Olympians Ball 2012 at the State Kremlin Palace. (Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS) The four-time world champion, five-time champion from the small town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, in the Rostov region, was given the nickname “gray cardinal” by Irina Viner for her perseverance and determination. In 2000 Ulyana Donskova won the regional championship in the first category, in 2008 she was selected to the national team for group exercises. After winning the London Olympics, Donskova ended her sports career. In 2013, she took part in the eighth season of the television project “Dancing with the Stars”, where she took 6th place.
Daria Dmitrievna (31 years old)
Russian gymnasts, Evgenia Kanaeva (left) and Daria Dmitrieva (right) (Photo: Vladimir Velengurin/KP)
Daria began practicing rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 8 under the guidance of an honored coach of Russia and the USSR Olga Buyanova. In 2009, at the Penza Russian Championship, she won three medals: gold for the hoop, silver for the ribbon, and bronze for the ball. In 2013, due to an injury, she had to leave the sport, but she continued to do what she loved, only as a coach. Together with world and European champion Ekaterina Donich, Daria Dmitrievna opened a rhythmic gymnastics school, in which not only children, but also everyone can train.
Yana Batyrshina (38 years old)
(Photo: Larisa Kudryavtseva/KP) Honored Master of Sports, Yana Batyrshina represented rhythmic gymnastics in individual exercises. During her sports career, Yana won seven gold medals at the World Championship and five top awards at the European Championship. Yana Batyrshina left big sports at the age of 19, and a year later she became the coach of the Brazilian national team. In 2000 she began her career in television. She was the host of the “Up to Sixteen and Over” program, hosted intellectual shows for schoolchildren on the Karusel TV channel and sports news broadcasts on the Stolitsa channel.
Dina and Arina Averina (19 years old)
(Photo: Schreyer/TASS) These twin sisters, despite their young age, are already Olympic champions in rhythmic gymnastics, multiple winners of the World and European Championships, and international masters of sports. The girls were brought to gymnastics by their mother and their older sister. Pauline, whom the sisters initially accompanied to training. Polina herself never became a gymnast, making a choice in favor of studying.
In 2011 Dina and Arina Averina start training at the Novogorsk Training Center. There they are noticed at the “Young Gymnast” competitions, and after the training camp in Croatia they are invited to study with Vera Shatalina. In 2014, at the Israeli tournament, the sisters took first and second places with a difference of hundredths of points, which speaks volumes about the identical high level of skill of the twins. In 2017, at the World Championships in Italy, 19-year-old beauties shared the main awards among themselves. Dina Averina turned out to be the best in exercises with a hoop and clubs, and Arina - with a ribbon and a ball.
Once upon a time, Irina Viner came to the “Evening Urgant” program. A little girl gymnast came out to entertain the audience by showing her class. It was supposed to be funny how the presenter, who did not at all look like a gymnast, would perform elements that the most famous and titled athletes had once failed to cope with. “Amina,” Irina Viner asked the girl, “transfer the ribbon from one hand to the other. Just one and two.” Amina, of course, succeeded. “This movement did not allow Yana Batyrshina to become an Olympic champion at the Olympic Games in Atlanta,” the coach said.
Solving complex problems, but making a mistake in a simple calculation, performing risky elements, but making a mistake on nonsense - this looks like some kind of law of meanness. By an unfortunate accident, you can do this and make a stupid but fatal mistake, which will cost you a lot. Let's understand the operation of this vile law in rhythmic gymnastics.
Yana Batyrshina, Atlanta-1996
Russian Yana Batyrshina became the silver medalist of the 1996 Olympics. In first place then was Ekaterina Serebryanskaya, in third was Elena Vitrichenko, both Ukrainians. Batyrshina actually passed all the events smoothly, but in the exercise with the ribbon she made a stupid mistake - she made a loss by simply transferring the object from hand to hand. The score for this performance, accordingly, was lower than the others (the difference is about 0.2-0.3). In the final standings, Batyrshina lost to Serebryanskaya by exactly 0.3 points and theoretically, yes, she could have become an Olympic champion. But in fairness, I note: in none of the events did she overtake the Ukrainian, even in those performances where there were no losses. That is why it is difficult to judge whether it was actually that mistake that deprived her of gold.
Alina Kabaeva, Sydney 2000
The case of Alina Kabaeva at the 2000 Olympics is perhaps the most famous of all examples of this law of meanness in rhythmic gymnastics. Only a person completely removed from gymnastics does not know the story of how 17-year-old Kabaeva - the undisputed favorite of the Games, whose victory no one doubted - suddenly loses the hoop out of nowhere and drops out of the fight for the title of Olympic champion. And Alina didn’t perform any difficult element at all, no, the hoop simply flew off her hand and treacherously rolled right off the carpet. Although this mistake did not deprive the gymnast of a medal - Kabaeva took third place, behind Russian Yulia Barsukova and Belarusian Yulia Raskina - this was clearly not what the gymnast wanted to get. And this bronze of hers was considered almost a failure. However, this incident did not diminish Kabaeva’s popularity. Those Games are still remembered only as those where the public’s favorite Alina was unexpectedly unlucky, and only by chance did Yulia Barsukova become the champion. Nevertheless, this outcome of events gave Kabaeva an incentive to prepare with all her might for the next Olympics, where, in fact, the long-awaited thing happened - in Athens, at the 2004 Games, the gymnast became an Olympic champion.
Anna Rizatdinova, Montpellier 2011
In 2011, Anna Rizatdinova was just a promising gymnast. At the World Championships in Montpellier, her main task was to enter the top 15 in order to obtain a license for the Olympics. According to the results of the all-around qualification, she was in 15th place. All that was required of her in the final was not to worsen her result. But Anna made a mistake in the exercise with the ball and received a low mark. To correct the situation, it was necessary to perform enchantingly with the ribbon. In principle, it was already difficult to obtain a license, but it was possible to fight. And now Rizatdinova comes out for the last look. Starts to lay out the ribbon before the performance and notices a knot! Amid encouraging applause, the tribune unties it and... makes another knot! He unties it and... notices the third knot! Well, then he unties the fourth one. And the fifth. For about a minute (and the exercise lasts one and a half), the gymnast untied five (!) knots, which she had managed to tie before (!) the performance. It is clear that the mood was no longer the same, and the judges most likely deducted points for such a hitch. Rizatdinova eventually took 18th place and went to the pre-Olympic week to compete for additional licenses in London.
Anna still received a ticket to the Olympic Games, but after that incident in Montpellier, she now almost always goes to the exercise not with a folded ribbon, but doing spirals with it - so that she does not have to lay out the ribbon before the performance.
Silvia Miteva, Montpellier 2011
The World Championships in Montpellier were generally dramatic. And for the Bulgarian Silvia Miteva, perhaps to the greatest extent. Miteva confidently walked towards the bronze medal in the all-around final. And the bronze of the World Championship in the absolute championship is worth a lot if among your competitors are Kanaeva, Kondakova, Garayeva, Cherkashina, Maksimenko, Stanyuta... Medals in certain events (and Sylvia won two bronzes) are wonderful, but not so prestigious. After three performances, Miteva remained in third place. It seemed that a miracle would finally happen - a Bulgarian gymnast would be on the podium at the World All-Around Championships. Sylvia's last look was a hoop. It’s not that the gymnast lost the apparatus on anything - she failed to catch it, but how treacherously unfair this hoop flew past her hand. There was no point in running after the escaped object in Montpellier. The platform was located on a hill; there were no restrictions around the carpet. If the object escaped from the hands, it rolled immediately beyond the platform and fell down. Jumping after him and jumping back is a troublesome task (gymnast Anna Alyabyeva from Kazakhstan did this and was also left without a license for the Olympics). Silvia Miteva took a spare subject, received a low score (about one and a half points lower than for other types) and dropped from third place to seventh. Neither at the Olympics in London, nor at the next World Championships in 2013, the Bulgarian was ever again able to get so close to the top three.
Irina Chashchina, Athens 2004
At the 2004 Olympics, which became a victorious revenge for Alina Kabaeva, Irina Chashchina won the silver medal. To be honest, it is very doubtful that anyone other than Kabaeva could have won gold at that Olympics. But Irina Chashchina gave reason to fantasize on the topic - what if?.. In the exercise with the ribbon, Chashchina “stupidly” got entangled in the ribbon, thereby making Kabaeva’s victory more confident. Like, Chashchina made a mistake, what kind of gold does she want? That Olympics was Irina’s first and last. A year later, she ended her sports career, left without the high-profile titles of absolute world champion or Olympic champion.
Anna Bessonova, Budapest-2003
The first world championship for Anna Bessonova as the leader of the Ukrainian team. The chances of becoming an absolute world champion were then great. But in the all-around, Anna becomes second, losing to Alina Kabaeva by 0.325 points. Bessonova's first look was a ball. Everything was going great until the very last moment. During the final difficult catch, the ball angrily jumped away from under the gymnast’s feet. And thus, from the very first performance in the all-around, the gold medal for Bessonova was in question. A perfectly executed final exercise with a hoop significantly reduced the gap from first place, but Anna remained second.
Bessonova will eventually become the absolute world champion - in 2007 in Patras.
Alina Maksimenko, Kyiv-2013
Alina Maksimenko made many annoying stupid mistakes during her sports career. In Montpellier 2011, in the final with her space hoop, she, having completed all the most difficult risks, stumbled out of the blue and became fifth. In Kyiv 2013, inexplicably, the ribbon accidentally flew off the carpet, and the gymnast did not reach the final in this event, despite the fact that the program was wonderful and there were chances for a medal. In London 2012, in the final, the ball slipped out from under her feet, almost like Anna Bessonova did in Budapest. Alina was often overwhelmed by emotions. With complete emotional surrender, mistakes occurred that were inexplicable by reason. At the 2013 World Championships, Maksimenko finished seventh in the overall championship. And the reason for this outcome was an error in the first all-around event - in the exercise with clubs. The most offensive thing is that the day before Alina won bronze in this event. The gymnast lost the club in the first seconds of her performance, and, upset, made another loss during the exercise. It was painful to watch her next appearances on the court - Alina lost all her enthusiasm and mood, she no longer had to fight for a medal. And the saddest thing is that that championship was the last in Maksimenko’s career.
I couldn’t find the video from the all-around final where Alina loses her clubs. Therefore, we enjoy her performance in the finals of individual events, which brought the gymnast a bronze medal.
Today, stunning victories of Russian gymnasts at various competitions are familiar to contemporaries. But 30 years ago these achievements did not exist at the Olympic Games. The story of the Olympics, in its impeccable and victorious form, began not so long ago.
Olympic history of rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics as a type of competition came to the Olympics only in 1984. The decision to accept this sport as part of the Olympic tournaments was made at a congress held after the 1980 Olympics. 1984 became the starting point of the Olympic competitions in rhythmic gymnastics, where only women's teams took part. However, the USSR national team did not take part in these debut competitions - the Union declared a boycott and refused to participate in this Olympics. This was a response to the boycott by the United States at the 1980 Olympics.
The very first Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics was Canadian athlete Laurie Fung. Of course, without the participation of Soviet athletes, other countries of the world had significant chances of winning. But, having refused to participate in the games at the 1984 Olympics, many countries united and created an alternative tournament. Here, gymnasts from Bulgaria especially distinguished themselves in rhythmic gymnastics.
The golden age of Bulgarian gymnasts
The unofficial games of the Soviet countries were held in Sofia, and two Bulgarian gymnasts received the highest award. The debut performance of the USSR rhythmic gymnastics team was marked by second place.
Marina Lobach went down in history as the first Soviet Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics.
At the 1988 Olympics, the struggle for championship in gymnastics was already much more serious. Bets were placed on the brilliant performance of the Bulgarian athletes in the past, but the girls from the USSR national team did not plan to retreat and were excellently prepared. The final fight between two Bulgarians and girls from the USSR was brilliant, but Marina Lobach flawlessly completed the qualifying program, so she got the gold. And so began the triumphant march of Russian gymnasts across the Olympic podiums.
The victory at the 1988 Olympics was the final one for the gymnasts of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, a team formed from gymnasts from the CIS countries went to the 1992 Olympic Games. The team included Alexandra Timoshenko and Oksana Skaldina, both girls were from Ukraine. The gold medal of those games went to Alexandra, and the silver went to Spain.
The Summer Games in 1996 were not so victorious for the Russian team. The performances of Yana Batyrshina amazed the audience and the jury with their new elements and general approach to the performance. But Yana could only get silver in the individual all-around. In the group performance, Russia received bronze. This situation only spurred coach Irina Viner and the athletes, and already at the next Olympics Russia became the owner of the gold medal.
Wiener, Zaripova, Kabaeva, Batyrshina at competitions in Japan. 1997
The 2000 Sydney Olympics became “golden” for Yulia Barsukova, but unanimously the star of the games, according to journalists, was Alina Kabaeva. It is she who will get the gold medal at the next Olympic competitions. In 2004, the team will take home 2 medals in total - they will earn silver in these competitions.
Olympic champions
In 2008, the sports world met a unique Russian gymnast - Evgenia Kanaeva. The winners of the Beijing Games were, who took first place, and Anna Bessonova, who took home bronze. Returning to Moscow, the girls trained even more intensively, preparing for new Olympic heights. The next Olympics, held in London in 2012, left no chance for gymnasts from other countries to win. Both the highest awards - the gold and silver medals in the individual all-around - went to Russia with their owners - Zhenya Kanaeva and Dasha Dmitrieva. Ukraine earned gold in group exercises. Two-time winner and Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics Evgenia Kanaeva is almost finishing her sports career, but worthy athletes are already preparing to replace her.
The 2016 Rio Olympics made the Russian team the absolute winner in both types of performances - the girls took first place in both the group and individual all-around events. The amazing Russian exercises demonstrated by the gymnasts brought Yana Kudryavtseva to the finals with a silver medal. And in the group all-around, the victory was not easy - the number with ribbons barely brought the Russian team into the TOP-3 according to estimates, which made all the fans nervous. But a little later, in the routine with hoops and clubs, the athletes decisively took the lead, leaving no chance for other teams.
At the same Olympics, a new star of Russian gymnastics appeared on the sports horizon - Margarita Mamun. According to the results of the competition, the young, 19-year-old girl won an unconditional victory in the personal all-around.
Undoubtedly, rhythmic gymnastics and Russia are almost inseparable concepts in the world of sports. Being the winners of all Olympic competitions, Russian gymnasts do not stop, winning more and more titles in other tournaments. And many athletes in the standings, based on the results of all their victories, have titles with the prefixes “multiple,” “absolute,” or “record.” This speaks of the phenomenal diligence and hard work of fragile but strong girls.
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