I remember the '89 Championships like it was yesterday. The Soviet floor routines were simply stunning. Should be mandatory viewing for today's gymnasts.
Has it been 20 years since I first saw these Championships on T.V.? I still think that the AA Gold should have gone to either to Olga Strazheva (the Bronze medalist) or Natalia Laschenova (winner of Silver) instead of Boguinskaya. Not that Boguie wasn't great, but Laschenova and Strazheva had the choreography, style, and difficulty unparalled at that time and would still be breathtaking today.
Bars much more likely than beam, I'd say. Although I adore her beam, she was never entirely secure on her beam tumbling, alas. And Strazh was a surprisingly mediocre vaulter. But all-in-all, a great All-Arounder and one of the very best floor workers of all time, whose career was far too short.
She was fantastic on beam before that accident, she was last to go, she was so good, her compulsories were beautiful..Clearly that fall knocked her confidence. That beam routine was heading for a big score had she not fallen at the Olympics...It is a pity we never saw her optional floor routine in Seoul..
OMG! Just as I was convincing myself you can't get a better choreography/interpretation than Frolova, Baraksanova, Chudina, the 1989 Soviet team blows my mind! Brilliant is the only word that can describe the choreographer's work!
Nice to see the innovation of the Soviets. I truly wish choreographers and gymnasts and coaches would look back and feel determined to bring back some of it.
It is a joy to hear-or read :) that at least some fans of beautiful Soviet choreo are trying to pass it on to their gymnasts. I am delighted to know this.
I started looking up Stravinsky's Ballet and there are some interesting photos in the 1920s and 1930s of Nijinsky dancing in this ballet. I thought it was based on Nijinsky's Petrushka where he plays a marionette but there are Stravinsky drawings for Rite of Spring that I can't find online that show the dancer awakening.
I remember the '89 Championships like it was yesterday. The Soviet floor routines were simply stunning. Should be mandatory viewing for today's gymnasts.
Dar0922 1 year ago 2
psyhodelic...awsome
xplosive08 1 year ago
shes my coach now
shes russian i cant understand her
shes a great coach!
SoccerStar255 2 years ago
I'm totally speechless. That was an amazing performance.
saltlakecity2002 2 years ago 2
Has it been 20 years since I first saw these Championships on T.V.? I still think that the AA Gold should have gone to either to Olga Strazheva (the Bronze medalist) or Natalia Laschenova (winner of Silver) instead of Boguinskaya. Not that Boguie wasn't great, but Laschenova and Strazheva had the choreography, style, and difficulty unparalled at that time and would still be breathtaking today.
ferency98 2 years ago 4
It is a pity she feel during the Olympics, she would have challenged for some medals on beam and floor and the AA bronze.
emmyjo720 3 years ago
Bars much more likely than beam, I'd say. Although I adore her beam, she was never entirely secure on her beam tumbling, alas. And Strazh was a surprisingly mediocre vaulter. But all-in-all, a great All-Arounder and one of the very best floor workers of all time, whose career was far too short.
Vermontist 2 years ago
She was fantastic on beam before that accident, she was last to go, she was so good, her compulsories were beautiful..Clearly that fall knocked her confidence. That beam routine was heading for a big score had she not fallen at the Olympics...It is a pity we never saw her optional floor routine in Seoul..
emmyjo720 2 years ago
OMG! Just as I was convincing myself you can't get a better choreography/interpretation than Frolova, Baraksanova, Chudina, the 1989 Soviet team blows my mind! Brilliant is the only word that can describe the choreographer's work!
Darkangel127 3 years ago 4
Thanks for posting this magnificent routine. Glorious choreo. The unsung heroes of Soviet gymnastics = their Master Choroegraphers. :)
audie83 3 years ago
Nice to see the innovation of the Soviets. I truly wish choreographers and gymnasts and coaches would look back and feel determined to bring back some of it.
TuesdayPillow 3 years ago 3
I would feel if I had died and gone to Heaven if they brought back choreo like this.
audie83 3 years ago 2
Agreed :) I try every time I choreograph a floor routine to get some SOviet ideas into the piece.
TuesdayPillow 3 years ago
It is a joy to hear-or read :) that at least some fans of beautiful Soviet choreo are trying to pass it on to their gymnasts. I am delighted to know this.
audie83 3 years ago 3
I will NEVER get tired of watchign that routine!
HereWasRachel 4 years ago 3
Who was the choreographer for these routines?
I heard that he/she in now in the US doing choreography...wasn't he/she the one who used to do Elizabeth Reid's unique floor routines?
fliptopla 4 years ago
This has to be without a doubt one of the greatest FX routines ever created. MARVELOUS.
worldgymrank 5 years ago 3
I started looking up Stravinsky's Ballet and there are some interesting photos in the 1920s and 1930s of Nijinsky dancing in this ballet. I thought it was based on Nijinsky's Petrushka where he plays a marionette but there are Stravinsky drawings for Rite of Spring that I can't find online that show the dancer awakening.
ilextree 5 years ago
Stunning.
Yernar 5 years ago