Maria Filatova could not only dance. She had beautiful lines and technique. Why was she always underscored, starting from Montreal, where she showed more difficult elements than most of the gymnasts and than most of her teammates?
At Montreal she was the baby of the team and as a 'newbie' the Soviets clearly favored the veterans-Tourischeva, Korbut, and Kim. I'll never understand why she was put up first at later World competitions-perhaps it was internal politics. It really kept her from ever winning a major AA although she did win the World Cup.
She and her Soviet teammates put most of todays gymnasts to shame imo. THAT is how gymnastics is supposed to be done-artistry, beautiful lines, athleticism, grace, superb choreography. The ability to DANCE..
they don't have time to dance simply because of the rules. That does not imply that they "can't" dance. If the rules called for 90 seconds of choreography, you would then see everyone dancing instead of tumbling.
I believe, as someone who started dancing at the age of 2, I know something about it. And those gymnasts back in the '60s-'80s and early '90s were much better dancers - and not just beacuse of the number of tumbling passes. Of course everyone has different opinion about it, I just wanted to tell mine.
ok that's fine. Don't forget that this sport is gymnastics and not dance. The current routines are designed to score well under rules that demand difficult skills and not choreography or dancing.. Just keep that in perspective when comparing gymnasts from different periods. :)
I see your point ;) I'm just saying that I'm very sorry that this new CoP simply kills artistry... I prefer old gymnastics, when it wasn't called artistic for nothing. Today it's acrobatic gymnastics.
There was time to dance from 1990 on-that's when the slide began imo. The Romanians with only a few exceptions had horrid choreo, no dance, etc. and other countries were little better.
I agree so much with you audie83 that's why I don't see how anyone can compare the wonderfull dancer that was Maria Filatova with Silivas of the 85's who was just a little accrobate
Its not just the rules: the Soviets spent A LOT of time on classical ballet as part of the gymnasts training programme, which is why we see such beautiful routines as this. The Soviets really put the emphasis on the aesthetics, not just the acrobatics, of the floor exercise. The girls would spend hours on choreography.
From what I remember, if you're first up, you're the "ice breaker." Other people in the competition have a chance to observe you and figure out how they're going to beat you.
Also-the judges held the scores down for the first gymnasts up on the team-and in an age when scores carried over into AA-at the 1981 Worlds I think Filatova went up first for the Soviets each time-she still managed to miraculously make it into the AA and won the silver medal. She has said she believes in her heart to this day she would have won the AA had she gone up last in the Team event on at least some of the equipment-most experts of the time agreed. Instead-Olga Bicherova won.
She is enchanting to watch :)
AngelicPhantom 4 months ago
Shes the lady that runs my gym
kidmatrickx 9 months ago
QUE EJERCICIO MAS GRACIOSO DE MARIA FILATOVA.
EbertMesias1 1 year ago
shes my coach :)
flippinbrit 3 years ago 2
You are very lucky! What country are you in?
TuesdayPillow 3 years ago
5/5
sighlentgirl 4 years ago
Maria Filatova could not only dance. She had beautiful lines and technique. Why was she always underscored, starting from Montreal, where she showed more difficult elements than most of the gymnasts and than most of her teammates?
lesanges2007 4 years ago
At Montreal she was the baby of the team and as a 'newbie' the Soviets clearly favored the veterans-Tourischeva, Korbut, and Kim. I'll never understand why she was put up first at later World competitions-perhaps it was internal politics. It really kept her from ever winning a major AA although she did win the World Cup.
audie83 3 years ago 3
She and her Soviet teammates put most of todays gymnasts to shame imo. THAT is how gymnastics is supposed to be done-artistry, beautiful lines, athleticism, grace, superb choreography. The ability to DANCE..
audie83 4 years ago 5
uh. I think you're overhyping the soviets. They were competing in totally different rules and equipment.
mrparts 4 years ago
However, that doesn't change the fact that today's gymnasts simply can't dance. (There are a few exceptions though...). I totally agree with audie83.
skata524 4 years ago
I disagree.
they don't have time to dance simply because of the rules. That does not imply that they "can't" dance. If the rules called for 90 seconds of choreography, you would then see everyone dancing instead of tumbling.
mrparts 4 years ago
I believe, as someone who started dancing at the age of 2, I know something about it. And those gymnasts back in the '60s-'80s and early '90s were much better dancers - and not just beacuse of the number of tumbling passes. Of course everyone has different opinion about it, I just wanted to tell mine.
skata524 4 years ago
ok that's fine. Don't forget that this sport is gymnastics and not dance. The current routines are designed to score well under rules that demand difficult skills and not choreography or dancing.. Just keep that in perspective when comparing gymnasts from different periods. :)
mrparts 4 years ago
I see your point ;) I'm just saying that I'm very sorry that this new CoP simply kills artistry... I prefer old gymnastics, when it wasn't called artistic for nothing. Today it's acrobatic gymnastics.
skata524 4 years ago
Thank you. Could not have put it better myself.
audie83 4 years ago
There was time to dance from 1990 on-that's when the slide began imo. The Romanians with only a few exceptions had horrid choreo, no dance, etc. and other countries were little better.
audie83 4 years ago 2
I agree so much with you audie83 that's why I don't see how anyone can compare the wonderfull dancer that was Maria Filatova with Silivas of the 85's who was just a little accrobate
gemarno 4 years ago
The slide began when the Soviet Union broke up and Romania got out of its' communist regime in 1989.
TuesdayPillow 3 years ago
Its not just the rules: the Soviets spent A LOT of time on classical ballet as part of the gymnasts training programme, which is why we see such beautiful routines as this. The Soviets really put the emphasis on the aesthetics, not just the acrobatics, of the floor exercise. The girls would spend hours on choreography.
ralucagymnast 2 years ago 7
Different rules and equipment does not excuse horrible line, form and an inability to dance.
audie83 4 years ago 2
What does that have to do with anything?
TuesdayPillow 3 years ago
From what I remember, if you're first up, you're the "ice breaker." Other people in the competition have a chance to observe you and figure out how they're going to beat you.
kashmirpage 3 years ago
Also-the judges held the scores down for the first gymnasts up on the team-and in an age when scores carried over into AA-at the 1981 Worlds I think Filatova went up first for the Soviets each time-she still managed to miraculously make it into the AA and won the silver medal. She has said she believes in her heart to this day she would have won the AA had she gone up last in the Team event on at least some of the equipment-most experts of the time agreed. Instead-Olga Bicherova won.
audie83 3 years ago
Just brilliant! Technically excellent and so artistic plus shed-fuls of cuteness! Many thanks for this post!
RonnieBass 4 years ago 2
CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!! XD
shinkar2n 4 years ago
Wow. Double pike mount and dismount. This was on the padded-not spring floor. Amazing.
lashenova 5 years ago 9