@gymnasticshistory.bsky.social
You might know me as Uncle Tim. I research all the nerdy history about gymnastics. More at: gymnastics-history.com
1987: A Personal Essay by Maria Filatova - "Children Need to Be Told Fairy Tales"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
What was it like living with her coach? Was she a little mischievous in the gym? How did she go from alternate to a member of the 1976 squad that won gold on her birthday?
1987: An Interview with Dmitry Bilozerchev - "I Will Compete!"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
This was his first major interview after his car accident that shattered his leg in more than 40 pieces.
1989: An Interview with Olga Mostepanova - "There’s Something Inimitable about Her"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1989...
The official story at the time: In 1985, Mostepanova was pulled from the all-around final at worlds due to an injury. But is that what really happened?
1998: An Interview with Olga Mostepanova - "I Just Love Children"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1998...
The interview in which she confessed that her passport had been falsified and her birthdate had been adjusted to allow her to compete at a younger age.
1989: An Interview with Lyubov Burda-Andrianova about Coaching in the U.S.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1989...
1987: A Personal Essay by Lyubov Burda-Andrianova - “I Look into the Eyes of My Girls”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
Why should you care? She’s a member of the WTC, and in 1987, she had some traditional views of what gymnastics should be.
1987: A Personal Essay by Mikhail Voronin - "The More I Have Understood"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
Nearly 20 years later, the 1968 all-around results still stung.
1987: An Interview with Natalia Kuchinskaya - "Gymnastics Is My Love"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1987...
“In recent years, we have lost much of our artistry, we have gone down the path of technical complication, and as a result, we’ve become uninteresting to spectators.”
1987: An Interview with Larisa Petrik - "I Always Sought Inspiration"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1987...
“Sooner or later, you have to part with sport, and then you have to start life from scratch. And how will you start it if all you know how to do is ‘whip out’ incredible saltos?”
1987: An Interview with Larisa Latynina - "Know How to Nurture Talent"
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1987...
“To leave gymnastics at 30–35 is very difficult psychologically. You grow attached to the sport with your soul; it hurts to part with it.”
1987: An Interview with Olga Korbut – “I Would Still Be Performing”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1987...
The belief that artistry was dying in 1987. 😀 Declinist narratives are just part of our sport.
1980: What the Rest of the World Printed about Mukhina's Accident
The official story didn’t come out until 15 months after the accident, and in the meantime, rumors flew. Did she die? Was she paralyzed? On what event did she hurt herself?
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1980...
1980: What the Soviet Union Printed about Mukhina’s Accident
The official story didn’t come out until 15 months after the accident.
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1980...
1973: Latynina's Critique of Korbut and Praise of Tourischeva
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1973...
Does anyone have access to the ‘Ogonyok’ (Ogonek) database at, say, their university library?
12.09.2025 19:39 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
1952: The Women's Group Rhythmic Exercises at the Helsinki Olympics
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1952...
In conclusion, rhythmic gymnastics competitions have been controversial for decades. 😜
1952: The Women's Optionals at the Helsinki Olympics
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1952...
The fear of losing artistry was already a thing in 1952.
1952: The Women's Compulsories at the Helsinki Olympics
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
1952: An Analysis of the MAG Judging in Helsinki – Gymnastics History
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
1952: The Men's Optionals Competition at the Olympics
A lot of people argued that Chukarin shouldn’t be the 1952 vault champion.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
1952: The Men's Compulsories Competition at the Olympics
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/07/1952...
In 1952, the Soviet Union made its long-anticipated debut at the Olympic Games, and elite competitive gymnastics would never be the same.
But it wasn’t an easy decision. More here 👇
1951: The Soviet Union Joins the IOC www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/07/1951...
Can you take an empty run on vault? What constitutes an empty run?
You have the 1952 Men’s Technical Committee meeting to thank for that.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/05/1952...
1952: The Minutes from the Men’s Technical Committee Meeting
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/05/1952...
1952: The Swiss Olympic Trials for Gymnastics
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/05/1952...
In 1952, Japanese gymnasts returned to the Olympic Games after World War II.
Here’s how the team qualified and prepared for Helsinki. www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/04/1952...
1952: Keleti and Sántha Win Hungary's Masters Championships
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/03/1952...
1952: Korondi Wins Hungary's Third Olympic Trial
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/03/1952...
Some of these Y scales aren’t very Y-y.
22.02.2025 00:34 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0@pamchenkova.bsky.social - I asked around. 1993 Worlds may have been when Liukin did his high bar release. Kolyvanov’s skill is unclear. I’ll keep digging.
19.02.2025 17:37 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
