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231: The Rise and Fall of Ukrainian Gymnastics

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IN THE NEWS

Karla commissioned this episode because she wants everyone “to be able to appreciate the beauty that was Ukrainian gymnastics back when artistry was expected and not shockingly rare.”  Uncle Tim, Spencer, and Jessica chat about:

  • Legacy of Champions (4:30)
  • Favorite Skills (24:31)
  • The Fall (36:50)
    • MAG Ukraine 2012 team controversy:  no bronze because of Kohei non-handstand dismount on pommel horse protest. 
    • MAG Ukraine at the 2016 Olympic Games, did not compete a full team on each event in Team Finals.
    • Stella Zakharova and the Ukrainian Federation. Her interview here
    • Yana Demyanchuk 2010 beam EF.
  • The Greatest Gymnast Who Never Won Anything  Except Our Hearts! (49:37)
    • Anna Mirgorodskaya: smooth and confident 80s beam and innovative bars
    • Olga Roschupkina wins the Everyone Else’s Side Flip is Dead To Me Now Award. 
    • Alyona Kasha gorgeous floor, tumbling and smirk. She also vaulted the rare and illusive laid out handspring front. 
    • Maria Livchikova and her insane beam. 
    • Natalia Kalinina 1990 Goodwill Games floor.
  • The Future (58:25)

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LEARN MORE ABOUT UKRAINE

  • Netflix documentary “Winter on Fire” here
  • Movie coming out in February about the Holodomor (Stalin’s forced starvation) called Bitter Harvest.

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9 COMMENTS

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GymFactChecker
GymFactChecker
7 years ago

It wasn\’t Larisa Latynina\’s score that got changed so she could tie with V?ra ?áslavská, It was Larisa Petrik\’s. Latynina wasn\’t even at the 1968 Olympics, Get your act together Jessica!!!

GymFan
GymFan
7 years ago
Reply to  GymFactChecker

I wouldn\’t have said it in such words, but the very well known affair with the last minute score changes at Mexico 1968 Olympics didn\’t involve Larisa Latynina, but Larisa Petrik. You can see the incident at the end of this video about Caslavska: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKuEOVJHW7w&index=1&list=PLi8BnKE3VlNOMke40W-ycfb-Pi5hAUQWN

Jaclyn
Jaclyn
7 years ago

Isn\’t Svetlana Baitova Belarusian not Ukrainian?

GymFan
GymFan
7 years ago
Reply to  Jaclyn

She is from Belarus indeed, she even competed for her country in Atlanta 1996.

Rachel
Rachel
7 years ago

Lilia Podkopayeva was actually at 1993 worlds, so she was around for the whole quad. She had to do three vaults in the event finals.

Melissa Petrin
Melissa Petrin
7 years ago

Alexander Beresh won the 2000 Olympic All-Around bronze medal and was also a European champion. He died suddenly in a car wreck in 2004 a few months before Olympics(if I recall correctly).
Sorry if you mentioned him and I missed that part…I just wanted to make sure he wasn\’t forgotten. & as always thank you for your great podcasts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmjt0NBk6B4

Jenny
Jenny
7 years ago

For a unique skill I’d like to add Lilia Podkopayeva’s double layout bars dismount which she used in 1993. At that time all double layout bars discounts were super arched. In more recent years we see actually straight double layouts but hers is the only “hollow” or “dish” position double layout I’ve seen. https://youtu.be/1x1VmwIeHp4

Dino Michalopoulos
Dino Michalopoulos
6 years ago

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your podcast. I was very surprised that no one mentioned Alina Kozich (2004 European All Around Champion), who in my opinion had all the potential for an Olympic medal but had to \”Ukraine\” herself at the games.

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