Gymnastics History
@gymnasticshistory.bsky.social
You might know me as Uncle Tim. I research all the nerdy history about gymnastics. More at: gymnastics-history.com
1990: An Interview Zinaida Voronina - "A Withered Flower Comes Back to Life in Spring"
Once lost to alcoholism and obscurity, Olympic champion Zinaida Voronina rebuilds her life as a factory worker, confronting shame and isolation with quiet dignity.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1990...
Once lost to alcoholism and obscurity, Olympic champion Zinaida Voronina rebuilds her life as a factory worker, confronting shame and isolation with quiet dignity.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1990...
November 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
1990: An Interview Zinaida Voronina - "A Withered Flower Comes Back to Life in Spring"
Once lost to alcoholism and obscurity, Olympic champion Zinaida Voronina rebuilds her life as a factory worker, confronting shame and isolation with quiet dignity.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1990...
Once lost to alcoholism and obscurity, Olympic champion Zinaida Voronina rebuilds her life as a factory worker, confronting shame and isolation with quiet dignity.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1990...
In this 1988 portrait, Polina Astakhova—“the Russian birch”—reflects on what remains after medals fade: the quiet strength to lose with dignity, to teach with warmth, and to keep beauty alive in gymnastics.
➡️ www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1988...
➡️ www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1988...
November 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
In this 1988 portrait, Polina Astakhova—“the Russian birch”—reflects on what remains after medals fade: the quiet strength to lose with dignity, to teach with warmth, and to keep beauty alive in gymnastics.
➡️ www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1988...
➡️ www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1988...
Elvira Saadi is permanently banned from working with athletes in Canada.
How was she described in the Soviet and Canadian press back in the day?
1987: An Interview with Saadi – “Without Them, the World Would Seem Dim to Me”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
How was she described in the Soviet and Canadian press back in the day?
1987: An Interview with Saadi – “Without Them, the World Would Seem Dim to Me”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
October 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Elvira Saadi is permanently banned from working with athletes in Canada.
How was she described in the Soviet and Canadian press back in the day?
1987: An Interview with Saadi – “Without Them, the World Would Seem Dim to Me”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
How was she described in the Soviet and Canadian press back in the day?
1987: An Interview with Saadi – “Without Them, the World Would Seem Dim to Me”
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1987...
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?
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?
October 8, 2025 at 3:00 AM
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?
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.
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.
October 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
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.
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 Lyubov Burda-Andrianova about Coaching in the U.S.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1989...
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1989...
October 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
1989: An Interview with Lyubov Burda-Andrianova about Coaching in the U.S.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/10/1989...
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.
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.
October 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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.
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: 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.”
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.”
September 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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.”
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.”
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...
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...
September 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
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...
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...
The official story didn’t come out until 15 months after the accident.
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1980...
September 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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...
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...
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1973...
September 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
1973: Latynina's Critique of Korbut and Praise of Tourischeva
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1973...
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1973...
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. 😜
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1952...
In conclusion, rhythmic gymnastics competitions have been controversial for decades. 😜
September 8, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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. 😜
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.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1952...
The fear of losing artistry was already a thing in 1952.
September 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
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.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/09/1952...
The fear of losing artistry was already a thing in 1952.
August 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
1952: An Analysis of the MAG Judging in Helsinki – Gymnastics History
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
August 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
1952: An Analysis of the MAG Judging in Helsinki – Gymnastics History
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
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...
A lot of people argued that Chukarin shouldn’t be the 1952 vault champion.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
August 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
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...
A lot of people argued that Chukarin shouldn’t be the 1952 vault champion.
www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/08/1952...
July 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
May 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
1951: Keleti Scores a Perfect 10 at the Masters Championships
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2024/12/1951...
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2024/12/1951...
December 19, 2024 at 3:04 PM
1951: Keleti Scores a Perfect 10 at the Masters Championships
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2024/12/1951...
👉 www.gymnastics-history.com/2024/12/1951...