Just admit you did badly, made mistakes, and will strive to do better next time. She took home bronze for the floor exercise, and silver as part of the team all-around. But it also made their relationships mutually self-destructive. Mikhail Klimenkos treatment of Mukhina was atrocious, and there is so much to say on that topic that it deserves its own separate article. Elena Mukhina obtuvo el oro en el mundial en Estrasburgo (Francia). She dies decades later at 45. Read RT Privacy policy to find out more. Mukhina, the embodiment of elegance and strength, sacrificed her life and health in attempt to win an Olympic medal for her country. RIP - YouTube 0:00 / 2:37 Gymnastics Angel. With less than a year until the 1980 Summer Olympics to be held in Moscow, the pressure was on the Soviet team coaches and doctors to get the previous All Around champion Mukhina back on her feet and ready for the games. She recalled later in an interview with the Russian magazine Ogoniok, "They removed the cast and I was walking crookedly. First Name Elena #5. ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) _ Dmitri Bilozerchev and Elena Mukhina both suffered disasterous falls after becoming world gymnastics champions. In 1983, Bilozerchev became the . She remained with her grandmother in a Moscow apartment, reclusive and rarely giving interviews. 0 views, 55 likes, 11 loves, 12 comments, 120 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina - 1960-2006: Video of the documentary "More Than a Game", 1991, shows that the testimony. . She returned to train for the Olympics while starting a strenuous workout program at CSKA Moscow to lose the weight she had put on while being laid up from surgery. Whether lingering guilt and depression were contributing factors to his death is an answer we will never know. Back in 1975, she had suffered a spinal injury which required hospital treatment and rest. These are real clips of a real person who in the end, really did get hurt, and the damage couldnt be undone. At the age of five years Elena lost both of her parents. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In 1976 Nadia Comaneci dominated the Olympics when she was only 14 years old. Mikhail Klimenko deserves significant blame for Mukhinas injury, but there is one particular detail that is frequently overlooked. The Elena Mukhina tapes end with Mukhina being asked to react and her response is I dont know how to react. In this final exchange we see Mukhinas reserved/quiet nature. Daniel Hale blows the whistle on the US drone wars, Is Julianna Penas destruction of Amanda Nunes really the biggest upset in MMA history? The movement was later modified in the 1980s when it was performed towards the low bar; that is, the gymnast's flip takes place above the low bar. At age 20, former Soviet Union gymnastics champion Elena Mukhina crash-lands while practicing a signature tumbling pass and is paralyzed. Elena was a former Soviet gymnast who won the All-around title at the 1978 World Championships at Strasbourg, France and was a four times European champion 1977 (Prague) and 1979 (Copenhagen). Mikhail Klimenko was a relatively young coach who was trying to prove himself, and was far too willing to push the limits and win by any means necessary. She was discovered by Bela Karolyi in 1973, was featured in an American television program in 1976, and had been sent to the Olympics as an observer in 1980, all before making her 1984 Olympic debut at the age of 16. She was orphaned at the age of 5 and was raised by her grandmother - Anna Ivanovna. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 5 19761976 . Among the negativity, Strug tweeted a message of support for Biles' decision - her own story proving just how important it was for Biles to step back. Elena Mukhina. "We have to protect our body and our mind It just sucks when you're fighting with your own head.". People named Elena Mukhina. All while she is chided for her constant crying throughout the footage. Mukhina took an interest in gymnastics and figure skating at an early age. I realized that the commandments do not think badly, do not act badly, do not envy are not just words. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. However, Mukhina had not fully healed from her leg injury while she worked on perfecting this stunt. Elena Mukhina-41977 1978 1979 UPUP Ella debe estar en el saln de la fama 3.50. Comaneci famously earned the first-ever perfect 10 score for her performance on the uneven bars. Mukhina herself eventually succumbed to complications from her condition on December 22, 2006. Comaneci would help the Romanians to team gold at the World Championships, despite her own struggles with blood poisoning resulting from a cut. Elena Mukhina, Russia Gymnast. 01:46 Now playing - Source: WFSB 'Give me a break': Ex-CIA official on US response to Chinese balloon . 6 ratings3 reviews. In 1982, Juan Samaranch, president of the IOC, awarded her the Silver Medal of Olympic Order. What a joke, he wrote. The mantra appeared clear: injury was weakness or unwillingness, Mukhina had to break through the pain to achieve greatness. "ELENA MUKHINA OLYMPIC CHAMPION" is the story of Elena Mukhina, Soviet gymnast, World Champion 1978, who had an injury just few days before the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Mukhina died in 2006, at the age of46, from complications of quadriplegia. However, unlike the popular narrative - Strug performed that vault under pressure from her coach, injuring her ankle further. The Soviet Union awarded her the Order of Lenin in response to her injury, and the IOC President awarded her the Silver Medal of the Olympic Order in 1983. Estimated Net Worth in 2020. Nadia is a crucial part of Elena Mukhinas story. Some reports said doctors feared she was paralyzed, while others said she has use of her arms and legs and is able to speak. En 1981, el Comit Olmpico Internacional le otorg la Orden Olmpica de Plata , la segunda mayor . She hails from Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, and her zodiac sign is Gemini. "She is too easily touched," a team coach said at the time. . What makes these clips so powerful is that they were an actual prelude and a real-life example of a foreshadowing omen. First, she was discovered by an athletic scout in her school, and then she later joined the CSKA Moscow . Elena Mukhina was born in Russia. Despite purported advice from Klimenko that she should only perform it into the foam pit, she was training on the platform. As usual, Im not saying karma but. She won three gold medals and two silver medals at the 1978 World . About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . . Later that year the Soviet Union awarded her the Order of the Badge of Honor in response to her injury. As a memorial to one of the greatest Soviet-era gymnasts ever, the biggest sports newspaper in Russia, Sovietskij SPORT, dedicated the cover of their Christmas 2006 issue to her. Her battle was now an entirely different one: to find some quality of life to accompany her immobility. As a person, he wasnt just trying to preserve his coaching career, but his social status in which his coaching career depended on. As Mukhina would later recall, her hand shot up without hesitation. The move was named after US mens star Kurt Thomas and involved a 1.5 backflip-1.5 twist combination before a roll-out. For a wide variety of reasons, he had become overly invested in a single gymnast. Mukhina took an interest in figure skating and gymnastics at a very early age. Mukhina was rushed into surgery that afternoon, but the damage had already been done to her reputation; one of the National Team coaches, she said in the Ogonyok interview, showed up at her bed the day after surgery and outright stated that she \"wasn't conscientious\" and that she could still \"train in a cast.\" Once more against her wishes, the doctors removed her cast prematurely, and Mukhina returned to training for the Olympics while beginning a strenuous workout program at CSKA Moscow to lose the weight she had gained while laid up from surgery.\r\rWith lingering weakness in her leg and mounting exhaustion from the grueling weight loss workouts, Mukhina had great difficulty coming back up to speed on what was to be the new end element of one of her floor exercise tumbling passes, the Thomas salto, Despite Mukhina's warnings that the element was constantly causing minor injuries and was dangerous enough to potentially cause major injuries, she was pushed to keep the element in her floor routine, and she continued to practice it even knowing it was a dangerous element. View all posts by Nikki Young, Your email address will not be published. Likewise, there was desperation from Klimenko to get Mukhina back on her feet and into training to ensure she made the team. It should be questioned how much Klimenko was being motived by his own personal goal of overcoming career failure. Watch. of her own health not just to avoid a blown hamstring or broken bone but to avoid a potentially life-threatening injury and haters have no ground to criticize her for that. I always try to add a hint of humor in each blog and promise to always unapologetically be myself. or. At 3:00 Mukhina and Klimenko have a conversation regarding personal goals. On July 3, 1980, Mukhina was practicing the part of her routine containing the Thomas salto. Perhaps the most significant part of the footage comes when Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci is invoked in the discussion. JUSTICIA!!! Poignant footage from the documentary Unfree fall shows an all-together lighter, more playful Mukhina when she was removed from the gaze of her master. Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina was born on June 1, 1960, in Moscow, Russian SFSR (now Moscow, Russia). In an interview with Ogonyok magazine, Mukhina blamed the doctors at TsITO (Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics) who were serving the National Team for attempting to rush her back into training too soon, saying she begged them not to remove her cast and discharge her because \"they're dragging me from home to workouts\" and she knew she was not yet healed. Both Mukhina and Klimenko used the term psychological when they were interviewed in news articles. Surveillance video sheds light on 'cartel . Why?, "Even though athletes get to travel and see so much, they are terribly deprived spiritually. Despite beating Mukhina to gold on the beam, Comaneci settled for a solitary title and two silvers at the event. A true champion! That there is a direct connection between them and how a person feels. It didnt help that the next Olympics were slated to be held in Moscow and the Soviets did not want to see Nadia trounce the Soviet team at their Olympics. Hi, slightly off topic but there is a film called Something different by Vera Chytilov that features Eva Boskov, a Czech gymnast of the 1950s and early 60s. One example comes at 1:40 where there is a cut between the comment made by Klimenko and Mukhinas response. The Thomas salto is a 1 backflip with 1 twists ending a forward roll. Her injury was a featured topic in an A&E documentary More Than a Game; and her World Championship performance is captured in the ABC Sports video Gymnastic's Greatest Stars. She is too sensitive a girl to be a great athlete. The extreme political dynamics of the era that Mukhinas athletic career were defined by, and her rapidly rising up the ranks so fast, that it should have been impossible. Naci con talento. On my wanderings through YouTube one night I came across the story of Elena Mukhina (1960-2006), a gymnast unlucky enough to be born under the Soviet regime. Her career was on the rise and she . When an athletic scout visited her school, she volunteered to try out for the gymnastics team. In trying to complete the salto, the gymnast landed on her chin and effectively snapped her spine. While Biles received widespread praise for admitting her mental health issues and opening up a conversation in a sport that is strewn with a history of life-altering or life-ending injuries, others were quick to dismiss Biles' explanation. "We dont need people like you making snide comments like this and adding to the stigma. The slightest lapse - whether it be physical or mental - can be life changing, sometimes even fatal. Elena Mukhina is a great gymnast, world champion. Mukhina was born in Moscow on June 1, 1960. So, for an athlete to know when something is increasing that risk, is significant. With the Olympics just weeks away, the Soviet team were in Minsk, putting in intense training. Leave a LIKE if you enjoyed the Story of \"Elena Mukhina\" \u0026 SUBSCRIBE for more gymnastics videos! By her own admission, Mukhina called herself a coward and was determined to break that label. You can find it on BFI player if you are interested. Chinese peace plan: Can Beijing find a way to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, despite open hostility from the US and NATO. On July 3, 1980, two weeks before the Moscow Olympics, Elena Mukhina was practicing the pass containing the Thomas salto when she under-rotated, and crash-landed on her chin, snapping her spine and leaving her quadriplegic. Take our survey for a chance to win a $100 voucher. Besides the previously mentioned obstacles such as conditioning and learning new skills, gymnastics is a reputation based sport, first you work for your name and then your name works for you.. It remains one of the greatest individual showings gymnastics have ever seen. They suggested this was something that Biles should have done for her team - pushed through the pain. We love, we remember. When doctors removed her cast against her wishes and had her try walking on the leg, she said that she knew she was walking \"crookedly\" and that something was not right. She does not get enough credit for how rapid and unexpected her rise was. The injury would eventually lead to her premature death at the age of 46. We offer you the possibility to receive RT's news highlights every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by email. As a memorial to one of the greatest Soviet-era gymnasts ever, the biggest sports newspaper in Russia, Sovietskij SPORT, dedicated the cover of their Christmas 2006 issue to her. Elena Mukhina's Net Worth: $1-5 Million. Log In. When she did speak, she was often philosophical about her fate. The fact is that gymnastics is an extremely dangerous sport, and one that involves a great risk of injury - even when a gymnast is in peak health. Aug 4, 2021 - A catastrophic injury cost Mukhina the use of her limbs. Old School. Remember, you don't have to agree with my opinions but I am still free to express them. RIP Women's Gymnastics Good People Amazing People Female Gymnast Picture Video ELENA MUKHINA 1978 WORLD'S ALL-AROUND-ALL 4 ROUTINES! Her stupid coach should have listened to her. It culminated in achieving the top ranking in the sport and having one of the most dominant All-Around performances in WAG history. As a rising star, everyone had their eyes on her for the coming Olympic games, something Mukhina said pressured her into pushing through her injury. He sensed that his legacy as a trainer was bound up in Mukhina's fate. Bna. I dont exactly sympathize with Klimenko, but I do see him as a tragic villain. For Mikhail Klimenko, Mukhina was too important to his career for her to fail. However, until now, it has almost been unheard of for any high-level gymnast to withdraw from competition for health reasons. The following year Mukhina achieved the trademark win of her career by winning the All-Around title at the 1978 World Championships. ", Asked her hobbies at a press conference, Mukhina said, "I read books . But the most eerie thing of all, is how many parallels this footage has to problems that are currently at the forefront of gymnastics as the sport tries to change its culture. Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below. It had to be rectified, and Mukhina emerged as one of the answers. My coach came the next day and said that I wasn't conscientious and that I could train in a cast.". In 2021, she was posthumously inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Mukhina was injured on July 3rd, it would take nearly a week for news of the accident to spread to the Western press. Mostepanovas Romanian rival Ecaterina Szabo had a similar story. The clips themselves are harrowing as they show a mostly downtrodden Mukhina and provide insights about the coaching environment she was subjected to. The clips can be found in the above YouTube video. The tiny, 20-year-old gymnast, whose erratic performances were blamed by coaches on her poetic and romantic nature, reportedly landed on her neck while practicing difficult acrobatic routines by herself. 5.5M views 5 years ago This is probably the LONGEST video I will ever make. Note: It is for the reader to decide whether Klimenkos conduct in the Mukhina tapes constitutes emotional/mental abuse, it is not my intention to imply that it is. After her accident, Mukhina became a recluse and rarely discussed it publicly. - YouTube Strasbourg Gymnastics Champion History Fitness Historia Physical Exercise Gymnastics. Usually when a gymnastics documentary is being selectively edited to present a more favorable narrative, the controversial moments are excluded entirely. The tweet sparked an insane backlash, with people slamming Morgan for his comments. The TsITO doctors X-rayed the leg and discovered that the fracture had not healed properly and would not be able to sustain the pounding of gymnastics in its present condition. One of Europes top right-wing extremists: Who is the neo-Nazi behind this weeks Ukrainian attack in Russias Bryansk Region? One of the most talented athletes,which was brought up by the school of artistic gymnastics of the Soviet Union, was Mukhina Elena. Mukhina performed the move, falling on her chin and crushing her cervical vertebrae. During her Ogonyok magazine interview, she said one of the National Team coaches showed up at her hospital room the day after her surgery and flat out told her that she wasnt conscientious, and that she could still train in a cast. (LogOut/ Action Images, Mukhina had emerged as a world-beating force but faced increasing pressure. 42 talking about this. One further detail that is critical to understanding the Mukhina-Klimenko coaching relationship is that they had risen up the Soviet ranks together. Lastly, Mikhail Klimenko pivoted to WAG only after his coaching career in MAG had failed to materialize. We know that gymnasts can suffer injuries if they take a fall during a routine or land funny during a flip. Her condition was unclear. But Shaposhnikova, Davydova, Nellie Kim, and Filatova are all members of the Hall of Fame. Todava no entiendo por que no han hecho una pelcula de esta extraordinaria atleta. Required fields are marked *. The duo fit each other like a hand entering a glove and had success that would have been impossible under any other circumstance. But we also see the type of response that exists in a culture where athletes dont feel comfortable speaking what is on their mind. Mikhall KLIMENKO was once National juniors' champion of the USSR, but turned to the profession of coach quite early due to an injury and once took care of the gravely injured wheelchair-bound Elena Mukhina.The brother of the sixfold European Champion Victor Klimenko, who lives in Germany now, was known as one of the most . Some said she would be lucky to live days, let alone weeks. In the end, after a long search, I returned to my initial options and narrowed the choices down to \" g, g \u0026 \" being the two being the main songs I'd choose from while the other two due to soothing melody in the cover versions of other languages. The expectation was huge. Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn't an easy feat, so we're just trying to take it one day at a time and we'll see.". She has been placed in a neck cast and will be immobilized for several weeks. Jun 7, 2020 - A catastrophic injury cost Mukhina the use of her limbs. Would Elena Mukhina Have Made the Olympic Team if Not For Her Paralyzing Injury. Aged 18, Mukhina was imperious as she won gold in the all-around, team and floor events, as well as picking up silver medals in the uneven bars and balance beam. Where I disagree with Soviet officials is their claim that it was all Klimenkos fault. It wasnt until Simone Biles that WAG had another gymnast who rapidly appeared from out of nowhere in the same fashion as Mukhina. . Miguel Saiz Garcia. The 1979 World Championships, to be held in Fort Worth, were looming but Mukhina broke her leg during an exhibition in England, ruling her out of the competition. Ekaterina Gordeeva was born on 28 May 1971 and she is currently 51 years old. When Olympians take a year off, they typically resume high level training with two years to spare until the next Olympics because thats how long it takes to relearn their old skills, perfect Olympic-level routines, condition their body, and acquire muscle memory. I realized that I needed to radically change my attitude to life, Mukhina said. Mukhina went as far as to say she felt sorry for Klimenko and classified him as a victim of the system.. Up until 1975, Mukhina flew under the radar and Soviet coaches largely ignored her and her abilities. This year marks the 15th anniversary since Mukhinas death on December 22, 2006. . Elena Mukhina. . Her coach rushed her recovery from an injury and pressured her to perform a dangerous move (the Thomas salto), which caused her to break her neck, leaving her a lifelong quadriplegic. Under the ever-demanding eye of Klimenko, Mukhina became all-round silver medalist at the Soviet championships in 1977, the same year she won three titles at the European championships in Prague along with one silver and one bronze, as well two World Cup titles. Elena Mukhina died of apparent complications from quadriplegia on December 22, 2006 (2006-12-22) (aged 46). The moment she fell to the floor, Mukhina described her first thought as, "Thank God, I won't be going to the Olympics.". The Elena Mukhina tapes are only 3.5 minutes in length, and in that short time we get a wide range of historic symbolism. Mukhina spoke up and tried to convince her coach of how dangerous the element was. Klimenko knew to do this because his educational background was in psychology. 701 viewsOct 27, 2020 Klimenko was deeply affected by the events and emigrated to Italy with his family, continuing his work as a gymnastics trainer. It is written as in her native Russian language. YouTube, Mukhina regularly battled with injuries. In a sport where reputation, experience, and youth were three critical assets, Mukhina was beating gymnasts who were younger than her, had twice as much experience including being veteran Olympians, and were once well known child prodigies. Mikhail Klimenko maintained a viable coaching career in the aftermath of Mukhinas injury. I almost screamed with joy, she said. Just as gymnastics was becoming more demanding following the graceful elements of the likes of the legendary Larisa Latynina and Ludmilla Tourischeva, Klimenko saw the chance to bring in more powerful and increasingly complex elements from mens gymnastics and impose them on his new protegee. The Romanian endured her own brutal training routine, and later revealed she had even attempted suicide prior to the 1978 World Championships. As an athlete, his Olympic dream was stolen from him and he was living that dream though his own pupil. Added to this perfect storm of pressure was the complex element Klimenko had placed in her floor routine: the Thomas salto. But I dont think we really take a moment to think about just how severe and life-altering the injuries can end up being. Eglit, however, gradually came to understand that the gaunt-looking child in his charge possessed a talent which warranted more professional attention. We often dont consider that a gymnast can suffer paralysis if they land on their neck, head, or back funny. Internacional. TIL Soviet gymnast Elena Mukhina, widely touted as the next great gymnastics star until 1979. Mukhina's career ended in tragedy, an injury on the eve of the 1980 Olympics left her paralyzed from the neck down just one month after celebrating her 20th birthday. Mukhina achieved breakout success at the 1977 European Championships. Kids need strong role models not this nonsense.. If there're ANY problems whichever content make sure to message me and I'll be sure to check it out and take it down if that is what the owner desires. Born In 1960. I do not believe it was a coincidence that this story ended in tragedy, but the tragic ending was a direct byproduct of the unconventional backgrounds Mikhail Klimenko and Elena Mukhina shared. The Biggest Tragedy in Gymnastics History (Story of Elena Mukhina) Best Gymnastics 32.4K subscribers Subscribe 17K 1.6M views 2 years ago Leave a LIKE if you enjoyed the Story of "Elena. Her disappointing performances continued after the Spartakiad, and her attempts to live up to the promise of 1978 were hampered by a series of injuries last year that had demoralized her. Despite Mukhinas never-ending warnings that the element was causing minor injuries and was dangerous enough to cause a major injury, she was pushed to keep it in her routine and continued to practice it, even knowing about the risks. 261 viewsNov 13, 2020. This article isnt an attempt at rehabilitating Mikhail Klimenko or trying to paint him in a more sympathetic light. In an article forDaily Mail, he urged Biles to "get back out there Simone, and dont get sucked into all the weak woke failure-loving Twitter nonsense youre too great a champion to be labelled a quitter.". Gemini Gymnast #5. Less than a month before the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Mukhina was asked by a coach of the national team to do the Thomas Salto - a move that is so dangerous it is now banned. Yelena Mukhina (U.S.S.R.) - Class of 2021 - International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Otherwise, you can go crazy. She's the owner and head coach at Gemini Gymnastics, a gymnastics club in Oshawa, Ontario. Biryulina became the first woman to throw the javelin more than 70 meters. Her stupid coach should have listened to her. The other was twice her age who had professional training that could be used as a tool for manipulation. Going through her routines in the gym, she was forced into an even greater workload to cut the excess weight she had gained during her incapacitation. Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina was born on June 1, 1960, in Moscow, Russia. RIA Novosti, Elena Mukhina pictured in 1977. They were being pressured to make sure the Moscow Olympics featured the strongest lineup of Soviet gymnasts to ever be assembled. Along with an outpouring of support for the 24-year-old's decision, there was one question on everyone's lips: While there was speculation as towhether Biles had obtained a physical injury, the athlete later shared that her decision was one that was based on mental health. Moscow remained quiet today, devoid of the festive atmosphere that usually envelops the host city a week before the Olympics. The tragedy of Mikhail Klimenko is that it was he who carried most of the blame. Mukhinas apotheosis arrived in 1978 with a breathtaking performance at the World Championships in Strasbourg, France. But for both of their sakes, it would have been better if they never met at all. One incident was the Romanian domination of the Soviet gymnastics machine at the 1976 Olympics. Take another look at the video from the Amanar vault gone wrong.While flipping and spinning . Mukhinas career ended in tragedy, an injury on the eve of the 1980 Olympics left her paralyzed from the neck down just one month after celebrating her 20th birthday. Because of her injury, she had great difficulty re-mastering a signature tumbling run, a Thomas salto (a 1 and 3/4 flip with 1 1/2 twists). It had been a staple of Soviet womens gymnastics since the 1960s. Soviet gymnastic Nellie Kin was her main rival and would later receive a perfect ten, on the vault.