@I. Wynn Wynn no respect it was a horror to read and know how talented she was She had grace and beauty in her performance and much difficulty~ Very sad life.. No one to represent her her grandmother could not imagine I am sure~
Karen Reed yeah, because a child in the communist extreme Soviet Union really has the power. She asked doctors not to remove the cast, she begged the adults in her life to listen, but to them she was an object for proving national superiority. The higher ups in government saw her as a tool, and short of purposefully doing badly and failing, she wouldn’t have an obvious out. It’s kind of like saying people in North Korea should just leave. It’s not that simple.
He was another victim of the Soviet System and took it out on Elena...she was Wise beyond her years and she KNEW this about her coach. He moved his family out of Russia after this and died of cancer. Bad scene all around.
@@wendywhoisit1819 Oh she was PUSHED beyond what she could handle. She Looks exhausted in every training video. Probably mail nutrition contributed to her leg fracture. The Soviets would destroy Anyone to WIN. She was an orphan at 5 so no parents to defend her etc
who is here after simone biles prevented this same fate for herself!? We got your back Simone! Good call. Sometimes our seemingly worst moments end up being our biggest blessings. We tend to minimize ourselves and so many people never realize their true greatness. You are much more than your accomplishments, you are a loving & loveable child of a living loving God who created you perfectly. But remember that your accomplishments have also become accomplishments and encouragement for so many girls on so many levels. You are a shining example of strength and triumph for young girls, women, sexual abuse victims, kids in foster care, adopted kids, those battling mental issues, and adults who really need to learn a thing or two about compassion and understanding. Thank you for standing up for yourself, your safety, and well-being and thus opening the door for others who may not have had such courage because of the judgements of an ignorant society! I am very proud of you Simone!
I am... This is ridiculous has anyone ever watched someone have a panic attack, they are real, or a mental break down its also real. I could see she was off. She’s been saying she was so tired. This is no different then if there was an accident and messed up and lost the gold. This is life.
Good for Simone for putting herself first. If she had pushed through and competed and had gotten badly injured, most people would have offered her ‘thoughts and prayers’ and moved on with their lives while she would have been stuck in her fears and dealing with whatever injuries for the rest of her life. She has already proven what a great gymnast she is she doesn’t have to prove anything else to the world. That’s a great sign of maturity!
I watched this before but agree a mess up in gymnastics can have major consequences. I also think this story has something to do with the starting point controversy. If soemone got hurt they could be seen as encouraging it and not stopping it. It's a doubled edged sword for sure. I can see both sides.
Same. Simone saw the warning signs and acted just in time. A medal is an object. life is irreplaceable. I support her decision and courage to halt at the Olympics.
According to biographical articles, Mukhina was 20 years old at the time of her accident. Still, it is truly heartbreaking that she suffered such cruelty at the hands of her coaches, who did not care about her wellbeing.
I can’t believe everyone arguing about whether she was a woman or a little girl. She couldn’t stand up for herself and had no one to help her. She was a little girl!!!!
As someone who was a gymnast, coaches often care more about your training than if you have an injury. It's one of the main reasons I quit. I landed on my shoulder while doing a back handspring in the earlier years of my training and my coach told me to walk it off and do my beam routine. I ended up falling because my shoulder was dislocated and obviously couldn't sustaine weight. I also still have wrist issues years later from landing on them wrong so many times and my coaches not caring. It's a sad industry.
You must've had terrible coaches. In the 19 years I've spent in the gym (14 as a gymnast and 5 as a coach), my coaches and I always took injuries seriously. The worst injuries we had on the team were a dislocated elbow and a fractured elbow (one was a missed release move on bars). My coached picked up the injured gymnast, carried her to his car and drove her to the hospital himself (5 minute drive) and stayed with her until she was casted and on pain meds. He would not allow her to come back until she had full release from doctor and physical therapist that she was safe to train. He didn't care about winning, he cared about our safety and happiness and helping us be the best athletes we were able to be. Don't let a few bad eggs ruin the sport for you.
Dino Nuggets same especially my beam coach. If I get an injury she will yell at me for not being careful and doesn’t care if something hurts we will still have to do it and if we don’t we have rope climbs
Poor thing died probably thinking she was forgotten by the world. She probably never knew that kind people on YT put up memorials like this so others, like me, would learn and remember. I just look at her face and I want to hug her and hold her hand. So sorry she passed and passed way too young.
"she became a recluse after the injury" ...double talk for "they shipped her away, tried to keep her quiet, and get the world to forget she exists" so they wouldn't ask questions or cause negative publicity on "the machine."
She might have also been embarrassed. Not that she should be, but when you have all that pressure on you, and all those people telling you that "people like you don't break their necks" like you're some kind of God, and you're still so young and naive, you could get tricked by the system into feeling embarrassed for something that wasn't even your fault.
i can't believe they simply used her. they didn't care about her, and they didn't think about how injured she was. as soon as she became paralyzed, they tried to dump her out as if she were nothing. because of this, the poor girls career ended way too early.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE DANCING IN HEAVEN AND ENJOYING ALL THE FRUITS OF A HEAVENLY LIFE WITHOUT ANY PAIN OR FORM OF DARKNESS...INSTEAD YOUNG, FULLY HEALED AND JOYFUL!!! YOU DESERVE IT!!! XOXOXOXO
the fact that she thought “thank god i won’t have to go to the olympics” first instead of “am i going to be okay” or “i need help” while she was in that much pain and fear says a lot about the gymnastics industry and the unrealistic expectations people have for gymnasts and other athletes. this is truly sad
Response from Someone Who Realised They Couldn't Abuse Her Anymore.. She Was Alone, In Pain, Exhausted.. CRUEL HOW MANY PEOPLE SHEOPLE ACCEPT CHILD ABUSE AS A OK..
@@Lilnugget_96 It's the system to blame. Soviet had a strong regime. The coach was forced to train her or else he would be removed possibly get killed. The coach and Elena had good relationships. It's the Soviet regime and wanting to win over Romania who were their number one rival at that time. He probably emigrated to Italy to live in peace regardless very sad
Agreed...she didn't stand a chance when she hadn't even recovered from breaking her leg! This is what happens when the need to win overrides common sense!
@@desertbreeze69 She refused but she is living in a communist country and she is a national athlete. Besides the brainwashing done, do you really think that she had the freedom of speech to do as she wished. This is the Soviet Union we are talking about. Even the coaches and doctors did not have the freedom to help her.....
Coaches often work gymnasts WAY to hard. I fractured my ankle when I fell off the beam, and my coach had me continue for two weeks before I got an x-ray and cast. From walking on my ankle too long the bone wouldn’t heal right and I was in a cast for the next 3 years of my life. Then I was diagnosed with CRPS 4 years after the incident due to being in a cast for so long. My CRPS has made it extremely hard to do anything because I’m always in pain. Even though I enjoyed doing it so much, I haven’t been able to do gymnastics since. Sorry for the long story! Edit: wow thanks sooo much for the support!! To anyone wondering why I didn’t get an x-ray right after it’s due to the fact my coach was in medical school at the time to become a nurse. Right after the fall she told me I had just sprained it and to continue training. But we knew something wasn’t right when it hurt just as much two weeks later. Thats when my mom decided we needed to get an X-ray done.
Da Tina those coaches make me sick. They just work us gymnasts too hard for a good reputation. Hope you can feel better! Also you said to hard the word is *too hard (sorry it just bugs me) hope you are doing better 😔
Dang I was lucky it was 3 weeks before I went to the ER to find out I had 3 broken bones right where the foot and toes connect which they were fractures and by that point were already in the process of healing themselves without no dumb cast
But why didn't your mom or dad take you to the doctor? You can't blame a coach if there was nothing wrong with you and as far as he knew there was nothing wrong. Did he know about the fracture and continue to insist? If so, again, why would your parents allow you to? This is really a matter of your parents allowing you to participate when you were injured. I had a nasty fall while riding a horse (the horse, reared, flipped over backwards and landed on my chest) and had my arm in a sling for weeks. Guess what, my mom wouldn't let me ride during that time. It was that easy. She said no. I went out there and brushed him and then went home. I don't remember if my trainer said anything but I know my mom wouldn't have been bullied into letting me back up with a fractured anything.
Wait wtf, I’m not a gymnast but i also fracture my ankle from a skateboarding accident and I couldn’t even walk, I knew something was wrong and didn’t attempt to put weight on it, that same day I went to the hospital. How were you able to walk/put weight on your inured ankle?? That’s insane!!!
Ryan Lo he wanted glory from the communist government...he died of cancer a year after Elena passed, it just may have bothered him. He was part of the machine of the USSR
I’m glad Simone Biles listened to her body and was strong enough to know she wasn’t in the right head space to compete. Poor Elena. She had so much pressure on her. :(
@@sabrinahouston9814 I agree as well. When a gymnast is performing death defying stunts, it’s her prerogative to define her limits. I totally respect Simon for not allowing herself to be pressured. I much rather see her performing at a later time than never again.
@@tuesday225 wow what a rasis you sure cant admit when asian can win medal in any sport do you. No one can ever dare to make you step down and the fact you are from such powerfull nation country. Unless you are drug abuser and was positively tested.
@@thelordismyshepherd1366 Simone Biles didn't compete because she couldn't do it without using the banned drug Ritalin. Biles was lucky that she could use drugs with the WADA's permission. It helped her immensely to concentrate and gain an upper hand.
I'm not into judging others, but I will call it how I see it. Athletes are not machines and that was a narcissistic action to make that young lady train when she said she was still injured. Winning isn't everything. The hunger or insatiableness to be the best caused this young woman to lose her health and ultimately her life. Cruel, tragic and sad.
Pressure abuse happens to kids in the democratic world too, Lena Zavaroni, Andrea Jaeger. What lets it happen, is that kids are not democratically emancipated citizens, it's still believed right to be authoritarian to them. www.authoritarianschooling.co.uk + arguments against it are deliberately excluded from the media. Here is how it took me 3 years to escape from breaking point school pressure to be a high achiever www.raggeduniversity.co.uk/2015/04/28/eighties-teenage-psychiatry-for-school-pressure-one-writer-squashed-another-by-maurice-frank/
Are you really comparing the pressure of 80s UK schooling to training as a member of the 70-80s Soviet gymnastics team with a known ability to win gold? Your examples of pressure abuse seem strange when Julissa Gomez would be the epitome of that.
@@neeknanuk9080 I am indeed. How does one person being an epitome disprove other cases' existence? Instead, other csses' existence are illustrative of where the evil comes from in society, that caused the epitome case.
It's bad enough that she broke her leg, in which she can make a comeback from, but ended up with a broke spine, all because of pressure from coaches and peers.
natelie r Willie Gordon is right, she was forced, she spoke up and told certain people and coaches that she wasn't ready and no one spoke up for her when she pleaded, she was forced and pressured.
Willie Gordon and disiskrazy d They didn't force her in the slightest, it was her decision to preform and practice the stunt. She even said that it was her fault that she didn't say no. If she went along with it, even when she knew that she shouldn't have, I honestly can't hold that much sympathy for her. Of course, it's unfortunate and tragic, but it was her fault. Being forced and being pressured are two COMPLETELY different things. She might have been pressured, but she wasn't forced. The fact is, is that she couldn't sue because she went along with it. That's all my comment was addressing.
Me too, the pain she must of gone through the months before. Poor Elena my heart breaks she was so talented. She so needed someone to hug her and and tell her how loved and great she was :(
This story touched me with tears also. IT was heartbreaking .. She had it all to win bit time.. She was so willing to work and be the best she could be ... She would have been the very best . No doubt on that~.. She won many awards but never did have the Olympics she should have been in ~
Elena was one of the best ever and one of my favorites. She was taken too soon.She deserved a much better life. Thanks for all the wonderful memories, Elena. You are remembered.
@@-BabyValentine- she was forced to train on an injured leg. Many top level gymnasts have been injured trying that move. Think about it. And, she was beyond Amazing. She was sacrificed to the medals machine
I'm just going to put this out there for everyone. I managed to find a whole bunch of information about Elena which was in Russian but I managed to get it translated. Knowledge about her life is patchy at best and it requires separation of facts from propaganda. About the leg... After the bad break she was forced back into training and the break came apart requiring the surgery. Some accounts word it like she had to be operated on the very day the cast came off the first time. Apparently Elena's father was a drunk and he deserted her and her mother long before her mother died in a fire. He re entered her life in 2001ish but she cut him off because his motivation was mostly monetary. After her accident she regained some movement in her arms but didn't have a whole lot of use of her arms. She was on a ventilator for SIX MONTHS after her accident. That's all I can really put out there for now but I might buy this book about her in Italian and get it translated. I also saw and interview with Larissa Latynina in which Larissa broke down and cried just talking about her. She apparently saw her regularly until her death.
Thanks, a really sad and tragic story for such a beautiful, talented girl. Very sad knowing nobody was there to protect and stand up for her, her being so young and vulnerable. 😔😧😢☹
In the late eighties, our gym had a coach from Russia. He was adamant that we not do skills like the 'Thomas Salto (that is, 1 1/2 somersault roll-out). It didn't matter if it was front, arabian, or side. It didn't matter if he was coaching the gymnast, or somebody else. He never explained why, only saying it was too dangerous. It wasn't until a few years later I understood why he was so against those skills. That's when the truth finally started to filter west (after the end of the USSR). Before that, we only knew she had a serious injury.
One of the most horrific saddest things I’ve ever read. I’m so sorry. In the US all of the despicable coaches and officials involved would be in prison. RIP Elena.
No, they wouldn't and they aren't. -Larry Nassar is in prison after decades of child molestation, but none of the people who hushed up his sexual abuse will ever see a day of prison time. -Kerri Strug was pressured to train and perform in the lead-up to the 1996 Olympics despite suffering a severe back injury. All anyone remembers about her is Bela Karolyi carrying her to the podium after she shredded her ankle winning the team finals. -Dominique Moceanu did most of her elite training between the ages of 12 and 14. She alleges that the Karolyis manipulated her parents into physically abusing her, particularly over the issue of her weight. -Julissa Gomez was training for the 1988 Olympics at the age of 16 and was competing the double-twisting Yurchenko vault (which at that time was one of the most difficult in the world). She consistently had problems with the round-off into the skill for months, but her coaches continued to pressure her into performing it. At a meet in Tokyo, she missed the block after the round-off and crashed into the vaulting table full force, head first. She snapped her neck and immediately became a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. She suffered severe brain damage when her ventilator was disconnected a few weeks later and remained in a coma until her death three years after that. At her last competition, she talked about Elena Mukhina's injury. It's one of the last things she ever talked about. And we haven't even gotten into suffering and death from eating disorders.
@@sheilag.834 True..I have the same thaught.. Perhaps I should stop watching sport..It will not stop the pain and sufferin of young people in the sport, but some inner responsibilty and awarness of sad destiny of most of them could stop me to be part of it.
That’s the first time I’m learning about Elena’s story, and I’ve been born and educated in Russia… Meaning, the official culture and history education programs omit mentioning this case. Truly heartbreaking. Unfortunately cruelly pushing athletes beyond their limits is a very common approach in Russian sports. Coaches will use harsh verbal and emotional abuse to pressure their trainees to do the undoable. This starts from coaching literal children (4 year olds).
@@jeremiahsmith916 Exactly right my friend. They receive their awards at someone else's expense. They murdered this little girl trying to get results by any brutal means necessary. And sadly, these people will never see the punishment they deserve. Not in this life anyway. Maybe when they die, they will bust hell wide open.
This unfortunately very true. Specially for gymnasts and ballerinas. Russian authorities are too worried in displaying "greatness" to the world with sports and Russian ballet. The children athletes are pushed to extreme physical pain and mental abuse
It speaks volume of Mukhina that she felt sorry for the coach that forced her to injure herself. She was so talented with so much potential. Her story is truly tragic. RIP 🤸🏼♀️
starsonfire im pretty sure they were talking about the situation. how like she was so good and how her routines were so elegant and pretty to getting paralyzed in a bed.
She also had a move that she felt was to dangerous way ahead of its time ... they forced her to keep that move in .and just as she said I will break my neck. She did... Abuse and more is what happened To Elana, but it is written of as part of gymnastic world and that is wrong... we need more protection .. Speaking up and reporting issues starting to be accepted but need a long way to go.
What partial responsibility? You don't just say no to a communist country that is giving you these chances. If the soviet union wants you to do something, you can't just say no.
SHE KNEW Exactly- EXACTLY- what she needed and what was at risk, but Every single adult in charge dismissed this. That is the tragedy of being young: if you are in the care of people who are indifferent to or who act or make decisions on your behalf which are contrary to your needs, there is NO recourse for you. The consequences for the minor concerned can be lifelong and devastating (as in this situation), if not outright deadly. These are not mistakes made accidentally, but those which come from the willful disregard for another human being's welfare.
@@darlamundine No. She killed herself. She's the one who did gymnastic; no one else. She herself was a fool for listening and doing what they told her to do instead of sticking up for herself and saying NO, and stop going until she knew she was physically well to the point of continuing again. Or just quit all together. Just because he told her to continue on, she didn't have to do it. Was he her dad? NO. This was preventable. Stupid gets what stupid does. In all sports, not only gymnastics. None of were created to do all these foolish shits anyway. We were never created for these purposes at all.
@@margueritegargiulo2191 exactly. They owned her. She was a child at their mercy. That country and their government were ruthless. This Marci person thinks this young girl had some sort of choice in the matter. Preposterious. Um, yeah she could have said no if she wanted her life ruined, no more school, no more food or housing.
Yep. Those who say she's a quitter don't understand just how dangerous Simone's routines can be...we could easily have ended up with a similar video about her, but thank goodness gymnasts have much more autonomy in this new age. I'm sure Mukhina would have quit if she could, and she'd be alive today. 💓
100%. Hell, it's just absolute talent and a bit of luck that she DIDN'T break her neck coming off that vault. People keep bitching but they weren't there and aren't her.
@@andream9470 And who probably have never done gymnastics to begin with. I mean, I'VE never done gymnastics, but I'm also smart enough to see the inherent danger if you can't see where you're going.
Thankfully, Simone Biles is older and is confident in what she says. Had this happened during an earlier olympics, she may not have felt she could say no. Besides taking care of herself, she is setting a good example of self-care for her teammates and for anyone who watches her.
Use and discarded after life altering injuries! Wow, how cruel some people are. Many countries have extreme practices for their athletes and winning is everything to them. She gave them her all even while recovering. They gave her their back and blamed her. This is mind blowing and upsetting. I hope a biography or major movie (with these details) will be made soon. R.I.P. Beautiful!😔😔🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇
Also lets not forget that Olympican sports were used as propaganda in the cold war times and there was a loooot of pressure - and by pressure I mean you either die in breaking a neck or you and your family dissapears suddenly... Thats how bad those times were.
Nora Williams happens everyday just not as popular and major as this example. This is to the extreme. For example...not everyone who gets hurt at work gets taken care of. I hurt my knee at work and didnt even realize it was work-related because I was constantly getting up and getting back down over and over again to put labels on Shields and messed up my knee really bad I had to tell my boss that I would be leaving to go to the hospital because it felt like my leg was just hanging from a thread at my knee and the stupid b**** didn't even offer to write an injury form and I was in so much pain and didn't realize that's where it was coming from. Years later was going over the paperwork and saw in 2006 where had first started that job and helped open that store that that's when I went and had my knee looked at from it hurting so bad well no MRI you know go back to work and it happens again then I just learned to deal with it as long as I could possibly take it eventually after that job always had problems with it then I had to deal with them on my own and with no insurance and yes today still have problems with it.
Nora Williams And no one was as heartless about their athletes and performers as Soviet Russia. Now that the union has broken up athletes have more control over their training. Of course the governments no longer fully sponsor them, athletes, dancers,and other artists are no longer "owned " by the government.
Nora Williams the saddest part about this story is that, nothing has changed in world of gymnastics when it comes to the girl athletes. The continue to push them, despite injury or illness ( anorexia nervosa). These girls break themselves and for what, maybe 8 yrs of recognition and then they are forgotten. SMH.
This is way too common in sports. It’s difficult, especially on teens. My son was injured and they were in such a hurry to get him out there again. I said, “ you’re smart I know you can handle this” and he nodded his head “yep I know mom.” He was 16 at the time but mature and thought like an adult. He dropped out on his own to avoid further damage but he’s still physically active , just without the coaches BS. I was so angry when they supposedly had a practitioner at his and gave him the ok but when I rushed him to the ER I saved his knee from damage. These schools need to chill. Parents please be involved.
One of my granddaughters had a similar experience as your son. She played varsity soccer, was captain of her team, and was considered the best mid-fielder in the conference. At a game on a Friday, she dislocated her knee. Without her on the field her team really suffered, so during the following game on Tuesday, the coach tried to get her to play; fortunately, she refused. He was more interest in winning than the safety of the players.
"Parents please be involved" Is the most important thing you've said, irrespective of the field. 1) that adds confidence and inspiration in the kid 2) you know what's happening with and by your kid
Such a sad, tragic story. I surely hope karma came back to haunt the coaches who pushed this poor girl. They ruined her life. Unbelievably sad, and makes me so angry.
Brittany Foote does this video contains any graphic images of live injury? I have a week stomach but I would love to see this story about this amazing girl. Thank you
As a former gymnast in my teens, it gave me much needed self-confidence, joy, grace and strength. In the wrong person's hands, however, bad things can happen. The very moment someone thought it was okay to take off her cast before her injury was fully healed, that literally put her in a position of never walking again if something went wrong. Horrible. Gymnastics should edge more towards the artistic instead of just more difficulty, more difficulty. It is not a circus, and its dangerous. GRACE during athleticism is a beautiful thing to watch too.
Please don't say the coach was "not a bad man, merely young and naive". I know a lot of "young and naive" people who would never make anyone walk let alone do gymnastics on a broken leg. You are casting a bad light on young an naive people everywhere. Her coach was a monster.
Times were very different then. The Cold War was still going on along with propaganda being shared from both sides. The Olympics, especially gymnastics and figure skating, weren't a show to celebrate athletes' talents but an opportunity for many countries to one up each other. A sad story yes but her positive attitude is a testament to the power of forgiveness.
It was Elena herself who said her coach was young and naive and she felt sorry for him! Also he was not present when Elena had the accident it was with another coach. x
She never smiles during her routines she looks like she suffered for her art completely and probably didn't fully love the sport anymore. Such a shame as that is a talent we don't always see. The piece on bars is mesmerising.
This story is just so incredibly sad 😢. If the coach had just let her recover, she would have been up and doing gymnastics as soon as she was ready to.
It wasn't just her coach; it was the doctors, the entire gymnastics program, the country. There was a lot of pressure on all of them to be the best because of the Cold War. Russia needed to prove to the world that communism is necessary to produce greatness.
@@LaNoturna yeah just look at Chernobyl they did such a great job of showing how great they were that ppl ran in flocks from it to share the wonderful news that communism is the greatest yes that was sarcasm
Poor girl. "Thank God I won't have to go to the Olympics" says it all. So sad but you can tell by her saying that how relieved she was to finally get away from it all forever. Too bad it had to end the way it did. What a precious gift she is. This is so tragic & so sad. I wish she were still around, I would love to meet her & give her a gigantic hug. Bless her heart. Rest in peace love.
I did gymnastics my whole life since the age of 2. When I was older competed until the age of 18 where they did not offer it at the college I wanted to go to for education purposes. Through those years I taught and coached gymnastics. (A sport I wholeheartedly love). When I was very young I worked out and had the same coaches who Kristie Phillips and Diane Durham had - we were all at Mid America Twisters in Illinois. I remember sandbags being placed on my back and rump in the splits with both of my feet elevated above the floor so that I would be able to get over-extension in my legs and hips and crying while I felt my tendons literally snapping........For this one reason and that one experience I NEVER let either one of my daughters ever do gymnastics. It was horrible and grueling and as a kid I didn't know it was so awful. As an adult I had told my mother about this and other things - she said she had no idea that was going on and had she known she would have pulled me out......There MUST be an advocate there to protect ALL children and people who "know what's going on." Stay and watch - don't just drop off for practice or a workout. This is freaking tragic!!!!!
That is so true about dropping off. I'm a mom and it's so easy to drop your kid off at a practice (any practice) and be grateful for the hour or more to do errands. I do drop off but I also stay. I always wonder if I should stay more often or for longer.
The key to gymnastics: Don't do competition! Unless the child absolutely wants to and is ready, just stay recreational. Gymnastics at the recreational level is fun and beautiful. It's when you get to the competition level that it gets dangerous because you have to put in riskier and riskier and more and more dangerous moves in order to beat the competition. That's when it becomes painful. Sports, any sports should just be done for fun and health.
Carla Mathy It’s my story almost exactly. I started at the age of 2 and was working towards the 1980 Olympics when I broke my back. I had a Russian coach and was tortured through sprains and ligament tears, I was actually relieved when I quit. Thank you for sharing your story.
I remember her so well I was the same age and competed in gymnastic competitions I remember how Brilliant she was I remember being a massive fan of nadia comenech and Olga korbet I remember this young Brilliant absolutely fantastic gymnast who took it to another level she was perfect she was brilliant... I remember her suddenly disappearing I remember reading about her terrible accident, now I know how and why it happened elena you will never be forgotten by a certain generation God rest your perfect soul 😇😇😇😇😇
American gymnast Julissa Gomez also died from a gymnastic injury. She was practicing a Yurchenko vault at a meet in Japan prior to the performance. She'd been training under Karolyi some months back but sustained an injury after which he seems to have lost his enthusiasm for coaching her. She then signed with another coach who has since been criticized for recklessly pushing her to perform that vault because he felt it was needed if she had any hope of making the next Olympic team. She could not even speak after ramming headfirst into the apparatus during practice before the meet but could blink yes and no. That night at the hospital in Japan her breathing tube came loose. The hospital was old school and didn't allow a parent to stay by her side and did not appoint a nurse to do so either. Her parents were desperately hoping for her to be declared stable enough for the flight home. Instead the next morning they learned of the accidental oxygen loss and were informed their daughter was now brain dead. She eventually went home where her mother cared for her under medical supervision. Her mother cared for her meticulously day after day but she never showed signs of awareness and died some years later. Gymnastics is a dangerous sport. Aly Raisman and other elite gymnasts have talked about fighting the fear every gymnast feels when learning especially difficult elements. Its a real mental battle but hesitation can increase the danger. You've got to admire these amazing athletes.
I know! After deadly accidents the moves are usually banned from women's gymnastics. The banned moves almost all consist of blind landings. Still any move requiring great speed and power while upside down, blind or not, could potentially be fatal. An interesting note is that equestrian sports and diving are also among the deadliest of sports. Striking the head or neck on a hard surface at great speed is the culprit in all 3 sports.
Cheryl Stade the move wasn't banned because her foot missed the springboard and the skill was not the reason for the accident. It could have happened with any backward skill on the vault. So instead they added a mat around the springboard whenever a gymnast is performing a backward skill on the vault.
Read Little Girls in Pretty Boxes by Joan Ryan. Very enlightening book about elite gymnasts and figure skaters. Julissa's story is featured in the book.
The best gymnast of ALL time. Sweet Elena. Brilliant. Brave. She was an incredible athlete, yes, but also an incredible human. An Angel. Fly high, sweet girl.
He was a bad man !! He pushed that young girl knowing how bad her leg was. There were others that were responsible too. They ruined that girls life and because of her severe injury were the main cause of her early death. This video both breaks my heart and angers me. I'm glad the Soviet Union is gone. Thank you for this video but please don't let him off the hook like that. Like others he cared more about medals than the well being of a young girl who he was trusted with. RIP sweet angel.
I understand what you mean and I agree with it, but if Elena choose to not blame him then I did not want to either, if that makes sense. Also, I'd say he, unlike the others, cared for "Elena" at least somewhat since he was his athlete and there was a bond. The officials and doctors didn't not care for "Elena" at all. They solely cared for medals. Even if the coach didn't fully care or do good he still must have cared a bit. He could have kept taking kids and training, but after the injury he left the country and withdrew completely, regretting everything. The others did not, they didn't care and even spread lies around...
Can you imagine how they pushed him to push her? They even pushed doctors to take a cast off twice, that should have remained on both times. I can't even begin to imagine the pain this girl must have suffered, while training gymnastics with a fractured leg having undergone surgery. Nobody cared. The gold medal was important. Pepole were not. Safety wasn't. And her wellbeing was even less important than any of the other unimportant things...
this story makes me so sad :( but it really puts into perspective just how tough the gymnastics world is, and how there's so much that can go wrong, just like in any other sport. But the fact that her coach made her train with a broken leg, and train a near impossible skill, is horrible :(
Indeed, you are absolutely correct! The thing with her coach is that he REALLY wanted to train an Olympian and thus ended up pushing Elena so hard and so far. He was merely young and naive. We could say that he managed to turn a blind eye to everything more easily due to the fact he really wanted an Olympian, but it wasn't even him. If he wouldn't co-operate at that point someone else would have taken over and . Elena was their sole chance at medals and gold. Nobody cared for "Elena Mukhina" among them, they cared for the "Olympic gold". I'd say her coach definitely did care for her due to, well, being her coach, but his own naive and stupid way of thinking was proved by "People like you just don't break their necks.". He didn't even think something like that would happen to her. He didn't want to believe it and put in front his desire for Olympian. In reality however, if he refused to use Elena he'd have been fired, not have a chance at Olympic athlete & someone would have pushed Elena even worse and, if she wouldn't get injured, take the glory. Really... he was just a naive young victim of ideals.
Being young and naive is no excuse for mistreating a gymnast! What angers me in this situation is that the Soviets, at that time, were not punished or sanctioned for what happened! FIG should be ashamed of themselves for letting this happen under their watch! It's just like the incident where children as young as 12 years old were going to the Olympics for the Eastern Bloc countries! The excuse given was that it was the regimes and not the trainers! Well, I view this like I view how the Nazis or any other fascist government tries to excuse the extermination of people. World leaders held them accountable for the ills these perpetrators bought upon their victims. Likewise, coaches and countries should be sanctioned for the ills they heep upon their athletes until the system changes. Even in the US there has been wide abuse of gymnasts because the US has employed teachers from the East to build their programs. The difference between the East and West is that the victims have their day in court and the coach actually loses his/her license to train!
I'm upset that her grandmother didn't jump in and say something. This girl was an orphan really. If my grandchild, I'd have gone in there with heavy purse and cane ready to pounce if they didn't like my little girl heal and feel up to "it" on her own fruition. Dirty scoundrels.
I say you are among the best grandmothers out there, mrs. Stephenson and your comment genuinely made me laugh and smile. But, the thing is, that the time and things were different there. I am assuming they were quite poor to start with and going against government would be awful for both. I cannot even begin to imagine the punishments... Elena has said no , I am sure her grandmother must have at least tried to keep her at home, but the government itself you can't go against. She would have been taken away or something. I am not sure, but I know that she could not be at home in peace no matter what ...
Unfortunately, this is way too common is sports. I spent 22 years figure skating. I am damaged mentally, emotionally and physically. There was never any time to be sick or injured. Broken bones were "taped" together. If you had the flu, grab a Kleenex and puke in it. Oh, and you'd better get good at puking; forget food/eating. Mentally, it was a constant struggle to go out everyday and get screamed at for trying your very best and still being told you are a failure and will never make it anywhere. I, too, had a similar thought when the final injury did me in.
As a current competitive gymnast I completely understand what you mean. I hope your body and mind heals through the up-coming years and some of the good memories remain as well. Thank you for sharing the harsher reality with us.
My roommate in college was in ballet.She went on pointe from age 12 to 17. Her parents were so proud of their "ballerina" so she never told them about her feet hurting and her toes breaking all the time. When her leg gave out and she was at the hospital she said it was almost a relief
Known as the gurl with the ice blue eyes. They beat her into perfection and both lost. They push these girls too far. She had a dream and they turned it into a nightmare. Sad. She was so talented
This is so tragic. It's important to remember her and her story. Hope the new generation of gymnasts know her story and honor her legacy by looking after their health over whatever accomplishments they dream to achieve.
Stone W, That is a nice thought, but things don't work that way in Russia. One does what they are told to do, or else. They didn't care about her at all. Poor woman.
I'd never heard of this poor child before. A young life so full of promise, destroyed. Such a sad story. I pray she walks beside the Lord in Heaven for eternity 🙏
"Mad World" is perfect! It compelled me to watch the entire video, hoping history would change itself but that magic didn't come. There was no one to protect Elena. Mad world. ♞
Parents should not give up the rights to their child medical ,, must keep a close watch. Parents need to make the calls and have close contact with there children.. WE can see how this worked out NO one to watch over Elana~ Parents in control !!
I just hope that despite her misfortunes and all that pain and suffering she still experienced some moments of genuine happiness and joy. That’s all one can wish for.
@@Snezzleify I saw another YT video on her and the video said that Some people came to her school asking if anyone was interested in gymnastics and she raised her hand b/c she though it sounded neat. Probably wished she hadn't. Poor girl.
I remember my mom wanted me to do gymnastics when I was younger. I thought, “well, ok I’ll try it.” It was really fun, and the coaches were never to hard on us. When I was about five though, one of the coaches left and practice got hard and not as fun. Eventually, five year old me was forced to try the vault. Not just jump onto it and do a somersault or something like that. He wanted us to jump onto it, nearly over it, then grab the edge and do a flip. Clearly, we were way too young to do that, but we were forced to try. At least three kids got injured, but weren’t allowed to tell their parents because the coaches would get in trouble. Two of my friends sprained their ankles, and one of them hurt their shoulder. Also, in doing that I sprained my wrist. I had to keep practicing because of my coaches. Luckily we were doing beam for a couple weeks, so their wasn’t to much strain, and it mostly healed. Since it did not heal properly, I have had wrist pain ever since. Gymnastics is a cruel sport.
I love gymnastics so much! It's a wonderful feeling to defeat gravity and moving elegantly, but yes, there's a lot of pressure especially in the competitive section. My team shared the gym with a competition team of like 5 / 6 year old girls. One day one of the girls did a perfectly fine menicelli, but her coach shouted at her that she had done it horribly and to leave, if she didn't want to train and to do it over and over again, until she learned to do a meni properly. The coach shouted at this 5 year old because of maybe one not perfectly stretched toe. I know enough young women who learned to hate this sport they used to love, because of this extreme pressure and the constant feeling not to be good enough. That's so sad. Gymnastics is such a beautiful sport. I Iove it. I do gymnastics not cempetitively. I do it for me, because it's fun and not to become the next Simone Biles. I'm a trainer myself and my goal is to teach the kids to like this sport. No matter, when you're not the best. My motto is: There is no 'I can't do it.' There is only a 'Yet I can't do, so I practice until I can do it!'
@@thelovelyone8636 it’s cruel. you may not have had a bad experience, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a bad sport. Gymnastics by itself is not bad. But modern gymnastics is. At its heart it is about grace and elegance and impressive skills, but now it has just become about difficulty and coaches still constantly push their athletes to go farther than they can just for some stupid medal and title.
Shame on the Russians to think this young girl was just a machine that they could keep pushing and pushing in spite of severe injuries!! Rest in peace sweet Elena!
@@LJ-rg9qn Idiot, crizzy8 was speaking about a situational event, a mindset of "win at any cost" system, not besmirching Russians as a nation. It would be the same if it happened to an American, or Romanian, etc. Critical thinking isn't your forte, is it!
Olga Luna Well, duh! But I’m talking about the difference between a capitalist culture versus a Russian communist culture. They aren’t the same. And if you don’t know the difference, then you should educate yourself.
Dee McGee does this video contains any graphic images of live injury? I have a week stomach but I would love to see this story about this amazing girl. Thank you
Dee McGee this is heartbreaking, I'm a gymnast and it just shows, anything can go wrong but hesitation can increase those chances, I admire so many amazing olympians for doing this daily ❤️ trying to get to the Olympic but that won't happen 😂 only just got to internationals 😂❤️
Dee I broke my leg at the height of my gymnastics career. The doctors told me that I would be learning to walk all over again, that my gymnastics career was over, to think of something else to do when I could come out of the cast. It was a very heartbreaking pill to swallow. My coach tried to convince me I could regain that art after learning to walk again, but a slightly crooked leg left me unable. They were wrong and after a few nasty falls on the balance beam, I walked away and cried for the last time as I left the gym. Elena's story angers me to the core, she NEVER got a chance to walk away until death. R.I.P little angel and enjoy those aerials on the clouds.
I agree, but they shouldn't take this as an example of what could happen to them... Modern sport is very different to sport in communist russia. Of course there's pressure, but most sports people would be encouraged to take a break for a twisted ankle never mind a broken leg
I hate when coaches do this. They can ruin lives and even kill if they make a gymnast keep going when they say they are in pain. Something along those lines happened to me, and I had to stop doing gymnastics because I now have chronic pain in my wrists. My coaches kept pushing and pushing even when I said I was in pain, and now I can't even do a handstand correctly because I'm in so much pain that sometimes it's hard to even put any pressure on my wrists. I know, I know. My injury was not even close to what this poor girl experienced, I'm just trying to give an example of a situation where coaches didn't listen and caused permanent injury. This was around five years ago, and I still experience horrible pain in my wrists to this day. I now coach, and I always make my girls stop when they are in pain or even just crying but won't admit they are in pain. That's something I see a lot, an athlete crying but not admiring they are in pain for fear of punishment or because they think they will not be good enough if they don't keep going. But we need to teach them that's it's okay to take a break. It's okay to be hurt.
Such a tragic story. I was not aware of her, but I am so glad you've put this out here. It's a timely tale that most likely goes on in many too many athletes' lives. I cried hard for her. God bless her beautiful soul.
She could've recovered from the broken leg. I broke mine and I'm better than I was before I broke it, but that's because I made a full recovery. It's so sad to think that she could have lived a longer gymnastics life if only she'd been allowed to recover from the broken leg. Broken limbs are fixable, a broken spine on the other hand, is just awful ❤️
First saw the story and what happened I could not stop crying.. For days I carried the sadness.. I did not know of her and she touched my heart... IT still hurts to think she had to be forced to perform and did not have any freedom to make her decisions seeing The little girl the gymnastic world forgot How sad~
They took her life away💔 But I will be forever thankful for her. Without her the Thomas Salto might have never been banned causing more and more gymnast to get hurt. She changed gymnastics forever❤️ Rest in peace❤️💔
That was a really, really nice tribute. I never heard of her and it was by chance I came across this video. The title caught my attention. ..so I watched it. It made me feel a lot of emotions. ..with anger and sadness being at the forefront. You do this lady much justice. Thank you.
You could even add that it was the CCCP ;-) . A great demonstration of the type of thing that makes foreigners dislike Americans so much. Though in that era, no-one was being sued in the USA for how the gymnasts were treated. Nor did they later on with the gymnasts who were severely hurt (most Karolyi kids) or who died. A great example of how different life still is would be that in Russia it's illegal to 'glorify', encourage or partake in any other such act regarding suicide. Even websites that have such content are blocked.
Grethan not knowing about communism isn't why everyone hates Americans yall. The fact that Grethan doesn't know is a great opportunity to teach and for them to learn. If a person is unaware of a words definition, do we scoff and tell them tough shit dummy? Noooo you hand them a dictionary .
Beautiful video and girl. I'm so sad I didn't know about her before now. It's so prophetic she said she'd break her neck. I'd never say it's her fault. In gymnasts, sometimes the gymnist doesn't even think of the risks. The move where she stands on top of the uneven bars & backflips off is unbelievable!! She looked so sad on the floor talking to her coach. Wonderful hearing Mad, Mad World in another language!!
This is what happens when state is extremely powerful. No individuality is left to assert. A new form of obsession with nationalism takes over defying the expressions of the same people who constitute it .
The state has no national allegiance, the first victim of a totalitarian state is their own nations. There has never been a national state and the closest one would need to care about peasants and ordinary people to qualify as one.
Thank you for sharing this. My grandson just started taking lessons in gymnastics last year and seems to have an aptitude for it. I will remember this always. I know my son will listen should my grandson complain, but I think it important for both of them to know the history of this young genius athlete. It's so important that winning be a goal, not a death sentence. Your video is very beautiful.
Yet, in American hospitals a naked, delusional patient can be shot by the police, and a detained, beaten man can be taken to the hospital, beg a nurse to save him, and be taken away by the cops to be beaten some more...I guess we're just a little more Wild West in our approach.
The tragedy of the Elena Mukhina story is that the sport that made her also destroyed her. She was practicing the Thomas Salto floor exercise skill when she was injured. Incredibly, the Thomas Salto and was still being performed nine years after Elena's injury by Soviet and Chinese athletes. The Thomas Salto was eventually banned by the Gymnastics Federation as too dangerous. Also, Elena's Mukhina backflip on bars skill, a variation of the Korbut backflip with a twist, required her to literally risk it all each time she practiced or performed it and she courageously did so for years. Both the Mukhina and Korbut backflip skills on bars were also banned by the sport as too dangerous. Elena was interviewed late in her life and her interview is available on TH-cam, but is in the Russian language. I would very much like to hear a translation of her first-person account. Elena Mukhina is arguably the most talented gymnast ever and deserving of recognition.
I think it's a silly sport, you aren't given any time to read when a situation is dangerous. In boxing, you can dodge a punch. in football, you can pass the ball to your team mates if you can't make the goal. In gymnastics, you are on your own. It's as dangerous as fighting in combat and it's all for gold medals. It isn't a sport at all. It's a death trap!
My Uncle was paralized after jumping into a friend's pool. Not knowing they had drained the pool and was filling in back up that same weekend giving him permission to use it any time. He was running after shutting the gate taking his shirt off and jumped in on the side that was to be the deep end and it was probably 4 feet deep and it was to late to stop a mid-dive and it broke his neck. I can remember him being so depressed Everytime I would go to my grandparents house. I was his only female niece and would go just to try to make him smile. Staying the night with my grandparents got to be a regular weekend thing and so did me hearing him talk to her about smothering him with a pillow or giving him a over dose of pills. He was so unhappy and for Nanny it was killing her to hear him speak of this on a daily basis. One weekend I went over to stay and help nanny with her sewing we heard him in the bedroom reading or talking to someone... A few hours had past and we started dinner and I heard her say, 'Go tell your uncle dinner is almost ready'. I opened the door and my uncle was still laying in bed... I was surprised because my uncle was up early and dressed and couldn't do anything for himself (nothing) my nanny done everything for him. His eyes were closed and he had a smile on his face! For the first time I actually saw a very peaceful man. He passed away that day and I knew he was in pain all the time. I could have never lived like he did. For many years my grandma swore up and down she never helped him in bed and never helped him with his desire to die. I'm sorry this was so long. I felt like telling it to just get it out again. It's been almost 20 years and I still remember everything so clearly. I guess no one really knows unless God forbid your in a situation like this. Thank you for all your videos! I love them! 🌎✌
Oh my goodness.. that is such a sad story... Your grandma and you are such kind people and the fact that he had a smile on his face makes it a little more comforting .. Thank you for sharing!
That was hard for you too watching someone you love in pain is traumatic but I pray he is now with Jesus and has a glorified body forever and ever and for Mukhina also. She forgave her coach most of the time but was very angry at his superiors, her coach had a gym in Italy but had to give it up, her coach was one of the few people who would call Mukhina and he suffers from guilt. Mukhina said the only teammate who called her was Yelena Davidova who was "a real friend."
this is why I'm very careful. I don't isolate myself from the world completely but, this is a cruel and unforgiving world we live in. I just want to say as angry and sad as this makes me, I still try to have forgiveness for those who do things like this people. because it's when we carry hatred in our hearts for the wicked, all it does is make them stronger. i and we as people who want to be good have to forgive and heal from our pain mentally and physically. so that way we are at peace with our selves and everyone around us. we can't let the darkness win. I must admit however this is a sad story and I hope she is in a better and happy place. she was to good for this world.😥.
paul broderick I know. it brings so many tears to my eyes. but it's through love and compassion that we overcome our hatred. we are better than our haters. I swear, I would be at so much peace if the world would just stop fighting.
clifton moses You don't need to forgive. Being consumed by rage and lust for revenge and not forgiving are two different kettle of fish. There are things that need not and should not be forgiven, but as the hurt party you still do better if you can move on and not dwell on it. But pressuring people to forgive when they can't and shouldn't is unkind. Every victim should be allowed to forgive or not forgive according to what makes them feel best.
I didn't know who Elena M was until I came across this video. It broke my heart to know her story and how she was treated. So sad! Rest in Peace angel.
This video was in my recommended. It caught my eye because I recognized her face, even though I'd last seen it as a young child. As I watched, my heart grew heavy - her dream was used against her by people and her country that only cared about themselves. That selfish greed and pride cost Elena dearly. She said, "No," multiple times, multiple ways. But they had to have first place. Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Book of Proverbs. I earnestly hope the people who pushed her at least have the decency to be ashamed. Now I know why hers was a vague face from the past. Anyone who thinks this is an isolated incident or the kind that only happens in one country or that it's not done in the present needs to unplug from all the distraction and research like they never have before.
I want to put something out here. It's not an excuse for anyone, just another piece of info. Many of you are young, and not familiar with Soviet attempts at domination in the era. They pushed athletes VERY hard and Olympic medals were a show of their "superiority". When US teams beat them, it was a huge political statement. In the Soviet Union, the pressure from the government on the athletic federation was heavy, probably threats were made. It was a scary time to live in the country.
This was my immediate thought. This situation should have never happened, but blaming her or her coach would be improperly deflecting the blame from the Soviet program and the Soviet Union broadly.
@@giftedboi absolutely! Even their family members were threatened. They not only wanted medals, but worried that the athletes would defect. Younger people should watch the movie White Knights. Those were scary times.
@@elceenomoun8115 not that it isn't sad that she lost her mother, but... good lord, what do people think a mother would have done?! They actively recruited orphans, but a parent or two could "disappear." How awful.
I didn't read all the reply's. Just mainly saw part of the film. It all has to do with the Russian mind set. She kept warning them and pleading with them not to take off her cast. DOES THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING!!!!. To train in a cast what's that. The pressure was put on her because of the Russians period!!! wanting to compete not about her life and what was best for her. Who ever heard of doing a grueling Olympic training, which is hard for anyone, much less doing it with a severe injury!!!. They caused her paralysis and ultimate death. Repeat!!! they did not care about her as a person. She should have never competed that year. Her leg would have healed in it's own time.
Its the same way with competitive cheerleading & dance. The stunts are crazy & the coaches just push push push push! Some of the parents even are worse than the coaches. Its so sad. I'll never push my child like that, and definitely have to watch these coaches. May she rest in peace. What a sad story.😇
Cheerleading is especially dangerous. Simply because some American feminists, with the power to hinder official decision making that would result in passing safety legislation, will not accept cheerleading as an actual sport. Their principles are more important to them than the safety of schoolgirls that practice the time honored tradition of cheerleading all over the USA... Girls have serious accidents every year, and some suffer severe spine injuries, simply because wearing a short skirt and cheering at games are seen by some older feminists in power as "demeaning to women"...
Yes and as someone who used to cheer and also was an assistant coach for the younger girls ,I've seen alot of the parents push them and even the coaches
Imagine your passion being turned against you by cruel people around you. That's the saddest thing.
@I. Wynn Wynn exactly. Supposedly, her talent should shine brighter than any other things but instead t'was the caused of her death. :(((
All about money and fame
@I. Wynn Wynn all about money and fame
@I. Wynn Wynn no respect it was a horror to read and know how talented she was She had grace and beauty in her performance and much difficulty~ Very sad life.. No one to represent her her grandmother could not imagine I am sure~
These are children being abuse like they are slaves to the communist system that lost in the end .
They NEED to make a movie about this incredible woman
💝
co - sign
Yes they do.
I don't agree it's too sad 😢 I don't care about money or any vanity things just human lives😭🤧 I wish she could of........ sorry I gotta go 😞
Yeah, and make her a black lesbian, with environmental themes.
The fact that she thought “thank god I don’t have to go to the olympics” really says it all about how they treated her
@Karen Reed I'm not sure how much choice you had in 1980 Soviet Russia.
OOF: My thoughts too.
@Karen Reed bruh-
Karen Reed yeah, because a child in the communist extreme Soviet Union really has the power. She asked doctors not to remove the cast, she begged the adults in her life to listen, but to them she was an object for proving national superiority. The higher ups in government saw her as a tool, and short of purposefully doing badly and failing, she wouldn’t have an obvious out. It’s kind of like saying people in North Korea should just leave. It’s not that simple.
Karen Reed lol it was Soviet Union back then...do you really think she had a choice?
She was left paralyzed, and the coach continued living his life, unscathed.
Child abuse seems like the easiest thing to perpetrate.
@@wendywhoisit1819 this is child abuse regardless of whose fault it was.
@@wendywhoisit1819 she was abused as a minor in gymnastics as well.. Did you not watch the video?
He was another victim of the Soviet System and took it out on Elena...she was Wise beyond her years and she KNEW this about her coach. He moved his family out of Russia after this and died of cancer. Bad scene all around.
@@wendywhoisit1819 Oh she was PUSHED beyond what she could handle. She Looks exhausted in every training video. Probably mail nutrition contributed to her leg fracture. The Soviets would destroy Anyone to WIN. She was an orphan at 5 so no parents to defend her etc
@@NeonNyanCatInc She probably DIDNT, I’ve never seen someone so Blatantly blame the victim! 🤸♀️
She was robbed of her whole life, before and after the tragedy. So heartbreaking.
Best comment to summarize the whole story... Not only after, but also before... Such a waste of human life!
you said that so well
Heartbreaking. They could do a movie about her.
Indeed, I would really like it if they did.
Fantastic idea x
Indeed!! I hope someone does!!
When I become a director in 10 years, I promise to make a movie about Elena
Roman Natale Thanks so much Roman.
who is here after simone biles prevented this same fate for herself!? We got your back Simone! Good call.
Sometimes our seemingly worst moments end up being our biggest blessings. We tend to minimize ourselves and so many people never realize their true greatness. You are much more than your accomplishments, you are a loving & loveable child of a living loving God who created you perfectly. But remember that your accomplishments have also become accomplishments and encouragement for so many girls on so many levels. You are a shining example of strength and triumph for young girls, women, sexual abuse victims, kids in foster care, adopted kids, those battling mental issues, and adults who really need to learn a thing or two about compassion and understanding. Thank you for standing up for yourself, your safety, and well-being and thus opening the door for others who may not have had such courage because of the judgements of an ignorant society! I am very proud of you Simone!
I am... This is ridiculous has anyone ever watched someone have a panic attack, they are real, or a mental break down its also real.
I could see she was off. She’s been saying she was so tired. This is no different then if there was an accident and messed up and lost the gold. This is life.
Good for Simone for putting herself first. If she had pushed through and competed and had gotten badly injured, most people would have offered her ‘thoughts and prayers’ and moved on with their lives while she would have been stuck in her fears and dealing with whatever injuries for the rest of her life. She has already proven what a great gymnast she is she doesn’t have to prove anything else to the world. That’s a great sign of maturity!
I watched this before but agree a mess up in gymnastics can have major consequences. I also think this story has something to do with the starting point controversy. If soemone got hurt they could be seen as encouraging it and not stopping it. It's a doubled edged sword for sure. I can see both sides.
Same. Simone saw the warning signs and acted just in time. A medal is an object. life is irreplaceable. I support her decision and courage to halt at the Olympics.
@@chrissya9994 That is undeniably true
That little girl was just a little girl and everyone let her down. Rest in Peace Princess.
Why are you calling a 20-year-old a little girl? Would it not be tragic enough if you called her a woman or what?
@AVA VAZQUEZ she was in her fourties when she passed
According to biographical articles, Mukhina was 20 years old at the time of her accident. Still, it is truly heartbreaking that she suffered such cruelty at the hands of her coaches, who did not care about her wellbeing.
that is so true... she tried to do her best and with only her grandmother . no one to speak out for her .. Very sad
I can’t believe everyone arguing about whether she was a woman or a little girl. She couldn’t stand up for herself and had no one to help her. She was a little girl!!!!
As someone who was a gymnast, coaches often care more about your training than if you have an injury. It's one of the main reasons I quit. I landed on my shoulder while doing a back handspring in the earlier years of my training and my coach told me to walk it off and do my beam routine. I ended up falling because my shoulder was dislocated and obviously couldn't sustaine weight. I also still have wrist issues years later from landing on them wrong so many times and my coaches not caring. It's a sad industry.
This is 100% true and extremely sad. Like many, I relate and so do almost all the gymnasts that I know..
You must've had terrible coaches. In the 19 years I've spent in the gym (14 as a gymnast and 5 as a coach), my coaches and I always took injuries seriously. The worst injuries we had on the team were a dislocated elbow and a fractured elbow (one was a missed release move on bars). My coached picked up the injured gymnast, carried her to his car and drove her to the hospital himself (5 minute drive) and stayed with her until she was casted and on pain meds. He would not allow her to come back until she had full release from doctor and physical therapist that she was safe to train. He didn't care about winning, he cared about our safety and happiness and helping us be the best athletes we were able to be. Don't let a few bad eggs ruin the sport for you.
Dino Nuggets same especially my beam coach. If I get an injury she will yell at me for not being careful and doesn’t care if something hurts we will still have to do it and if we don’t we have rope climbs
sadly, I've seen too many injuries like this - all for a damn medal????
It is not only the coaches who are pushing, but usually a damn mother!
Dino Nuggets terrible
Poor thing died probably thinking she was forgotten by the world. She probably never knew that kind people on YT put up memorials like this so others, like me, would learn and remember. I just look at her face and I want to hug her and hold her hand. So sorry she passed and passed way too young.
You stated that perfectly. 👍👍
She knows now. I truly believe that, she knows now.♥️
She was Well Loved by many Russians , especially after the truth came out! 🤸♀️
I know. Right? And she didn't even want to do it in the first place.
Poor girl. What age did she die at?
I literally felt nauseous reading this story. I’m sorry Elena, only wish I could hug you right now
I'm her younger brother. You may hug me. 😉
@@bradnbuttr what in the actual fuck is wrong with you
@@bradnbuttr how dare you.. 😳
@@areschenkoagreed
"she became a recluse after the injury" ...double talk for "they shipped her away, tried to keep her quiet, and get the world to forget she exists" so they wouldn't ask questions or cause negative publicity on "the machine."
She might have also been embarrassed. Not that she should be, but when you have all that pressure on you, and all those people telling you that "people like you don't break their necks" like you're some kind of God, and you're still so young and naive, you could get tricked by the system into feeling embarrassed for something that wasn't even your fault.
i can't believe they simply used her. they didn't care about her, and they didn't think about how injured she was. as soon as she became paralyzed, they tried to dump her out as if she were nothing. because of this, the poor girls career ended way too early.
@@luisabautista6885 her career? What about the rest of her entire life?
USSR often did that to cover up mistakes. They needed to save face for the world, they wanted to be and look the best and strongest in the world.
Trump's Buddies
This is beyond tragic😢😭😭 she was a child and should have been protected instead she was used to get medals. R.I.P. 🕯darling
If only she had an advocate for her things might have turned out differently. So tragic. The Soviet system was so brutal and unfeeling.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE DANCING IN HEAVEN AND ENJOYING ALL THE FRUITS OF A HEAVENLY LIFE WITHOUT ANY PAIN OR FORM OF DARKNESS...INSTEAD YOUNG, FULLY HEALED AND JOYFUL!!! YOU DESERVE IT!!! XOXOXOXO
😥💐💐💐💕💕💕💕💕
Very very sad poor girl
@@belenhernandezbenavente3420 īñ
the fact that she thought “thank god i won’t have to go to the olympics” first instead of “am i going to be okay” or “i need help” while she was in that much pain and fear says a lot about the gymnastics industry and the unrealistic expectations people have for gymnasts and other athletes. this is truly sad
In the Soviet Union, it was always for ‘the good of the state’.
Response from Someone Who Realised They Couldn't Abuse Her Anymore.. She Was Alone, In Pain, Exhausted.. CRUEL HOW MANY PEOPLE SHEOPLE ACCEPT CHILD ABUSE AS A OK..
"he's not a bad man"
that's debatable
No....it’s not
B H Yes it is debatable. He was to blame and he knew it. Probably why he migrated to Italy.
@@Lilnugget_96 It's the system to blame. Soviet had a strong regime. The coach was forced to train her or else he would be removed possibly get killed. The coach and Elena had good relationships. It's the Soviet regime and wanting to win over Romania who were their number one rival at that time. He probably emigrated to Italy to live in peace regardless very sad
He was mean and evil, that isnt being naïve
@@BH-el4rs he is tho
I have a feeling that there was more than one person to blame not just the coach
Yes, the doctors should care more about her then they did
Agreed...she didn't stand a chance when she hadn't even recovered from breaking her leg! This is what happens when the need to win overrides common sense!
What made her not stand up for herself?!!! She had to take SOME of the responsibility.
@@desertbreeze69 She refused but she is living in a communist country and she is a national athlete. Besides the brainwashing done, do you really think that she had the freedom of speech to do as she wished. This is the Soviet Union we are talking about. Even the coaches and doctors did not have the freedom to help her.....
Dixie Hull Watch the video. It clearly states (around 5:05) that she took partial responsibility for not standing up for herself.
Coaches often work gymnasts WAY to hard. I fractured my ankle when I fell off the beam, and my coach had me continue for two weeks before I got an x-ray and cast. From walking on my ankle too long the bone wouldn’t heal right and I was in a cast for the next 3 years of my life. Then I was diagnosed with CRPS 4 years after the incident due to being in a cast for so long. My CRPS has made it extremely hard to do anything because I’m always in pain. Even though I enjoyed doing it so much, I haven’t been able to do gymnastics since.
Sorry for the long story!
Edit: wow thanks sooo much for the support!! To anyone wondering why I didn’t get an x-ray right after it’s due to the fact my coach was in medical school at the time to become a nurse. Right after the fall she told me I had just sprained it and to continue training. But we knew something wasn’t right when it hurt just as much two weeks later. Thats
when my mom decided we needed to get an X-ray done.
Definitely stand up for yourself and your body. That's one thing I am learning to do
Da Tina those coaches make me sick. They just work us gymnasts too hard for a good reputation. Hope you can feel better! Also you said to hard the word is *too hard (sorry it just bugs me) hope you are doing better 😔
Dang I was lucky it was 3 weeks before I went to the ER to find out I had 3 broken bones right where the foot and toes connect which they were fractures and by that point were already in the process of healing themselves without no dumb cast
But why didn't your mom or dad take you to the doctor? You can't blame a coach if there was nothing wrong with you and as far as he knew there was nothing wrong. Did he know about the fracture and continue to insist? If so, again, why would your parents allow you to? This is really a matter of your parents allowing you to participate when you were injured.
I had a nasty fall while riding a horse (the horse, reared, flipped over backwards and landed on my chest) and had my arm in a sling for weeks. Guess what, my mom wouldn't let me ride during that time. It was that easy. She said no. I went out there and brushed him and then went home. I don't remember if my trainer said anything but I know my mom wouldn't have been bullied into letting me back up with a fractured anything.
Wait wtf, I’m not a gymnast but i also fracture my ankle from a skateboarding accident and I couldn’t even walk, I knew something was wrong and didn’t attempt to put weight on it, that same day I went to the hospital. How were you able to walk/put weight on your inured ankle?? That’s insane!!!
No, he WAS a bad coach.
Ryan Lo he wanted glory from the communist government...he died of cancer a year after Elena passed, it just may have bothered him. He was part of the machine of the USSR
i went to training camps where he coached. He was an amazing coach
@@gymjenny Lol ok
@Kate A Well he’s dead. We use “was/were” even for good people who are dead.
And he RAN AWAY living life in relative peace with family.
I’m glad Simone Biles listened to her body and was strong enough to know she wasn’t in the right head space to compete. Poor Elena. She had so much pressure on her. :(
We enjoyed Simone, I am pleased she listened to her accountant.
I totally agree. I'm so proud of her. To be strong enough to stand up and say I'm not feeling this.
@@sabrinahouston9814 I agree as well. When a gymnast is performing death defying stunts, it’s her prerogative to define her limits. I totally respect Simon for not allowing herself to be pressured. I much rather see her performing at a later time than never again.
@@tuesday225 wow what a rasis you sure cant admit when asian can win medal in any sport do you. No one can ever dare to make you step down and the fact you are from such powerfull nation country. Unless you are drug abuser and was positively tested.
@@thelordismyshepherd1366 Simone Biles didn't compete because she couldn't do it without using the banned drug Ritalin.
Biles was lucky that she could use drugs with the WADA's permission. It helped her immensely to concentrate and gain an upper hand.
I'm not into judging others, but I will call it how I see it. Athletes are not machines and that was a narcissistic action to make that young lady train when she said she was still injured. Winning isn't everything. The hunger or insatiableness to be the best caused this young woman to lose her health and ultimately her life. Cruel, tragic and sad.
Pressure abuse happens to kids in the democratic world too, Lena Zavaroni, Andrea Jaeger. What lets it happen, is that kids are not democratically emancipated citizens, it's still believed right to be authoritarian to them. www.authoritarianschooling.co.uk + arguments against it are deliberately excluded from the media. Here is how it took me 3 years to escape from breaking point school pressure to be a high achiever www.raggeduniversity.co.uk/2015/04/28/eighties-teenage-psychiatry-for-school-pressure-one-writer-squashed-another-by-maurice-frank/
Are you really comparing the pressure of 80s UK schooling to training as a member of the 70-80s Soviet gymnastics team with a known ability to win gold? Your examples of pressure abuse seem strange when Julissa Gomez would be the epitome of that.
That's communism for you
@@neeknanuk9080 I am indeed. How does one person being an epitome disprove other cases' existence? Instead, other csses' existence are illustrative of where the evil comes from in society, that caused the epitome case.
Couldn't agree with you more!
It's bad enough that she broke her leg, in which she can make a comeback from, but ended up with a broke spine, all because of pressure from coaches and peers.
Willie Gordon Sue for what? She went along with it.
natelie r Willie Gordon is right, she was forced, she spoke up and told certain people and coaches that she wasn't ready and no one spoke up for her when she pleaded, she was forced and pressured.
Willie Gordon and disiskrazy d They didn't force her in the slightest, it was her decision to preform and practice the stunt. She even said that it was her fault that she didn't say no. If she went along with it, even when she knew that she shouldn't have, I honestly can't hold that much sympathy for her. Of course, it's unfortunate and tragic, but it was her fault. Being forced and being pressured are two COMPLETELY different things. She might have been pressured, but she wasn't forced. The fact is, is that she couldn't sue because she went along with it. That's all my comment was addressing.
yeah because she was alone and nobody protected her you dumbass.
where were her parents in this.
"Thank god I'm not going to the Olympics" I'M CRYING 😢😢
Rich Miller The same happened to me.
Me too😔
Me too, the pain she must of gone through the months before. Poor Elena my heart breaks she was so talented. She so needed someone to hug her and and tell her how loved and great she was :(
This story touched me with tears also. IT was heartbreaking .. She had it all to win bit time.. She was so willing to work and be the best she could be ... She would have been the very best . No doubt on that~.. She won many awards but never did have the Olympics she should have been in ~
That line was too much for me, and I started crying too. :(
Elena was one of the best ever and one of my favorites. She was taken too soon.She deserved a much better life. Thanks for all the wonderful memories, Elena. You are remembered.
a true crucifixion.
Elena is in a better place now. She is with God. Sleep well little angel. No one can hurt you again.
Apparently not too much of the best to miss that landing 😬
@@-BabyValentine- she was forced to train on an injured leg. Many top level gymnasts have been injured trying that move. Think about it. And, she was beyond Amazing. She was sacrificed to the medals machine
I'm just going to put this out there for everyone. I managed to find a whole bunch of information about Elena which was in Russian but I managed to get it translated. Knowledge about her life is patchy at best and it requires separation of facts from propaganda.
About the leg... After the bad break she was forced back into training and the break came apart requiring the surgery. Some accounts word it like she had to be operated on the very day the cast came off the first time.
Apparently Elena's father was a drunk and he deserted her and her mother long before her mother died in a fire. He re entered her life in 2001ish but she cut him off because his motivation was mostly monetary.
After her accident she regained some movement in her arms but didn't have a whole lot of use of her arms. She was on a ventilator for SIX MONTHS after her accident.
That's all I can really put out there for now but I might buy this book about her in Italian and get it translated.
I also saw and interview with Larissa Latynina in which Larissa broke down and cried just talking about her. She apparently saw her regularly until her death.
Thanks, a really sad and tragic story for such a beautiful, talented girl. Very sad knowing nobody was there to protect and stand up for her, her being so young and vulnerable. 😔😧😢☹
Jo Letty extremely sad and tragic
It highlights a sobering reality
Thank you for this information. If you find out more, please let us know. Thank you.
Did you ever buy the book and if so did you get it translated?
Thank you, for sharing this with us.
In the late eighties, our gym had a coach from Russia. He was adamant that we not do skills like the 'Thomas Salto (that is, 1 1/2 somersault roll-out). It didn't matter if it was front, arabian, or side. It didn't matter if he was coaching the gymnast, or somebody else. He never explained why, only saying it was too dangerous. It wasn't until a few years later I understood why he was so against those skills. That's when the truth finally started to filter west (after the end of the USSR). Before that, we only knew she had a serious injury.
Bless the good man of a coach y'all had.
Kim
Good for him
Did you train at WOGA in Texas? Was your coach Yevgeny Marchenko?
IT MAKE ME VERY MAD WHY THE RUSSIA COACHES CAN’T SAY WHAT HAPPEN TO ELAINE AND HIDE THE ACCIDENT FROM THE WORLD,,,,
Thank God, I wont be going to the Olympics.
This breaks my heart.
I know. That was the saddest part of this whole tragedy. :'( Fuck the Soviet Union. Seriously.
Russian Government: I dun't care.
Better yet: Olympics: I don't care.
Those words made me 😢
Dude the fact that she BEAT Comaneci. AMAZING gymnast I’m so sad to have seen this, she needs a movie!
I agree We need the Movie on Elana . I am sure it will happen Have to keep pushing for it ~
I remember her. She was a World Champion. Her name should be up there in the history of gymnastics with Korbut and Comaneci. She was a hero.
One of the most horrific saddest things I’ve ever read. I’m so sorry. In the US all of the despicable coaches and officials involved would be in prison. RIP Elena.
No, they wouldn't and they aren't.
-Larry Nassar is in prison after decades of child molestation, but none of the people who hushed up his sexual abuse will ever see a day of prison time.
-Kerri Strug was pressured to train and perform in the lead-up to the 1996 Olympics despite suffering a severe back injury. All anyone remembers about her is Bela Karolyi carrying her to the podium after she shredded her ankle winning the team finals.
-Dominique Moceanu did most of her elite training between the ages of 12 and 14. She alleges that the Karolyis manipulated her parents into physically abusing her, particularly over the issue of her weight.
-Julissa Gomez was training for the 1988 Olympics at the age of 16 and was competing the double-twisting Yurchenko vault (which at that time was one of the most difficult in the world). She consistently had problems with the round-off into the skill for months, but her coaches continued to pressure her into performing it. At a meet in Tokyo, she missed the block after the round-off and crashed into the vaulting table full force, head first. She snapped her neck and immediately became a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. She suffered severe brain damage when her ventilator was disconnected a few weeks later and remained in a coma until her death three years after that. At her last competition, she talked about Elena Mukhina's injury. It's one of the last things she ever talked about.
And we haven't even gotten into suffering and death from eating disorders.
You glorify the US so much I just laugh 😂😂
@@kbrennan3836 wow. Just, wow.
chris madsen who hurt you?
ns2110theonly Sadly, they likely wouldn’t be in the US either
“Thank God. I won’t be going to the Olympics.” Made me tear up.
Lety pery
@@minstrelKorin Makes me wonder if we are helping to perpetuate this by watching the Olympics or attending.
@@sheilag.834 True..I have the same thaught.. Perhaps I should stop watching sport..It will not stop the pain and sufferin of young people in the sport, but some inner responsibilty and awarness of sad destiny of most of them could stop me to be part of it.
Omg this is heartbreaking. Her career was ended all because they were so desperate for gold medals. That's messed up.
I totally agree
dude who cares about the career she literally got paralyzed
Not only her career, but HER LIFE was ended. She ended up dying pretty young, because of her being paralyzed
Career? She became a tetraplegic. Her lifr basically ended, not her career.
Her life was ended. Screw the career.
That’s the first time I’m learning about Elena’s story, and I’ve been born and educated in Russia… Meaning, the official culture and history education programs omit mentioning this case. Truly heartbreaking. Unfortunately cruelly pushing athletes beyond their limits is a very common approach in Russian sports. Coaches will use harsh verbal and emotional abuse to pressure their trainees to do the undoable. This starts from coaching literal children (4 year olds).
Bela Karoli, Naudia's coach, was extremely brutal. I swear, people like this need to be punished--SEVERLY.
@@jamesstreet856 I agree with you. This is purposeful abuse... But sadly, they are receiving awards and high social status for what they're doing...
@@jeremiahsmith916 Exactly right my friend. They receive their awards at someone else's expense. They murdered this little girl trying to get results by any brutal means necessary. And sadly, these people will never see the punishment they deserve. Not in this life anyway. Maybe when they die, they will bust hell wide open.
@@jamesstreet856 Is he not the one who trained Mary Lou Retton?
This unfortunately very true. Specially for gymnasts and ballerinas. Russian authorities are too worried in displaying "greatness" to the world with sports and Russian ballet. The children athletes are pushed to extreme physical pain and mental abuse
If they let it heal properly, she might have not been through this.
missysayed no shit Sherlock
First name Last name rude, this person was just stating the truth
I agree
@@adrianaflowers998 wat nigga?
It makes my stomach twist. She meant nothing to them...
I'm so sorry Elena.....Rest in Peace Our Sweet Angel♥
Sylvie O I don’t think she died or did she
Jelle Bellee TV she did🤕
she didnt die at that time, she was quadriplegic, paralise from neck to toe, she died in 2006
But the thing is, she died yeah... But it was 3 days before Christmas and that's a bad time to.. Pass away I'll say.
It speaks volume of Mukhina that she felt sorry for the coach that forced her to injure herself. She was so talented with so much potential. Her story is truly tragic. RIP 🤸🏼♀️
They didn't love her.
They Turned something so beautiful into something so ugly.
Shame on them.
Bless her soul. Rip 😢
They didn't appreciate her.
She never turned into ugly, definitely.
Calling someone “so ugly” just because they’re paralyzed is kind of shitty
starsonfire im pretty sure they were talking about the situation. how like she was so good and how her routines were so elegant and pretty to getting paralyzed in a bed.
@@kingconstantinepalaeologue9651 She meant the "ugliness" of the situation, not the injured girl.
No one cared about her. She took partial responsibility, but she did tell her coaches she was not ready. They did not care.
She also had a move that she felt was to dangerous way ahead of its time ... they forced her to keep that move in .and just as she said I will break my neck. She did... Abuse and more is what happened To Elana, but it is written of as part of gymnastic world and that is wrong... we need more protection .. Speaking up and reporting issues starting to be accepted but need a long way to go.
What partial responsibility? You don't just say no to a communist country that is giving you these chances. If the soviet union wants you to do something, you can't just say no.
@@jellyflower32 the damnedest thing is that the Karolyis were able to come here and somehow exert that same kind of power for decades.
SHE KNEW Exactly- EXACTLY- what she needed and what was at risk, but Every single adult in charge dismissed this. That is the tragedy of being young: if you are in the care of people who are indifferent to or who act or make decisions on your behalf which are contrary to your needs, there is NO recourse for you. The consequences for the minor concerned can be lifelong and devastating (as in this situation), if not outright deadly. These are not mistakes made accidentally, but those which come from the willful disregard for another human being's welfare.
Kimenko killed her.
☝🏼 100% well said...
@@darlamundine No. She killed herself. She's the one who did gymnastic; no one else. She herself was a fool for listening and doing what they told her to do instead of sticking up for herself and saying NO, and stop going until she knew she was physically well to the point of continuing again. Or just quit all together. Just because he told her to continue on, she didn't have to do it. Was he her dad? NO. This was preventable. Stupid gets what stupid does. In all sports, not only gymnastics. None of were created to do all these foolish shits anyway. We were never created for these purposes at all.
@@marciturner4980 ridiculous statement to make ~
@@margueritegargiulo2191 exactly. They owned her. She was a child at their mercy. That country and their government were ruthless. This Marci person thinks this young girl had some sort of choice in the matter. Preposterious. Um, yeah she could have said no if she wanted her life ruined, no more school, no more food or housing.
And this is why Simone Biles was smart for withdrawing from competition. If the athlete is not confident in their ability to perform, they shouldn't.
Absolutely.
Yep. Those who say she's a quitter don't understand just how dangerous Simone's routines can be...we could easily have ended up with a similar video about her, but thank goodness gymnasts have much more autonomy in this new age. I'm sure Mukhina would have quit if she could, and she'd be alive today. 💓
100%. Hell, it's just absolute talent and a bit of luck that she DIDN'T break her neck coming off that vault. People keep bitching but they weren't there and aren't her.
@@andream9470 And who probably have never done gymnastics to begin with.
I mean, I'VE never done gymnastics, but I'm also smart enough to see the inherent danger if you can't see where you're going.
Thankfully, Simone Biles is older and is confident in what she says. Had this happened during an earlier olympics, she may not have felt she could say no. Besides taking care of herself, she is setting a good example of self-care for her teammates and for anyone who watches her.
Use and discarded after life altering injuries! Wow, how cruel some people are. Many countries have extreme practices for their athletes and winning is everything to them. She gave them her all even while recovering. They gave her their back and blamed her. This is mind blowing and upsetting. I hope a biography or major movie (with these details) will be made soon.
R.I.P. Beautiful!😔😔🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇
Also lets not forget that Olympican sports were used as propaganda in the cold war times and there was a loooot of pressure - and by pressure I mean you either die in breaking a neck or you and your family dissapears suddenly... Thats how bad those times were.
Nora Williams I hope so...she is majestic...
Nora Williams happens everyday just not as popular and major as this example. This is to the extreme. For example...not everyone who gets hurt at work gets taken care of. I hurt my knee at work and didnt even realize it was work-related because I was constantly getting up and getting back down over and over again to put labels on Shields and messed up my knee really bad I had to tell my boss that I would be leaving to go to the hospital because it felt like my leg was just hanging from a thread at my knee and the stupid b**** didn't even offer to write an injury form and I was in so much pain and didn't realize that's where it was coming from. Years later was going over the paperwork and saw in 2006 where had first started that job and helped open that store that that's when I went and had my knee looked at from it hurting so bad well no MRI you know go back to work and it happens again then I just learned to deal with it as long as I could possibly take it eventually after that job always had problems with it then I had to deal with them on my own and with no insurance and yes today still have problems with it.
Nora Williams
And no one was as heartless about their athletes and performers as Soviet Russia. Now that the union has broken up athletes have more control over their training. Of course the governments no longer fully sponsor them, athletes, dancers,and other artists are no longer "owned " by the government.
Nora Williams the saddest part about this story is that, nothing has changed in world of gymnastics when it comes to the girl athletes. The continue to push them, despite injury or illness ( anorexia nervosa). These girls break themselves and for what, maybe 8 yrs of recognition and then they are forgotten. SMH.
This is way too common in sports. It’s difficult, especially on teens. My son was injured and they were in such a hurry to get him out there again. I said, “ you’re smart I know you can handle this” and he nodded his head “yep I know mom.” He was 16 at the time but mature and thought like an adult. He dropped out on his own to avoid further damage but he’s still physically active , just without the coaches BS. I was so angry when they supposedly had a practitioner at his and gave him the ok but when I rushed him to the ER I saved his knee from damage. These schools need to chill. Parents please be involved.
Well im glad you stood up for your son, let him make his own decision, and you stood by him... I wish more more parents were like that..
One of my granddaughters had a similar experience as your son. She played varsity soccer, was captain of her team, and was considered the best mid-fielder in the conference. At a game on a Friday, she dislocated her knee. Without her on the field her team really suffered, so during the following game on Tuesday, the coach tried to get her to play; fortunately, she refused. He was more interest in winning than the safety of the players.
"Parents please be involved"
Is the most important thing you've said, irrespective of the field.
1) that adds confidence and inspiration in the kid
2) you know what's happening with and by your kid
Such a sad, tragic story. I surely hope karma came back to haunt the coaches who pushed this poor girl. They ruined her life. Unbelievably sad, and makes me so angry.
Mikhail Klimenko, her coach, died of cancer at only 65. Karma is a bitch.
I dont understand how peope watch a video and miss such huge elements completely!
Brittany Foote does this video contains any graphic images of live injury? I have a week stomach but I would love to see this story about this amazing girl. Thank you
00 aa No no showing of any graphic images. You'll be fine. Just a sad story
Brittany Foote thank you so much for getting back to me. I grew up watching gymnastics but I never knew about the dark side until I grew up. 😔😔
As a former gymnast in my teens, it gave me much needed self-confidence, joy, grace and strength. In the wrong person's hands, however, bad things can happen. The very moment someone thought it was okay to take off her cast before her injury was fully healed, that literally put her in a position of never walking again if something went wrong. Horrible. Gymnastics should edge more towards the artistic instead of just more difficulty, more difficulty. It is not a circus, and its dangerous. GRACE during athleticism is a beautiful thing to watch too.
I had a broken tibia bone and it was very painful for 3 months & even now too
Please don't say the coach was "not a bad man, merely young and naive". I know a lot of "young and naive" people who would never make anyone walk let alone do gymnastics on a broken leg. You are casting a bad light on young an naive people everywhere. Her coach was a monster.
Times were very different then. The Cold War was still going on along with propaganda being shared from both sides. The Olympics, especially gymnastics and figure skating, weren't a show to celebrate athletes' talents but an opportunity for many countries to one up each other. A sad story yes but her positive attitude is a testament to the power of forgiveness.
mjamitche5 but none of them lived in russia with the threats he was under. Threats that probably included his family if his team didnt perform.
In my humble opinion, they were both victims of the system.
Well, thank fuck for competitive gaming, then.
It was Elena herself who said her coach was young and naive and she felt sorry for him! Also he was not present when Elena had the accident it was with another coach. x
She never smiles during her routines she looks like she suffered for her art completely and probably didn't fully love the sport anymore. Such a shame as that is a talent we don't always see. The piece on bars is mesmerising.
This story is just so incredibly sad 😢. If the coach had just let her recover, she would have been up and doing gymnastics as soon as she was ready to.
What do you expect from a communist country?
It wasn't just her coach; it was the doctors, the entire gymnastics program, the country. There was a lot of pressure on all of them to be the best because of the Cold War. Russia needed to prove to the world that communism is necessary to produce greatness.
@@LaNoturna yeah just look at Chernobyl they did such a great job of showing how great they were that ppl ran in flocks from it to share the wonderful news that communism is the greatest yes that was sarcasm
Beverly Archer
Lol I read your sarcasm perfectly 👍
@@beverlyarcher3744 the same as in every other country, but without the sexual abuse
Poor girl. "Thank God I won't have to go to the Olympics" says it all. So sad but you can tell by her saying that how relieved she was to finally get away from it all forever. Too bad it had to end the way it did. What a precious gift she is. This is so tragic & so sad. I wish she were still around, I would love to meet her & give her a gigantic hug. Bless her heart. Rest in peace love.
I did gymnastics my whole life since the age of 2. When I was older competed until the age of 18 where they did not offer it at the college I wanted to go to for education purposes. Through those years I taught and coached gymnastics. (A sport I wholeheartedly love). When I was very young I worked out and had the same coaches who Kristie Phillips and Diane Durham had - we were all at Mid America Twisters in Illinois. I remember sandbags being placed on my back and rump in the splits with both of my feet elevated above the floor so that I would be able to get over-extension in my legs and hips and crying while I felt my tendons literally snapping........For this one reason and that one experience I NEVER let either one of my daughters ever do gymnastics. It was horrible and grueling and as a kid I didn't know it was so awful. As an adult I had told my mother about this and other things - she said she had no idea that was going on and had she known she would have pulled me out......There MUST be an advocate there to protect ALL children and people who "know what's going on." Stay and watch - don't just drop off for practice or a workout. This is freaking tragic!!!!!
That is so true about dropping off. I'm a mom and it's so easy to drop your kid off at a practice (any practice) and be grateful for the hour or more to do errands. I do drop off but I also stay. I always wonder if I should stay more often or for longer.
I was lucky I had good coaches that never badgered me like that. Wow. So sorry u went thru that pain.
The key to gymnastics: Don't do competition! Unless the child absolutely wants to and is ready, just stay recreational. Gymnastics at the recreational level is fun and beautiful. It's when you get to the competition level that it gets dangerous because you have to put in riskier and riskier and more and more dangerous moves in order to beat the competition. That's when it becomes painful. Sports, any sports should just be done for fun and health.
@@dttra566 I ageee 200%
Carla Mathy
It’s my story almost exactly. I started at the age of 2 and was working towards the 1980 Olympics when I broke my back. I had a Russian coach and was tortured through sprains and ligament tears, I was actually relieved when I quit. Thank you for sharing your story.
I remember her so well I was the same age and competed in gymnastic competitions I remember how Brilliant she was I remember being a massive fan of nadia comenech and Olga korbet I remember this young Brilliant absolutely fantastic gymnast who took it to another level she was perfect she was brilliant...
I remember her suddenly disappearing I remember reading about her terrible accident, now I know how and why it happened elena you will never be forgotten by a certain generation God rest your perfect soul 😇😇😇😇😇
wherever she is, i think she feels our love.......
American gymnast Julissa Gomez also died from a gymnastic injury. She was practicing a Yurchenko vault at a meet in Japan prior to the performance. She'd been training under Karolyi some months back but sustained an injury after which he seems to have lost his enthusiasm for coaching her. She then signed with another coach who has since been criticized for recklessly pushing her to perform that vault because he felt it was needed if she had any hope of making the next Olympic team. She could not even speak after ramming headfirst into the apparatus during practice before the meet but could blink yes and no. That night at the hospital in Japan her breathing tube came loose. The hospital was old school and didn't allow a parent to stay by her side and did not appoint a nurse to do so either. Her parents were desperately hoping for her to be declared stable enough for the flight home. Instead the next morning they learned of the accidental oxygen loss and were informed their daughter was now brain dead. She eventually went home where her mother cared for her under medical supervision. Her mother cared for her meticulously day after day but she never showed signs of awareness and died some years later. Gymnastics is a dangerous sport. Aly Raisman and other elite gymnasts have talked about fighting the fear every gymnast feels when learning especially difficult elements. Its a real mental battle but hesitation can increase the danger. You've got to admire these amazing athletes.
I know! After deadly accidents the moves are usually banned from women's gymnastics. The banned moves almost all consist of blind landings. Still any move requiring great speed and power while upside down, blind or not, could potentially be fatal. An interesting note is that equestrian sports and diving are also among the deadliest of sports. Striking the head or neck on a hard surface at great speed is the culprit in all 3 sports.
Cheryl Stade the move wasn't banned because her foot missed the springboard and the skill was not the reason for the accident. It could have happened with any backward skill on the vault. So instead they added a mat around the springboard whenever a gymnast is performing a backward skill on the vault.
Thanks for the correction.
Read Little Girls in Pretty Boxes by Joan Ryan. Very enlightening book about elite gymnasts and figure skaters. Julissa's story is featured in the book.
@Cheryl Wow--great post! I'm going to google Julissa. Thanks for the info!
The best gymnast of ALL time. Sweet Elena. Brilliant. Brave. She was an incredible athlete, yes, but also an incredible human. An Angel. Fly high, sweet girl.
Beautiful Well said You said it all `
He was a bad man !! He pushed that young girl knowing how bad her leg was. There were others that were responsible too. They ruined that girls life and because of her severe injury were the main cause of her early death. This video both breaks my heart and angers me. I'm glad the Soviet Union is gone. Thank you for this video but please don't let him off the hook like that. Like others he cared more about medals than the well being of a young girl who he was trusted with. RIP sweet angel.
I understand what you mean and I agree with it, but if Elena choose to not blame him then I did not want to either, if that makes sense. Also, I'd say he, unlike the others, cared for "Elena" at least somewhat since he was his athlete and there was a bond. The officials and doctors didn't not care for "Elena" at all. They solely cared for medals. Even if the coach didn't fully care or do good he still must have cared a bit. He could have kept taking kids and training, but after the injury he left the country and withdrew completely, regretting everything. The others did not, they didn't care and even spread lies around...
Can you imagine how they pushed him to push her? They even pushed doctors to take a cast off twice, that should have remained on both times. I can't even begin to imagine the pain this girl must have suffered, while training gymnastics with a fractured leg having undergone surgery. Nobody cared. The gold medal was important. Pepole were not. Safety wasn't. And her wellbeing was even less important than any of the other unimportant things...
No only that - he wasn't even there to spot her! What a lousy coach.
Gymnastics Paradise n
this story makes me so sad :( but it really puts into perspective just how tough the gymnastics world is, and how there's so much that can go wrong, just like in any other sport. But the fact that her coach made her train with a broken leg, and train a near impossible skill, is horrible :(
Indeed, you are absolutely correct! The thing with her coach is that he REALLY wanted to train an Olympian and thus ended up pushing Elena so hard and so far. He was merely young and naive.
We could say that he managed to turn a blind eye to everything more easily due to the fact he really wanted an Olympian, but it wasn't even him. If he wouldn't co-operate at that point someone else would have taken over and . Elena was their sole chance at medals and gold. Nobody cared for "Elena Mukhina" among them, they cared for the "Olympic gold". I'd say her coach definitely did care for her due to, well, being her coach, but his own naive and stupid way of thinking was proved by "People like you just don't break their necks.". He didn't even think something like that would happen to her. He didn't want to believe it and put in front his desire for Olympian. In reality however, if he refused to use Elena he'd have been fired, not have a chance at Olympic athlete & someone would have pushed Elena even worse and, if she wouldn't get injured, take the glory. Really... he was just a naive young victim of ideals.
Being young and naive is no excuse for mistreating a gymnast! What angers me in this situation is that the Soviets, at that time, were not punished or sanctioned for what happened! FIG should be ashamed of themselves for letting this happen under their watch! It's just like the incident where children as young as 12 years old were going to the Olympics for the Eastern Bloc countries! The excuse given was that it was the regimes and not the trainers! Well, I view this like I view how the Nazis or any other fascist government tries to excuse the extermination of people. World leaders held them accountable for the ills these perpetrators bought upon their victims. Likewise, coaches and countries should be sanctioned for the ills they heep upon their athletes until the system changes. Even in the US there has been wide abuse of gymnasts because the US has employed teachers from the East to build their programs. The difference between the East and West is that the victims have their day in court and the coach actually loses his/her license to train!
Gymnastics Paradise a
I'm upset that her grandmother didn't jump in and say something. This girl was an orphan really. If my grandchild, I'd have gone in there with heavy purse and cane ready to pounce if they didn't like my little girl heal and feel up to "it" on her own fruition. Dirty scoundrels.
I say you are among the best grandmothers out there, mrs. Stephenson and your comment genuinely made me laugh and smile. But, the thing is, that the time and things were different there. I am assuming they were quite poor to start with and going against government would be awful for both. I cannot even begin to imagine the punishments... Elena has said no , I am sure her grandmother must have at least tried to keep her at home, but the government itself you can't go against. She would have been taken away or something. I am not sure, but I know that she could not be at home in peace no matter what ...
Unfortunately, this is way too common is sports. I spent 22 years figure skating. I am damaged mentally, emotionally and physically. There was never any time to be sick or injured. Broken bones were "taped" together. If you had the flu, grab a Kleenex and puke in it. Oh, and you'd better get good at puking; forget food/eating. Mentally, it was a constant struggle to go out everyday and get screamed at for trying your very best and still being told you are a failure and will never make it anywhere. I, too, had a similar thought when the final injury did me in.
As a current competitive gymnast I completely understand what you mean. I hope your body and mind heals through the up-coming years and some of the good memories remain as well. Thank you for sharing the harsher reality with us.
Well it depends entirely on whether you wanna be a professional or you just do it for fun
My roommate in college was in ballet.She went on pointe from age 12 to 17. Her parents were so proud of their "ballerina" so she never told them about her feet hurting and her toes breaking all the time. When her leg gave out and she was at the hospital she said it was almost a relief
Oh this is so sad. I had no idea this went on. I’m so sorry you had to go through that 🙁
piper xavier that’s shocking
Known as the gurl with the ice blue eyes. They beat her into perfection and both lost. They push these girls too far. She had a dream and they turned it into a nightmare. Sad. She was so talented
This is so tragic. It's important to remember her and her story. Hope the new generation of gymnasts know her story and honor her legacy by looking after their health over whatever accomplishments they dream to achieve.
Stone W,
That is a nice thought, but things don't work that way in Russia. One does what they are told to do, or else. They didn't care about her at all. Poor woman.
Stone W.
Her coaches pushed her way, way too hard, and she paid the price for their negligence.
SHAME ON HER COACHES!!!
They abused her horribly, not pushed her as you say.
I'd never heard of this poor child before. A young life so full of promise, destroyed. Such a sad story. I pray she walks beside the Lord in Heaven for eternity 🙏
You have highlighted the most disturbing fact - she was a CHILD.
Whippy99 pp
No one protected this poor girl. This made me cry, so upsetting. Rest in paradise Elena💙🌸🌻
I felt that way also ! We speak out Elana speaks out this story will help many `
What a disgrace! She deserves posthum more attention. May she rest peacefully and without pain in Jesus arms!
"Mad World" is perfect! It compelled me to watch the entire video, hoping history would change itself but that magic didn't come. There was no one to protect Elena. Mad world. ♞
Hi! More video here:
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/robbie_official_page/?hl=it
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/RobbieFrancomano/
@@ROBBIErobertafrancomano Why are you self-advertising on a serious video?
Parents should not give up the rights to their child medical ,, must keep a close watch. Parents need to make the calls and have close contact with there children.. WE can see how this worked out NO one to watch over Elana~ Parents in control !!
I just hope that despite her misfortunes and all that pain and suffering she still experienced some moments of genuine happiness and joy. That’s all one can wish for.
Tragically unnecessary! You could clearly see how forlorn she was!
So young with so broken down look. Like she is an old sad woman inside of a girl RIP :(
Isabella C poor kid probably wanted a life outside of gymnastics... 🥺💙
@@Snezzleify I saw another YT video on her and the video said that Some people came to her school asking if anyone was interested in gymnastics and she raised her hand b/c she though it sounded neat. Probably wished she hadn't. Poor girl.
I remember my mom wanted me to do gymnastics when I was younger. I thought, “well, ok I’ll try it.” It was really fun, and the coaches were never to hard on us. When I was about five though, one of the coaches left and practice got hard and not as fun. Eventually, five year old me was forced to try the vault. Not just jump onto it and do a somersault or something like that. He wanted us to jump onto it, nearly over it, then grab the edge and do a flip. Clearly, we were way too young to do that, but we were forced to try. At least three kids got injured, but weren’t allowed to tell their parents because the coaches would get in trouble. Two of my friends sprained their ankles, and one of them hurt their shoulder. Also, in doing that I sprained my wrist. I had to keep practicing because of my coaches. Luckily we were doing beam for a couple weeks, so their wasn’t to much strain, and it mostly healed. Since it did not heal properly, I have had wrist pain ever since. Gymnastics is a cruel sport.
You still do gymnastics?
The sad thing is that it does not have to be that cruel. The coaches make it so much worse.
I love gymnastics so much! It's a wonderful feeling to defeat gravity and moving elegantly, but yes, there's a lot of pressure especially in the competitive section. My team shared the gym with a competition team of like 5 / 6 year old girls. One day one of the girls did a perfectly fine menicelli, but her coach shouted at her that she had done it horribly and to leave, if she didn't want to train and to do it over and over again, until she learned to do a meni properly. The coach shouted at this 5 year old because of maybe one not perfectly stretched toe. I know enough young women who learned to hate this sport they used to love, because of this extreme pressure and the constant feeling not to be good enough. That's so sad. Gymnastics is such a beautiful sport. I Iove it. I do gymnastics not cempetitively. I do it for me, because it's fun and not to become the next Simone Biles. I'm a trainer myself and my goal is to teach the kids to like this sport. No matter, when you're not the best. My motto is: There is no 'I can't do it.' There is only a 'Yet I can't do, so I practice until I can do it!'
It’s not cruel. Your coaches were horrible people. I did gymnastics and my coaches were amazing.
@@thelovelyone8636 it’s cruel. you may not have had a bad experience, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a bad sport. Gymnastics by itself is not bad. But modern gymnastics is. At its heart it is about grace and elegance and impressive skills, but now it has just become about difficulty and coaches still constantly push their athletes to go farther than they can just for some stupid medal and title.
I don't know anything about gymnastics but I can even tell she has something I've never seen before. Athletic and graceful.
@Amelia Barbo that’s funny I used my nickname Smiley but somehow you found my name Larissa which is a Russian name although I am not Russian lol.
This is beyond sad, she was sacrificed for the gold medal. RIP Elena❤️
Shame on the Russians to think this young girl was just a machine that they could keep pushing and pushing in spite of severe injuries!! Rest in peace sweet Elena!
crizzy8 being Russian has nothing to do with it lol stop reaching.
@@LJ-rg9qn Idiot, crizzy8 was speaking about a situational event, a mindset of
"win at any cost" system, not besmirching Russians as a nation. It would be the same if it happened to an American, or Romanian, etc. Critical thinking isn't your forte, is it!
L J Yes, it does. Russians, especially from that time, were hard people. They were made hard by a hard existence created by a hard government.
@@cw5451 Capitalists and money-makers do the same. Don't you know? Stop seeing life in black-and-white.
Olga Luna Well, duh! But I’m talking about the difference between a capitalist culture versus a Russian communist culture. They aren’t the same. And if you don’t know the difference, then you should educate yourself.
Every aspiring Olympic gymnast should watch this.
Dee McGee does this video contains any graphic images of live injury? I have a week stomach but I would love to see this story about this amazing girl. Thank you
00 aa, no it contains no graphic footage.
Dee McGee this is heartbreaking, I'm a gymnast and it just shows, anything can go wrong but hesitation can increase those chances, I admire so many amazing olympians for doing this daily ❤️ trying to get to the Olympic but that won't happen 😂 only just got to internationals 😂❤️
Dee I broke my leg at the height of my gymnastics career. The doctors told me that I would be learning to walk all over again, that my gymnastics career was over, to think of something else to do when I could come out of the cast. It was a very heartbreaking pill to swallow. My coach tried to convince me I could regain that art after learning to walk again, but a slightly crooked leg left me unable. They were wrong and after a few nasty falls on the balance beam, I walked away and cried for the last time as I left the gym. Elena's story angers me to the core, she NEVER got a chance to walk away until death. R.I.P little angel and enjoy those aerials on the clouds.
I agree, but they shouldn't take this as an example of what could happen to them... Modern sport is very different to sport in communist russia. Of course there's pressure, but most sports people would be encouraged to take a break for a twisted ankle never mind a broken leg
I hate when coaches do this. They can ruin lives and even kill if they make a gymnast keep going when they say they are in pain. Something along those lines happened to me, and I had to stop doing gymnastics because I now have chronic pain in my wrists. My coaches kept pushing and pushing even when I said I was in pain, and now I can't even do a handstand correctly because I'm in so much pain that sometimes it's hard to even put any pressure on my wrists. I know, I know. My injury was not even close to what this poor girl experienced, I'm just trying to give an example of a situation where coaches didn't listen and caused permanent injury. This was around five years ago, and I still experience horrible pain in my wrists to this day. I now coach, and I always make my girls stop when they are in pain or even just crying but won't admit they are in pain. That's something I see a lot, an athlete crying but not admiring they are in pain for fear of punishment or because they think they will not be good enough if they don't keep going. But we need to teach them that's it's okay to take a break. It's okay to be hurt.
You are making this world a better place and I hope your wrists heal through the years at least a little more!
Mabel Miller well said! This is very true indeed.
sergemodee Al Fong didn't call her fat, it was an international judge.
Al Fong did call her out on her weight as well, but the judge was awful about it and first.
Gymnastics Paradise Oh ok.
Such a tragic story. I was not aware of her, but I am so glad you've put this out here. It's a timely tale that most likely goes on in many too many athletes' lives. I cried hard for her. God bless her beautiful soul.
She could've recovered from the broken leg. I broke mine and I'm better than I was before I broke it, but that's because I made a full recovery. It's so sad to think that she could have lived a longer gymnastics life if only she'd been allowed to recover from the broken leg. Broken limbs are fixable, a broken spine on the other hand, is just awful ❤️
This was the saddest story I'ever seen in my entire life. God bless Elena.
It truly is. So heartbreaking. May she rest peace.
First saw the story and what happened I could not stop crying.. For days I carried the sadness.. I did not know of her and she touched my heart... IT still hurts to think she had to be forced to perform and did not have any freedom to make her decisions seeing The little girl the gymnastic world forgot How sad~
Wow...they should definitely make a movie about here...rest in peace gymnastic angel...
They took her life away💔 But I will be forever thankful for her. Without her the Thomas Salto might have never been banned causing more and more gymnast to get hurt. She changed gymnastics forever❤️ Rest in peace❤️💔
Elite Soviet gymnasts can't break their necks just like RBMK reactors can't melt down.
And their reporters never get murdered, they just end up with two bullets in their skull from their suicide attempts.
There was no graphite on the ground …
I remember her, and she was gifted...To bad the doctors and coaches didn't realize her life was far more important!!!
Very gifted Her graceful moves and right on routines flowed and was pure beauty ~
That was a really, really nice tribute. I never heard of her and it was by chance I came across this video. The title caught my attention. ..so I watched it. It made me feel a lot of emotions. ..with anger and sadness being at the forefront. You do this lady much justice. Thank you.
She was not only a talented gymnast, but also a very nice person. R.I.P. Elena!😇💖
It's brutal to be blinded by wanting something so badly.
How did doctors even accept taking the cast off early like the doctors could be sued or could even be kicked and no longer able to do their job
It was the USSR...
Hello? This was the USSR not the USA.
You could even add that it was the CCCP ;-) . A great demonstration of the type of thing that makes foreigners dislike Americans so much. Though in that era, no-one was being sued in the USA for how the gymnasts were treated. Nor did they later on with the gymnasts who were severely hurt (most Karolyi kids) or who died.
A great example of how different life still is would be that in Russia it's illegal to 'glorify', encourage or partake in any other such act regarding suicide. Even websites that have such content are blocked.
Grethan not knowing about communism isn't why everyone hates Americans yall. The fact that Grethan doesn't know is a great opportunity to teach and for them to learn. If a person is unaware of a words definition, do we scoff and tell them tough shit dummy? Noooo you hand them a dictionary .
I wonder if she capitulated because she feared for her life?
Beautiful video and girl. I'm so sad I didn't know about her before now. It's so prophetic she said she'd break her neck. I'd never say it's her fault. In gymnasts, sometimes the gymnist doesn't even think of the risks. The move where she stands on top of the uneven bars & backflips off is unbelievable!! She looked so sad on the floor talking to her coach. Wonderful hearing Mad, Mad World in another language!!
T. J. That move on the uneven bars isn't allowed in the sport anymore. It was deemed too dangerous
Olga Korbut had a move like that!
This is what happens when state is extremely powerful. No individuality is left to assert. A new form of obsession with nationalism takes over defying the expressions of the same people who constitute it .
The state has no national allegiance, the first victim of a totalitarian state is their own nations. There has never been a national state and the closest one would need to care about peasants and ordinary people to qualify as one.
@3VIL IS GOOD&GOOD IS 3VIL ... Oh shut the fuck up. This is about SPORTS from many years ago.
This is one of the saddest things I have ever heard, I am at a loss for words.
Thank you for sharing this. My grandson just started taking lessons in gymnastics last year and seems to have an aptitude for it. I will remember this always. I know my son will listen should my grandson complain, but I think it important for both of them to know the history of this young genius athlete. It's so important that winning be a goal, not a death sentence.
Your video is very beautiful.
Never heard this story before.. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.. You're responsible for what happened to this young lady..
They are and they don't care. Russian athletes of the 70's and 80's were essentially State property. Sad but that was the reality.
Thanks, Communism.
Soviet but i bet it would happen today also
The Russians are very good at covering things up. Always have been and will continue to do so
Yet, in American hospitals a naked, delusional patient can be shot by the police, and a detained, beaten man can be taken to the hospital, beg a nurse to save him, and be taken away by the cops to be beaten some more...I guess we're just a little more Wild West in our approach.
Wow this makes me cry, and I’ve never heard of her until now. Poor girl. Wish she never suffered like that
Rest in peace Elena Mukhina and you’re now a lovely Angel in Heaven.. we will never forget your sacrifice for this sport..love 🌷🌷
The tragedy of the Elena Mukhina story is that the sport that made her also destroyed her. She was practicing the Thomas Salto floor exercise skill when she was injured. Incredibly, the Thomas Salto and was still being performed nine years after Elena's injury by Soviet and Chinese athletes. The Thomas Salto was eventually banned by the Gymnastics Federation as too dangerous. Also, Elena's Mukhina backflip on bars skill, a variation of the Korbut backflip with a twist, required her to literally risk it all each time she practiced or performed it and she courageously did so for years. Both the Mukhina and Korbut backflip skills on bars were also banned by the sport as too dangerous.
Elena was interviewed late in her life and her interview is available on TH-cam, but is in the Russian language. I would very much like to hear a translation of her first-person account.
Elena Mukhina is arguably the most talented gymnast ever and deserving of recognition.
B. Covington found one with subtitles
Here's
Subtitles
th-cam.com/video/7hwKNaWp-YU/w-d-xo.html
I think it's a silly sport, you aren't given any time to read when a situation is dangerous. In boxing, you can dodge a punch. in football, you can pass the ball to your team mates if you can't make the goal. In gymnastics, you are on your own. It's as dangerous as fighting in combat and it's all for gold medals. It isn't a sport at all. It's a death trap!
My Uncle was paralized after jumping into a friend's pool. Not knowing they had drained the pool and was filling in back up that same weekend giving him permission to use it any time. He was running after shutting the gate taking his shirt off and jumped in on the side that was to be the deep end and it was probably 4 feet deep and it was to late to stop a mid-dive and it broke his neck. I can remember him being so depressed Everytime I would go to my grandparents house. I was his only female niece and would go just to try to make him smile. Staying the night with my grandparents got to be a regular weekend thing and so did me hearing him talk to her about smothering him with a pillow or giving him a over dose of pills. He was so unhappy and for Nanny it was killing her to hear him speak of this on a daily basis. One weekend I went over to stay and help nanny with her sewing we heard him in the bedroom reading or talking to someone... A few hours had past and we started dinner and I heard her say, 'Go tell your uncle dinner is almost ready'. I opened the door and my uncle was still laying in bed... I was surprised because my uncle was up early and dressed and couldn't do anything for himself (nothing) my nanny done everything for him. His eyes were closed and he had a smile on his face! For the first time I actually saw a very peaceful man. He passed away that day and I knew he was in pain all the time. I could have never lived like he did. For many years my grandma swore up and down she never helped him in bed and never helped him with his desire to die. I'm sorry this was so long. I felt like telling it to just get it out again. It's been almost 20 years and I still remember everything so clearly. I guess no one really knows unless God forbid your in a situation like this. Thank you for all your videos! I love them! 🌎✌
Oh my goodness.. that is such a sad story... Your grandma and you are such kind people and the fact that he had a smile on his face makes it a little more comforting .. Thank you for sharing!
Gymnastics Paradise thank you so much for those kind words. I am glad too that the smile was just like a sign that he was doing just fine. 💞
That was hard for you too watching someone you love in pain is traumatic but I pray he is now with Jesus and has a glorified body forever and ever and for Mukhina also. She forgave her coach most of the time but was very angry at his superiors, her coach had a gym in Italy but had to give it up, her coach was one of the few people who would call Mukhina and he suffers from guilt. Mukhina said the only teammate who called her was Yelena Davidova who was "a real friend."
Wow I am so sorry you went through that as a young girl. I hope your uncle is at peace now
Wow this is so touching! Meaningful paragraph are always important to share! God bless your family ❤️
I certainly remember her. My favourite gymnast of all time, I was so shocked and saddened to learn what had happened to her.
this is why I'm very careful. I don't isolate myself from the world completely but, this is a cruel and unforgiving world we live in. I just want to say as angry and sad as this makes me, I still try to have forgiveness for those who do things like this people. because it's when we carry hatred in our hearts for the wicked, all it does is make them stronger. i and we as people who want to be good have to forgive and heal from our pain mentally and physically. so that way we are at peace with our selves and everyone around us. we can't let the darkness win. I must admit however this is a sad story and I hope she is in a better and happy place. she was to good for this world.😥.
She was duped into believing in 'patriotism' above everything else. A young life needlessly wasted.
paul broderick I know. it brings so many tears to my eyes. but it's through love and compassion that we overcome our hatred. we are better than our haters. I swear, I would be at so much peace if the world would just stop fighting.
clifton moses I
clifton moses You don't need to forgive. Being consumed by rage and lust for revenge and not forgiving are two different kettle of fish. There are things that need not and should not be forgiven, but as the hurt party you still do better if you can move on and not dwell on it. But pressuring people to forgive when they can't and shouldn't is unkind. Every victim should be allowed to forgive or not forgive according to what makes them feel best.
W
I didn't know who Elena M was until I came across this video. It broke my heart to know her story and how she was treated. So sad! Rest in Peace angel.
This video was in my recommended. It caught my eye because I recognized her face, even though I'd last seen it as a young child. As I watched, my heart grew heavy - her dream was used against her by people and her country that only cared about themselves. That selfish greed and pride cost Elena dearly. She said, "No," multiple times, multiple ways. But they had to have first place.
Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Book of Proverbs.
I earnestly hope the people who pushed her at least have the decency to be ashamed.
Now I know why hers was a vague face from the past.
Anyone who thinks this is an isolated incident or the kind that only happens in one country or that it's not done in the present needs to unplug from all the distraction and research like they never have before.
I feel so sad for this young girl. I did not know she sacrificed her life in the life of a sportswoman. Rest in Peace.
I want to put something out here. It's not an excuse for anyone, just another piece of info. Many of you are young, and not familiar with Soviet attempts at domination in the era. They pushed athletes VERY hard and Olympic medals were a show of their "superiority". When US teams beat them, it was a huge political statement. In the Soviet Union, the pressure from the government on the athletic federation was heavy, probably threats were made. It was a scary time to live in the country.
This was my immediate thought. This situation should have never happened, but blaming her or her coach would be improperly deflecting the blame from the Soviet program and the Soviet Union broadly.
@@giftedboi absolutely! Even their family members were threatened. They not only wanted medals, but worried that the athletes would defect. Younger people should watch the movie White Knights. Those were scary times.
@@elceenomoun8115 not that it isn't sad that she lost her mother, but... good lord, what do people think a mother would have done?! They actively recruited orphans, but a parent or two could "disappear." How awful.
@@msp5138 that's all very true. But we were discussing the Soviet Union during the cold War era, and the likely impact on this athlete.
And when they won, they got perks like few others.
I remember her, but didn't know of this tragedy. So sad
I didn't read all the reply's. Just mainly saw part of the film. It all has to do with the Russian mind set. She kept warning them and pleading with them not to take off her cast. DOES THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING!!!!. To train in a cast what's that. The pressure was put on her because of the Russians period!!! wanting to compete not about her life and what was best for her. Who ever heard of doing a grueling Olympic training, which is hard for anyone, much less doing it with a severe injury!!!. They caused her paralysis and ultimate death. Repeat!!! they did not care about her as a person. She should have never competed that year. Her leg would have healed in it's own time.
Its the same way with competitive cheerleading & dance. The stunts are crazy & the coaches just push push push push! Some of the parents even are worse than the coaches. Its so sad. I'll never push my child like that, and definitely have to watch these coaches. May she rest in peace. What a sad story.😇
I'll agree and add in ballet and figure skating in that list.
Cheerleading is especially dangerous. Simply because some American feminists, with the power to hinder official decision making that would result in passing safety legislation, will not accept cheerleading as an actual sport. Their principles are more important to them than the safety of schoolgirls that practice the time honored tradition of cheerleading all over the USA... Girls have serious accidents every year, and some suffer severe spine injuries, simply because wearing a short skirt and cheering at games are seen by some older feminists in power as "demeaning to women"...
Yes and as someone who used to cheer and also was an assistant coach for the younger girls ,I've seen alot of the parents push them and even the coaches
So tragic, thank you for keeping her memory alive and for giving her the honor she deserves.
I watch this over and over and it is so sad to think that people can make such bad decisions for others that lead to injuries to death.😔 Rest in peace