There will never ever be another gymnast on this planet with elegance such as Nadia's!!!!Todays gymnasts are acrobats!I truly miss the true artistic gymnastcs from that era😪FOREVER NADIA🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇❤❤❤❤❤❤
What blows my mind is that the floor has no springs. A double twisting layout is only rated a C in the current code, but the floor in 1979 was a literal carpet so it was SO much more difficult, and painful on the ankles, probably.
Those were the glory years in women's gymnastics because, in addition to outstanding athletic ability, the gymnasts were beautiful, graceful, and elegant. In addition to that Nadia has that something special that makes her a star. Today with such a high premium on acrobatics, women's gymnastics has lost the beauty and elegance that made it so wonderful and pleasing to watch in Nadia's time. At 5'-4", Nadia would be extremely tall for today's gymnasts. Instead the judges prefer Somome Biles who at only 4'-8" and 8" shorter than Nadia has an overwhelming advantage in acrobatics. However, she certainly doesn't have Nadia's elegance and star power and, if she was Nadia's height she would only be an average gymnast.
There is something special but undefined about Nadia that makes me want her to win. No other gymnast has done that. The only one that came close was Mary Lou Retton and that is only because she was competing for the USA before the USA was winning medals in women's gymnastics. With her beauty and elegance, Nadia was the very best artistic gymnast. Simone is the best acrobatic gymnast. I don't compare Nadia vs. Simone because, although the sports are similar, they performed in different sports. Nadia was 5'-4". Nadia proved you could win at that height in artistic gymnastics. Simone is 4'-8" an 8" height advantage (a 12% strength to weight advantage and a 25% moment of inertia advantage) in acrobatic gymnastics. It is not possible for someone 5'-4" to win at the Olympics in acrobatic gymnastics. I wish they would bring back artistic gymnastics because I would much rather watch beautiful and elegant young gymnasts performing their artistry over short freaks of nature performing circus moves.
I have never really watched Nadia in competitions before...just blips throughout all the years. But WOW! I have a whole new respect for her. She was so amazing and confident and calm. But I can't believe how Cathy interviewed her and asked about how she had been "overweight" and what was her secret to losing 20 pounds. She was NOT close to being overweight. She had grown several inches. But in this competition she was so so so thin. Times have sure changed.
@Star Tetrahedron And for Cathy to be perpetuating that bullshit when she HERSELF suffered with an eating disorder during her years competing is just insanity. Thank god the tines have changed and young women in this sport are allowed to be healthy and eat like human beings need to to survive. I mean I know eating disorders still exist, I know that there are coaches who still engage in the type of mental and emotional abuse that leads athletes to eating disorders, but it's much MUCH more talked about now so that's huge. We've come a long way, but we've still got a long way to go.
Nadia's beam routine - beautiful and stunning. Fluidity and grace is unmatched - and power. She worked incredibly hard to get in such great shape - true champion to make that kind of comeback from 1978.
I am torn by her all around sadness :( I am hardly imagine how difficult life her life was: boarding school, forced to change coach after 8 years (just because of idiots leaders in Romania), living in another city (Bucharest is so so much different from Onesti, with difficult people), parents getting divorced and all these while she is at that age of changes. I feel terrible for her.
Such a shame that the US team were forced to boycott the 1980 Olympics. Kathy Johnson was in her prime, she was absolutely incredible. Not that she WASN'T incredible in 1984. She was. I just wish she got the chance to shine in 1980 like she had planned on most of her life, ya know?
Yeah, the Romanians seemed to always wear those awful white leotards most of the time. A change to see something else. Although the white makes Nadia look innocent at Montreal.
Nadia was at her best in 1979. It's important that she emphasized training as the cause of her conditioning, and not dieting, until Rigby dragged her into a discussion about dieting. And I love that she refused to be this happy-smiling-I-am-here-to-make-others-feel-comfortable-about-themselves robot that people force on gymnasts now. For some of them, that's their natural personalities. But for those who do not have that chipper personality, you're okay as you are. Don't let them force you into something you're not.
Thank you for uploading these gymnastics videos. Nadia was so beautiful here, perfect every time, except UB. The deduction in beam was hilarious. Normally, she should have won. But the floor routine was beautiful.
Agreed the deduction on beam was questionable - she should have won beam. Rock solid gainer back handspring back tuck. Only small balance checks on front aerial and second backhandspring series (very small). Beautiful dismount and beautiful split leap. Sports illustrated comments on 1976 performances (credit Wikipedia) "....But it is on the beam that her work seems more representative of her unbelievable skill. She scored three of her seven 10s on the beam. Her hands speak there as much as her body. Her pace magnifies her balance. Her command and distance hush the crowd."
One the amazing things about Kraker's bar routine is how well she recovered, even after skimming the low bar with her backside! Props to these women for pushing for those giants, even when the bars were so close!
The comments on weight is so messed up. This is when gymnasts were forced into starvation to stay pre pubescent . I think that finally may be lessening as focus is more on muscles and strength. Kathy Rigby herself had an eating disorder as did Nadia.
I don't see anything special about Nadias floor, the artistry was just alright and her tumbles were easier than Zahkarovas. Don't understand why it got a 10 and won gold.
Nadia's Floor Music seemed less cheesy and more mature played upon the piano. She ought to have picked a better piece for Moscow; her song was so gaudy.
Irene Lastnamegoeshere She had such hardship after 1976. Ceaucescu had separated her from Bela, and that's when she gained the weight. She was so unhappy, but once she defected her life started to turn around.
¿Cómo es que Nadia perdió el primer lugar? Si las masas dicen que ella siempre fue la mejor en todas las competencias, que nadie como ella porque no hubo nadie que la venciera, jamás, ¿o no es eso lo que siempre pregonan? Ah, ya sé, los "malvados jueces le robaron su triunfo", ¿cierto? "Y también lo hicieron en el Campeonato Mundial de 1978, claro eso fue, porque nadie como Nadia", ¿verdad?
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There will never ever be another gymnast on this planet with elegance such as Nadia's!!!!Todays gymnasts are acrobats!I truly miss the true artistic gymnastcs from that era😪FOREVER NADIA🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇❤❤❤❤❤❤
Kathy johnson is so underrated when people think of U.S. womens gymnastics
Agree!!!
What blows my mind is that the floor has no springs. A double twisting layout is only rated a C in the current code, but the floor in 1979 was a literal carpet so it was SO much more difficult, and painful on the ankles, probably.
Those were the glory years in women's gymnastics because, in addition to outstanding athletic ability, the gymnasts were beautiful, graceful, and elegant. In addition to that Nadia has that something special that makes her a star.
Today with such a high premium on acrobatics, women's gymnastics has lost the beauty and elegance that made it so wonderful and pleasing to watch in Nadia's time. At 5'-4", Nadia would be extremely tall for today's gymnasts. Instead the judges prefer Somome Biles who at only 4'-8" and 8" shorter than Nadia has an overwhelming advantage in acrobatics. However, she certainly doesn't have Nadia's elegance and star power and, if she was Nadia's height she would only be an average gymnast.
The glory days of gymnastics
There is something special but undefined about Nadia that makes me want her to win. No other gymnast has done that. The only one that came close was Mary Lou Retton and that is only because she was competing for the USA before the USA was winning medals in women's gymnastics. With her beauty and elegance, Nadia was the very best artistic gymnast. Simone is the best acrobatic gymnast. I don't compare Nadia vs. Simone because, although the sports are similar, they performed in different sports.
Nadia was 5'-4". Nadia proved you could win at that height in artistic gymnastics. Simone is 4'-8" an 8" height advantage (a 12% strength to weight advantage and a 25% moment of inertia advantage) in acrobatic gymnastics. It is not possible for someone 5'-4" to win at the Olympics in acrobatic gymnastics. I wish they would bring back artistic gymnastics because I would much rather watch beautiful and elegant young gymnasts performing their artistry over short freaks of nature performing circus moves.
Bravo Stella !💪
I have never really watched Nadia in competitions before...just blips throughout all the years. But WOW! I have a whole new respect for her. She was so amazing and confident and calm. But I can't believe how Cathy interviewed her and asked about how she had been "overweight" and what was her secret to losing 20 pounds. She was NOT close to being overweight. She had grown several inches. But in this competition she was so so so thin. Times have sure changed.
@Star Tetrahedron And for Cathy to be perpetuating that bullshit when she HERSELF suffered with an eating disorder during her years competing is just insanity. Thank god the tines have changed and young women in this sport are allowed to be healthy and eat like human beings need to to survive. I mean I know eating disorders still exist, I know that there are coaches who still engage in the type of mental and emotional abuse that leads athletes to eating disorders, but it's much MUCH more talked about now so that's huge. We've come a long way, but we've still got a long way to go.
Nadia's beam routine - beautiful and stunning. Fluidity and grace is unmatched - and power. She worked incredibly hard to get in such great shape - true champion to make that kind of comeback from 1978.
I am torn by her all around sadness :( I am hardly imagine how difficult life her life was: boarding school, forced to change coach after 8 years (just because of idiots leaders in Romania), living in another city (Bucharest is so so much different from Onesti, with difficult people), parents getting divorced and all these while she is at that age of changes. I feel terrible for her.
Nadia ballet... She is lovely!!!
Such a shame that the US team were forced to boycott the 1980 Olympics. Kathy Johnson was in her prime, she was absolutely incredible. Not that she WASN'T incredible in 1984. She was. I just wish she got the chance to shine in 1980 like she had planned on most of her life, ya know?
Thank You!!!! Always wanted to see this competition where she's in the green leotard.
Me too.
green leotard and shoes
Yeah, the Romanians seemed to always wear those awful white leotards most of the time. A change to see something else. Although the white makes Nadia look innocent at Montreal.
Nadia was at her best in 1979. It's important that she emphasized training as the cause of her conditioning, and not dieting, until Rigby dragged her into a discussion about dieting. And I love that she refused to be this happy-smiling-I-am-here-to-make-others-feel-comfortable-about-themselves robot that people force on gymnasts now. For some of them, that's their natural personalities. But for those who do not have that chipper personality, you're okay as you are. Don't let them force you into something you're not.
Love the Comaneci dismount and the different ways its utilized
Muckhina was the best from 1977-1980,but so unlucky girl .......
Elena Mukhina.. RIP in heaven my sad Angel 💕💐
Talk about a language barrier. That aside, see how fluent she is now!
The karaloyie starved those girls . Many reports of this from emelia and others. Weighed twice a day!
Beautiful. Thank you
Thank you for uploading these gymnastics videos. Nadia was so beautiful here, perfect every time, except UB. The deduction in beam was hilarious. Normally, she should have won. But the floor routine was beautiful.
Agreed the deduction on beam was questionable - she should have won beam. Rock solid gainer back handspring back tuck. Only small balance checks on front aerial and second backhandspring series (very small). Beautiful dismount and beautiful split leap. Sports illustrated comments on 1976 performances (credit Wikipedia) "....But it is on the beam that her work seems more representative of her unbelievable skill. She scored three of her seven 10s on the beam. Her hands speak there as much as her body. Her pace magnifies her balance. Her command and distance hush the crowd."
One the amazing things about Kraker's bar routine is how well she recovered, even after skimming the low bar with her backside! Props to these women for pushing for those giants, even when the bars were so close!
Amazing! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for posting! I so remember this broadcast.
The comments on weight is so messed up. This is when gymnasts were forced into starvation to stay pre pubescent . I think that finally may be lessening as focus is more on muscles and strength. Kathy Rigby herself had an eating disorder as did Nadia.
That little Czechoslovakia girl was great on the bars!
Fantástico reportaje.
This was not a spring floor.
Now it’s circus tricks the beauty is gone.
Мне лично нравятся выступления Нелли Ким , Стелла Захарова , Надя Команечи , Теодора Унгуряну , Эмилия Эберле
media. everything this women is saying nadia doesnt think about . projecting troubles onto a child is something we have to stop doing
love kathy!!!!
Creo que Nadia entiende mas el ingles que la traductora
Didn't the uneven bars hurt their hips?
I don't see originality in Zakharova's bar routine. Typical of her era. I don't know why she won the World Cup twice
I don't see anything special about Nadias floor, the artistry was just alright and her tumbles were easier than Zahkarovas. Don't understand why it got a 10 and won gold.
Nadia's Floor Music seemed less cheesy and more mature played upon the piano. She ought to have picked a better piece for Moscow; her song was so gaudy.
Poor Nadia....she looks so malnourished, and sad in this competition.
Irene Lastnamegoeshere She had such hardship after 1976. Ceaucescu had separated her from Bela, and that's when she gained the weight. She was so unhappy, but once she defected her life started to turn around.
Irene Lastnamegoeshere she is. She had eating disorder
@Ekaterina Heir To The Throne She was starving.
UPB: Kraker missed a handstand and tied for 1st place with Eberle? Such inconsistent judging.
Gosh why is she is so obsessed with her weight gain. She had gained weight but she still looked ok.
God, Nadia had really slimmed right down.
Robert Crisall She looked starved.
Peanut and Oreo Basset she was she developed a eating disorder and has spoken about it.
¿Cómo es que Nadia perdió el primer lugar? Si las masas dicen que ella siempre fue la mejor en todas las competencias, que nadie como ella porque no hubo nadie que la venciera, jamás, ¿o no es eso lo que siempre pregonan? Ah, ya sé, los "malvados jueces le robaron su triunfo", ¿cierto? "Y también lo hicieron en el Campeonato Mundial de 1978, claro eso fue, porque nadie como Nadia", ¿verdad?
Fantastic coverage. I hope to see the men's competition some day.
Love Jo