Klimenko had so much success invoking psychological tactics with Mukhina because Mukhina herself bought into this mindset. My coach came the next day and said that I wasn't conscientious and that I could train in a cast.". At the time Nadia Comaneci was Romanias top gymnast. She is from Russia. The Thomas salto is now banned for both men and women. Mukhina took an interest in figure skating and gymnastics at a very early age. That there is a direct connection between them and how a person feels. Elena Mukhina was born on the 1st of June, 1960. The Elena Mukhina tapes end with Mukhina being asked to react and her response is I dont know how to react. In this final exchange we see Mukhinas reserved/quiet nature. Because that will tear you apart.. Remember, you don't have to agree with my opinions but I am still free to express them. Usually when a gymnastics documentary is being selectively edited to present a more favorable narrative, the controversial moments are excluded entirely. First, she was discovered by an athletic scout in her school, and then she later joined the CSKA Moscow . I almost screamed with joy, she said. But the more time passed, the more Klimenkos career seemed to regress, at least in international competition. On July 3, 1980, two weeks before the Moscow Olympics, Mukhina was practicing the pass containing the Thomas salto when she under-rotated the salto, crash-landed on her chin, and her spine snapped. Autonomous Nonprofit Organization TV-Novosti, 20052023. Mukhina achieved breakout success at the 1977 European Championships. The Soviet Union saw Mukhina's injury as creating a poor image of the Soviet program, reflecting just how little consideration they gave to the wellbeing of their athletes. They were selected for high-level sports because talent scouts noticed they reveled in pushing their body to the limits, strived for the highest goals imaginable, and wanted the thrill of performing the most dangerous acrobatic skills in the world. A memorial service was held in her honor five days later, and she was buried at the Troekourov Cemetery on the southwestern outskirts of Moscow. It remained an allowed skill for men until 2013. Gradually, though, Klimenko would become convinced that this was a gem who could be polished gently or otherwise into a champion. Most notably Aleftina Pryakhina who won two medals at the 1987 European Championships, exactly ten years after Mukhina achieved breakout success at this very same competition in 1977. Sorry for rambling, next video should be happier!! She was instantly rendered a quadriplegic.\r\rElena Mukhina died of apparent complications from quadriplegia on December 22, 2006 This website uses cookies. Now her coach is gone too. A true champion! In an article forDaily Mail, he urged Biles to "get back out there Simone, and dont get sucked into all the weak woke failure-loving Twitter nonsense youre too great a champion to be labelled a quitter.". Information began to emerge slowly. Mukhinas apotheosis arrived in 1978 with a breathtaking performance at the World Championships in Strasbourg, France. Sputnik, Mukhina was paralyzed by the accident. It should be questioned how much Klimenko was being motived by his own personal goal of overcoming career failure. They hadnt just tolerated Klimenkos practices, but had become so satisfied with his results that other high profile Soviet gymnasts had been encouraged to switch gyms and join his training group. Elena MUKHINA (*born: 1960, June 06 - +died: 2006, . Elena Mukhina - Aftermath - LiquiSearch Yelena Mukhina died last year at 46. So why did Simone Biles quit? The duo fit each other like a hand entering a glove and had success that would have been impossible under any other circumstance. (Whitney Bjerken Edits)https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5nX9OPpfQhT0TdF7nCkq6gOn this channel I will be showcasing some of the best gymnastics, edits and gymnast compilations! People named Elena Mukhina. Of what happens when you push someone to compete through injury. As for the gold medal? I wanted to point out these censorship possibilities so viewers know which part of the footage they should trust, and which parts should be questioned. What Happened to Elena Mukhina? - Fantastic Facts I do not believe it was a coincidence that this story ended in tragedy, but the tragic ending was a direct byproduct of the unconventional backgrounds Mikhail Klimenko and Elena Mukhina shared. Mukhina was rushed into surgery again. Nothing exists except work and pressure, which constantly increase, and sometimes it seems thatthat's it, you haven't got any more strength. The Unlikely Gymnast and the Unlikely Coach (Part II), The Unlikely Gymnast and the Unlikely Coach (Part I), USAG Is Only Pretending to Follow Child Protection Recommendations (Literally). Video of the documentary "More Than a Game", 1991, shows - Facebook With the Moscow Olympics fast approaching in 1980, the Soviet team was still formidable but success on home soil was non-negotiable. She stunned the crowd at the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France when she gave one of the most amazing all-around performances in history. Nevertheless, Kilmenko had desperately wanted Mukhina to make the Olympic team roster so he could become the Olympic champions trainer. Soon after Mukhinas paralytic injury, Kilmenko emigrated to Italy, where he lived with his children until he died from cancer on November 14, 2007. Klimenko was a former Soviet junior gymnastics champion known for coaching male athletes. The story of Elena Mukhina, the gymnast who became a quadriplegic at Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. This article reminded me a lot of the recent NY times piece by Maggie Astor on this topic, thanks for highlighting the importance of mental health to maintain safety in high level sport. After Mukhinas paralysis and other close calls with Olympic-eligible female gymnasts, the Thomas salto was removed from the Code of Points as an allowed skill for women. Who is India's National Security Advisor and why did Putin decide to meet him one on one? Mukhina was rushed into surgery that afternoon, but the damage had already been done to her reputation; one of the National Team coaches, she said in the Ogonyok interview, showed up at her bed the day after surgery and outright stated that she \"wasn't conscientious\" and that she could still \"train in a cast.\" Once more against her wishes, the doctors removed her cast prematurely, and Mukhina returned to training for the Olympics while beginning a strenuous workout program at CSKA Moscow to lose the weight she had gained while laid up from surgery.\r\rWith lingering weakness in her leg and mounting exhaustion from the grueling weight loss workouts, Mukhina had great difficulty coming back up to speed on what was to be the new end element of one of her floor exercise tumbling passes, the Thomas salto, Despite Mukhina's warnings that the element was constantly causing minor injuries and was dangerous enough to potentially cause major injuries, she was pushed to keep the element in her floor routine, and she continued to practice it even knowing it was a dangerous element. When an athletic scout visited her school, she volunteered to try out for the gymnastics team. They ended up getting more than they bargained for, and the price for that was paid by Elena Mukhina. TM. Ex-Stratfor Chief George Friedman: Neither Russia nor Ukraine can win, war can only end via negotiation! One further detail that is critical to understanding the Mukhina-Klimenko coaching relationship is that they had risen up the Soviet ranks together. But Morgan hit back, tweeting: "Athletesare now deemed more courageous, inspiring & heroic if they lose or quit then if they win or tough it out, which is ridiculous. None of this is to say I completely absolve Klimenko of blame, as I do consider his coaching tactics to be a significant factor leading to Mukhinas paralysis and even agree with Soviet officials on that particular point. In the context of larger geopolitical events, Soviet leadership wanted results and were willing to push the limits. The Soviets and other communist nations were very public with these tactics, which validated there usage elsewhere. Biles would pull out under the glare of the spotlight; Mukhina ultimately paid the price for not being able to do the same. Finally, word got out that she had fallen horribly during a floor exercise. She recalled later in an interview with the Russian magazine Ogoniok, "They removed the cast and I was walking crookedly. Elena Mukhina Is A Member Of . Miguel Saiz Garcia. ", Asked her hobbies at a press conference, Mukhina said, "I read books . RIP - YouTube 0:00 / 2:37 Gymnastics Angel. Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina ( Russian: ; first name sometimes rendered "Yelena", last name sometimes rendered "Muchina"; 1 June 1960 - 22 December 2006) was a Soviet gymnast who won the all-around title at the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France. She lost her mother at an early age, in a tragedy apparently caused when her alcoholic father set fire to their apartment. It was all laid out for public viewing 40 years prior. The Soviet Union downplayed the severity of Mukhinas injury, withheld information as tohow she obtained her injuries and even went as far as to discredit her for inflicting the injury on herself. Beijing calls US worlds primary nuclear threat, Top US prosecutor makes surprise Ukraine visit. coach Mikhail KLIMENKO dead at 65 - Gymnastics Coaching.com Klimenko may have been one of the most extreme examples of a Soviet coach utilizing psychology, but he was far from the only one. Thousands of people are in the stands. She tied for the gold medal in the floor exercises and won silver in the balance beam and uneven bars. Elena Mukhina Olympic Champion by Alberto Capra | Goodreads The Romanian endured her own brutal training routine, and later revealed she had even attempted suicide prior to the 1978 World Championships. . . Elena Mukhina: You Are In Gymnastics (1978) Share Watch on The documentary features a "pep talk" between Mukhina and her coach Mikhail Klimenko. It was almost exclusive to male gymnastics and required perfect execution to avoid being cripplingly dangerous. If there're ANY problems whichever content make sure to message me and I'll be sure to check it out and take it down if that is what the owner desires. Elena was a former Soviet gymnast who won the All-around title at the 1978 World Championships at Strasbourg, France and was a four times European champion 1977 (Prague) and 1979 (Copenhagen). I like Ernest Hemingway most of all. Klimenko was trying to establish himself as one of their equals and I cite that as a factor as to why he pushed Mukhina beyond the limits.