Faster, Higher, Stronger | BBC Gymnastics Documentary Part 2

Part of a series of documentaries looking at the rise in popularity and landmark events in Olympic competition. This episode looked at the development of gymnastics and the rise in popularity thanks to athletes such as Larissa Latynina, Vera Caslavska, Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci.
Part 2 of 3
First Broadcast: 10th of July 2012

[@djstace808]

She moved so beautifully! She was so refined-that was how we were coached in the 70’s-80’s-from the fingertips to the tips of our toes, it must be perfect. We had to take ballet daily-a ballet teacher trained us 1 hour/day. We moved with rhythm and grace, always present in the moment. I miss this era. ❤️

[@djstace808]

Don’t forget that we performed on very thin carpet over 1-2” of ethafoam over concrete when we are performed the floor exercise, whereas today, the floor has springs underneath to 1. make the sport more dynamic and dangerous (increasing interest in the sport, ultimately to make it more profitable), and 2. to help protect the athletes from the wear and tear on their little growing bodies, or so they claim. *In my previous comments I was referring to Olga Korbut, but the comments apply to Nadia and Ludmilla Turischeva (sp?), as well. It was a generational thing, the refinement of their movements, that for the most part, has been sorely lacking in the gymnasts since. ❤️

[@moiraatkinson]

@@djstace808 quite agree - in fact I made the same equipment comment in response somewhere else in this thread.

[@takerkellygiveusbacktupac617]

Nadia taking responsibility for her 80 loss "I opened the door by a mistake" tells you everything you need to know about her character. The newer gymnasts are sacrificing true perfection and elegance for harder.

[@avocate201]

The gymnastics of the '70s and '80s was so beautiful, graceful, and captivating. I don't think we'll ever see that level of artistry, elegance, and charm in gymnastics ever again. The beam routines were slower, more deliberate, and fluid. The floor exercises were more balletic with better choreography. Today, gymnasts perform at a much higher technical level, but their moves are faster and more robotic. Frankly, most of the routines look the same from one gymnast to another now.

[@froufou100]

Yes I agree with you, no more creativity and elegance nowadays. I do t watch it as much tbh due to this

[@maryli2049]

Totally agree

[@gokcegrbz]

Also, the gymnasts are so bulky nowadays that they look more like sumo wrestlers.

[@trendymaths2467]

@@gokcegrbz nothing's wrong with that. They can't control their muscles developing, when tumbling so strenuously they will obviously become very muscular.

[@krisppynugget]

@@gokcegrbz The amount of dedication and training they had to go through to get those muscles is in itself impressive, so gtfo this isn't a pageant princess

[@allgoo1964]

22:10 Words of true champion. She makes no excuses, blame nobody but herself.

[@MM-111]

@algoo19 Yes, that shows what a special character she has. She was always very modest and her mistakes taken by herself. A true example of MODESTY ! 🏆😃

[@spottertruk]

WOW - Olga broke the rules, Nadia exponentially raised them

[@videoevidence430]

i don't think you know what 'exponentially' means.

[@santabarbara2105]

Amy Bonomo indeed!

[@usergio3]

I have a lot of respect for Nadia for saying that she opened the door because she made a mistake. That's being honest, although she didn't win, she is still the greatest gymnast.

[@mariereed8474]

Fantastic!

[@jackycook64]

Strongly agree! She was so grateful and incredibly athletic as well. This is what artistic gymnastics should look like.

[@allansuaza]

She never blamed anybody, never thought there was a conspiracy, never complained or said that she was robbed, she took full responsibility. She’s the greatest!

[@hiatusmode989]

Nadia is the best😭❤️...So professional and classy and everything besides her top notch talent

[@mikhaillarayes229]

Nadia says that she sometimes had to make corrections in the air, which I think is not only very smart, but quite risky. No wonder she achieved so many flawless performances.

[@cc_celeste]

Nadia What a beautiful human being at 14 years old The self confidence determination the eagerness to work harder than expected You have made a mark in my heart and I can’t wait to teach my future children about you 💕💕💕

[@spottertruk]

I still worship Olga Korbut - what a wonderful person!

[@chacho761]

Nothig but respect to Olga

[@pamelawhitelaw1458]

Agreed

[@sarahdarwiche4965]

I was holding my breath watching some of those performances. So beautiful

[@jeskaaable]

Whenever I watch Nadia and Olga perform their routines, I am touched deep within my soul by their splendid display of grace and elegance.. It moves me to be able to witness such an angelic execution. Both of these girls are avatars of ardent perfection, without a doubt. And to reach such brilliance at such a young age... absolutely otherworldy.

[@me1965]

Wow! Olga’s balance beam routine was amazing/beautiful.

[@queentargaryen5749]

Artistic gymnasts are so graceful back then.

[@atiboyful]

Nadia said it all! "If I had not made a mistake they could not have touch me"! She left the door open for Russian judges at the Moscow Olympics to rule her out!

[@videoevidence430]

Yeah, but even if she made a mistake, she is still entitled to a fair grading of her performance (and i don't trust that the Soviets did THEIR part to give her that fairness).

[@grantgoffin4774]

@@videoevidence430 LOL Nadia was the most OVERscored gymnast of the 80 Games. She didn't deserve either her beam or floor golds. The beam gold should have gone to Shaposhnikova, and Gnauck and Shaposhnikova both deserved to beat both Commaneci and Kim for the floor gold. Commaneci and Kim were both such undeserving and disgraceful winners on floor the crowd booed them both loudly during the award ceremonies while cheering Shaposhnikova and Gnauck, and Kim is Soviet.

[@roborobo9098]

@@grantgoffin4774 you do not know what are you talking about

[@chicklit8604]

@@grantgoffin4774 bittergourd

[@nogoodnameleft]

Nadia kicked everybody's asses in 1976 and 1980, especially Olga and Nellie Kim. Soviet judges cheated Nadia for the all-around also in 1980. Olga's balance beam routine was like the Ford Model T compared to Nadia's Apollo capsule/Space Shuttle. Nadia won the gold in the floor in 1980 because her compulsory routine was almost perfect. Nellie Kim did not deserve a 9.95 in her final optional floor routine. She was lucky she even tied Nadia for gold. Nadia proved in 1980 once and for all that she was not only good as a "lucky" 14 year old. She was so good after hitting puberty also. Olga is so overrated. She couldn't even get a bronze medal in the all-around in 1972 and 1976!!! Ludmila, Tamara, and Nellie were far better than Olga. Olga was a one trick pony. Nadia won every Olympic individual event at least once except for the vault.

[@MM-111]

*Nadia Comaneci, you made perfect this "tricky"!😅 NADIA COMANECI takes SEVEN 😳 TIMES 😳 A "PERFECT 10" at the Olympics 1976 in Montreal ! That's more than INCREDIBLE ! THAT'S PHENOMENAL! NOBODY WILL BE LIKE SHE! NEVER! YOU ARE THE OLYMPICCS QUEEN !🏆🤗 😍*

[@lumilabonte3980]

M M Wow..7! I though only 5...my bad!

[@santabarbara2105]

Yes, she was perfect!

[@medleyovermedley]

nadia that is how you handle not being 1st that is a true champion

[@Syncyes]

Ugh, all I can think about when I hear about the 1980 Olympics is still the tragic story of Elena Mukhina... You should've won here... ;_;

[@papillon5839]

So sad if you think about that Elena Mukhina should have been at the olympics 1980 in Moscow. But two weeks before the games that tragedy happened. The show must go on, with or without you

[@AlbenaBG]

I am sure she would have gotten gold if she has participated in the Olympics. Her routines were amazing. It is so unfair what happened to her ...

[@MeganVictoriaKearns]

Mukhina's story is absolutely heartbreaking. I only learned of her a few months ago and have since been watching her performances and reading about her life. The tragic accident she suffered was 100% preventable, which makes it even more sad. She really was something special.

[@aagold76]

@@MeganVictoriaKearns I was in gymnastics in the late 70s- and watched her amazing victory in 78 World Championships- easily beating Nadia...then news came that she broke her leg in training before 1979 Championships- I was very disappointed...then, staging a come back from that, perhaps too soon (pushed by Soviet officials before Moscow Games?)- disaster struck. On the move Kurt Thomas and later Shoushunova made famous- the 1 & 1/2 roll out- she was far too short and hit her chin, not being able to tuck her head, and broke her neck. That was devasting- plus, with the boycott, we didn't hear much about it. I subscribed to International Gymnast Magazine then, so I knew the story. Heart breaking!

[@laurahuston2187]

It started long before 2 weeks prior when she was not able to heal properly.

[@aagold76]

@@laurahuston2187 The Soviets were pushing her too hard, afraid they might lose the Team event at the Moscow Olympics...Romania had beaten them in the team at the 79 Worlds.

[@unleashedgeek7295]

"Triple twist! Thank you very much!" Man, I love the British commentators

[@em_mkay]

Nadia Comaneci and olga korbut the greatest gymnasts of all time!!

[@chacho761]

In deed Olga: the most spectacular Nadia: the one who executed the best

[@janieoh5945]

Olga n Korbut: Charming and mesmerising.. Simone: jaw dropping wow!

[@lioneljordanyap9826]

elena, don't forget

[@factoryfear]

The Olga Korbut performance on the beam gives me chills. I wish the beam were so beautiful in today's gymnastics

[@jubbadupa]

I can't believe they didn't show Olga fantastic uneven bars routine... one of a kind.. still the best bar routine EVER, after all these years !

[@cabininthewoods7326]

Doris Fuchs at the 1966 world championship was robbed by judges on uneven bars because they never seen such acrobatic moves. This was a revolution in gymnastics. Olga and Nadia were not the first to change gymnastics.

[@user-xg9hp8mk7p]

ВЫ НАШ БРИЛЛИАНТ, Г-ЖА ОЛЬГА！ ХОРОШАЯ, ОПТИМИСТИЧНАЯ, ДОБРАЯ , ПОЗИТИВНАЯ, ОЧЕНЬ-ОЧЕНЬ-ОЧЕНЬ СИМПАТИЧНАЯ, НЕСМОТРЯ НА ГОДЫ, ЧТО ПРОШЛИ！ КАК ПРИЯТНО ВИДЕТЬ ВАС В ЭТОМ ФИЛЬМЕ！

[@B_fu]

Bela is so expressive when he speaks xD

[@riverdeep399]

*Elena Muhina* .. was an amazing girl.

[@irinapopandopulo2703]

😭😭😭

[@lumilabonte3980]

I LOVE Nadia...got the first 10 and followed with 5 10's in Montreal. Simply the BEST!

[@theresastevenson5934]

This is so graceful and artistic....What a joy to watch! 😁

[@Davylp]

Wow I did not know Nadia was so close to winning the all around in 1980. Wow what a great gymnast. Everyone made it seem like she did so bad in 1980, but if she wouldnt have made the mistake on bars she would have won! Learn something new everyday!

[@kras118]

this is a great doc! thanks for uploading

[@thmeinyou]

Can everyone just chill and watch this documentary!!!?

[@anisanurraudah8383]

I don't know why but Nadia in the '80s gave me so much of Princess Diana's vibe. Pretty doll, super talented, and quite shy young lady. The funny thing is if you take out her last 3 alphabets of her name (Dia) and put it upfront then you got Diana.

[@Allhoney33]

Still no mention of Doris Fuchs Brause.......she broke the rules and took them to another level at the same time. She was Olga and Nadia all in one!

[@HrRezpatex]

After Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci i had to wait until Katlyn Ohashi showed up before i got hypnotized again. Those three are the three best of all times. :)

[@tpocain]

Wow, I remember doing those chest rolls in my first gymnastic class!

[@mrvjn3]

olga was gymastics first t.v star in the eary 70s

[@digdeeper3123]

Nadia & Bart - a rather cool couple.

[@fredrika27]

It's clear that they care for each other, but often I have had the feeling Nadia had never been allowed to be herself nor live on her own. There was always someone to look after her!

[@samarez.4030]

Olga Kiorbut in uneven bars U.S. absolutly amazing . She was the first perfect 10

[@Kaboomboo]

6:13 My goodness, she looks like she aged 20 years. They worked her so hard.

[@videoevidence430]

count on those soviet-authority idiots to take an excellent & amazing girl and run her into the ground. That worthless government couldn't have died soon enough.

[@bluezauza]

One of the reasons Elena Muhkina had that terrible accident and later said that she didn't mind at all, at the time of the accident, because it meant that she did not have to go trough the terror of training and competing ever again. And the sad thing is to realize that, that same coaching mentality ruled the USA gymnastics for decades also.

[@helin6037]

@Z Q LMAO she never claimed to be like Nadia. In fact, Nadia was inspired by Olga Korbut. Have some respect

[@yuly8913]

@@helin6037 Nadia NEVER EVER mentioned to be inspired by Olga. Wth u saying.

[@CEKCooking]

such a nice film clip. just wonderful

[@irinapopandopulo2703]

Ольга, великолепна! Легкая , гибкая, музыкальная!

[@drakkoh2017]

Korbut and Nadia❤️❤️😍😍👏👏👏🥇🥇🥇🥇

[@helin6037]

+ Elena mukhina

[@1927su]

I saw that back flip on tv & we all went crazy!!

[@jelena8960]

Nadia is beautiful!

[@samsonrodrigues7942]

Most beautiful gymnast I have ever seen. She was really cute in 76

[@djstace808]

That was my dismount for three years. Thinking about doing it today is terrifying. IDK how I did it.

[@lumilabonte3980]

This is before " bouncy" floors were used. Those dismounts must have been hell when landing. The flooor exercises must have been horrendous landing on those hard floors (they use bouncy floors now btw).

[@jhchoustoncohen452]

Exactly. That's one of the reasons why I consider 70's and 80's gymnasts to be the best. Just imagine if those "bouncy" mats were used back then.

[@kras118]

something about the arena in Munich makes gymnastics captivating to watch. like the whole world is watching with you

[@janeparfitt65]

Olga a woman noted for courage and daring action.There she is, a picture still fresh in the memory more than 25 years later, an indelible icon of the Seventies. Olga Korbutt standing on the beam, leg outstretched, her tiny frame poised in perfect amplitude, the little girl's face set in an expression of devout concentration. From the scrawny bunches tied, & the winning, irregular smile, Olga was the perfect sporting product retailed to the West. ,,She obliged paparazzi with a grin the middle-aged commentators liked to call "cheeky". However the coaches determined what the girls ate and when they were given drugs to suppress the outward signs of puberty. As for the revelations that the regime of control extended to sex, the only surprise is that anyone is surprised. It was an inevitable consequence of a system that handed over sole charge of prepubescent girls to obsessive male trainers.Shame on the! ...In 1978, she married Leonid Bortkevich and soon had a son, Richard. Fleeing the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, in 1991, the family settled in the United States and has gone on to become a gymnastics coach and commentator,,A real Heroine

[@cc_celeste]

Forgot to omit that she sold her gold medals due to financial struggles, her son has a criminal history… She mentions in one of her interviews that she owned the world Then it makes you wonder and reflect the humility that Nadia possessed despite her fame financial status and continues to thrive Humility is what takes people to the next level These Russian athletes were indoctrinated to believe that there is no one better than themselves The envy among each other, lack of sportsmanship, it all showed in their faces There’s not one single interview in which Nadia bad mouths another athlete like Olga Korbut, Nellie Kim Always denying the fact that there’s a possibility that Nadia was good It’s all “propaganda” they say

[@janeparfitt65]

@@cc_celeste I knew she'd sold her medals but I really don't see what her son having a criminal history has to do with anything. Everyone is an individual & she can't be blamed for his choices in life. From what I've seen all the Russian girls had a hard time in the 70's & were taught to show no emotion unlike today's gymnasts.. I was very young when she was one of the greats, as I think we both know Russians expected nothing but the best from these young girls & in a way were indoctrinated to show no emotions. This how it was back then unfortunately. Maybe that's why you've seen her not talking about Olga & Nellie Kim, then again they could of been her friends, who knows but I haven't seen that many interviews & she was only 14 at the time Then again maybe she knew what they had to go through. The Korbut Flip, a move first performed at the 1972 Olympics in Munich on the bars as I'm sure you know was banned because it was so dangerous. I just felt sorry for her at the time.

[@augustacunha2584]

I love to watch Olympic gymnastics and had always this preference for Nadia. Where she was my eyes were there. She was the best, so great and started so young. Loved her and she really was the first was the gymnast to get a perfect 10.00. I admired her so much. She was a perfectionist and knew what to do.

[@deborah9541]

Aaah! So just a temporary misunderstanding! I remember the fracas with the judging so well - even though its almost 3 decades ago! I loved Nadia! She was my inspiration when growing up - and still is now I've been grown up a long time!! The modern gymnasts just don't cut it like she did, despite the greater complexity of their routines! It does make you wonder how the sport will develop over the coming years; will they be doing doubles on the beam??!

[@ThePClarkson]

Brilliant video. Is it at all possible to upload the 100 metres episode? It would really help with my school project. Thanks.

[@loze73]

Valeri Liukin did it first at the 1987 Worlds but Li Xiaoshuang was the first to do it in Olympic competition.

[@vamptowngirl6922]

When Olga cried I cried 😭😢💔

[@videoevidence430]

the soviets wore her out after the '72 games, that was very stupid of them. Typical Soviet MISmanagement.

[@mariereed8474]

Fantastic!

[@FrancesBaconandEggs]

So they skipped a whole two decades...??? So many new moves and stars during those years.

[@undermoonstars]

Davydova has such pretty clear blue eyes! 19:45 I love this video it contains rare footage that I've never seen before! :D

[@garyj79]

You are cert correct, most female gymnasts dont technically 'dance' anymore, its tumbling, too many spins,too many leaps and bugger all else ! of course you can only blame the FIG or whoever states the 'requirements' . I do however, understand why the rules were changed in 2006 too reward gymnasts for taking more risks than others, they just need to lay off the requirements for leaps and spins...thats all I see in todays gymnastics..........

[@realityjunky]

Max Richter's piano is always welcome!

[@gaylecheung3087]

So true, gymnast look so different these days, don’t look the same. Lean strong Elegance not like today, a lot muscular

[@zbuildsthewayyyt1085]

Olga Korbut really was the risk taker, the one who should have been immortalized the way Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton were. She broke the ceiling. Elena Mukhina was forced through the ceiling and it cost her. Bela Karolyi pushed his gymnasts too far. Case in point: Kerri Strug. "You can do it! You can do it!" And she's toted off the mat with an injury. But won them the gold. All for that ceiling.

[@valegae854]

Olga K ♥️

[@ipaporod]

2 diametrically opposed styles, Simone is pure power, speed, perfection and no emotion nor feminism at all on the other hand Nadia is pure grace, artistry and poetry in motion!.Simone pose, walk and running is very masculine like and mechanical while Nadia's walk is feminine, sensual and delicate like a rose!.I might not know much about gymnastics but I know artistry and grace when I see it, that's what I see when I watch Nadia perform!!!!

[@lumilabonte3980]

Too bad people don't lknow this is by far the most difficult sport there is!

[@meredithhmariee]

amazing. God bless

[@murdok1119]

Entre sientos de gimnastas a lo largo de la historia del deporte, nadia simpre sera la reina no solo por la ferfeccion de sus rutinas, sino también por el carisma que erradiaba, contagio al mundo, por esos es una legenda Comaneci the queen 👸👑👑👑

[@elinatitajeva4442]

Comanechi is alright, not comparable with Muhina unfortunately)))) And Comanechi i not the idol, Muhina is.

[@ralucagymnast]

Do you have the rest of this??

[@alexaxxem]

ludmilla tourischeva is still my favorite of all time

[@fightrrrrr]

I have her olgas leo and many medals she won. I Won from heritage auctions. Pretty cool stuff!

[@Alchamei]

Amazing how the predicted the future by having Kohei in this documentary.

[@Cyno7]

anyone know the name of the song which begins at 25:33??

[@vladracul40]

Nadia Comăneci is the Queen of Perfect 10.

[@mildredmartinez8843]

Nadia had it all, skill, grace, competence class. Nadia tge best ever.

[@ve6741]

Sad fact, indeed: "The gyms in the eastern block closed as the money dried up and the coaches went to work abroad." Had that not happened the eastern block would've dominated the gymnastics to this day. True, the most talented female gymnasts were from USSR and Romania. They had good training and they were daring. But nothing good lasts.

[@tedsler]

What about Vladimir Gogoladze? He did it at the 1988 Olympics...is he not credited for it? There is even a youtube video of him from '88...

[@billywashburn1648]

Where's part 1?

[@torreestarot6023]

This is Olga Korbut

[@ptdr60]

well, at the 1972 olympics, she was 17 years old. So in the 1976 olympics, she was 21 years old.

[@MissCharSommer]

oh i didnt think of it that way :) thx

[@BlueCollar-218]

It does not get better than Nadia. She is still the tops.

[@edwardoneil3962]

I take that back Sanne Weaver and Lauren Hernandez's not to forget Simone's performances and the rest are catching up lolx 😀❤😀

[@Kaboomboo]

She won the bronze on the floor exercise in 1976.

[@ArtisticlyAlexis]

Watching this in 2024, knowing how much abuse happened because of Béla Károlyi's horrific gym & practices, now knowing the painfulvstories hiding behind those smiling women's faces, gave this fascinating doc a twisted feel.

[@edwardoneil3962]

Such beauty and eloquence the world has never known before. And something modern day gymnastics has lost. Lolx 😀❤😀

[@YRuhere.]

12:15 A special gift.

[@sagedeya]

@ivegotmyrockmusic I agree! she looks like a ballerina! and has grace and beauty

[@Angeles161189]

Bravo Nadia! La actitud de una verdadera campeona, si no hubiera abierto la puerta, no hubieran podido tocarme! Me encanta!

[@rajivjain8497]

Does anyone else think that Comaneci was underscored

[@leightonsteven7059]

No

[@greylanders6101]

She was underscored on the beam at the 1980 olympics Rajiv. They robbed her.

[@jeffmattel7867]

Poor kid. There is no way I could've handled that level of pressure at that age or any age.

[@mercedesrivera9546]

Toda la gente quedamos impactados con Nadia con sus ejercicios, como olvidarla fué la primera en ser perfecta

[@Cyno7]

when?

[@vanessaking9712]

wow!

[@lillydee5978]

Gymnastics today is the same as it was before the 70's. All technical. Gymnastics from the 70-90s was daring and bold, artistic yet a bit dangerous. That's why we will never see the likes of the Gymnastics of the 70s and 80's. There were too many devastating injuries.

[@davidabonyi1257]

A salute!! But then came Comaneci

[@dashadi7633]

Вопрос почему не показывают прыжок у девочек тода что прыжка не было или что.

[@joanbaczek2575]

She had every right to try, make a mistake, be disappointed, cry, recover, try again, succeed, be happy , dream, per-sue anything!

[@brianlita1]

Song at 4:40?

[@Kaboomboo]

Vladimir's blues.

[@TheKristen8888]

I thought Valeri Liukin did the first triple back?

[@MissCharSommer]

Why isnt Mary-lu in this?

[@cesarpizano3953]

Can t decide who was better Olga K,Elena M or Nadia C.Two in wich the elemnt was named after her Olga and Elena.Three different routines that stun the crowd🤔

[@berni2967]

WRONG !! ! NADIA Comaneci = Comaneci salto 😉 (E)