Most Epic Rotation Ever? USSR on Floor, 1989 Worlds

[@pappysprite]

In my opinion, the 1989 Worlds was the best competition in all of history, past of present. The level of talent, execution, and artistry is unmatched. There were so many gifted gymnasts and the all-around competition could have been anyone's game. The talent was that exceptional.

[@lf2ut]

Totally agree

[@tracyeaster1901]

@pappysprite she would have a hard time competing with you from your parents basement, past and present.

[@melissakerber8287]

I know this may not be a popular opinion but I want to throw it out there. I was a lot more impressed with the routines of Laschenova and Strejeva on floor than Boginskaya. Strejeva had some really wild choreography and Laschenova is just on fire with all those double somersaults (although I don’t recall any twisting doubles in that routine.) Any of those routines from the USSR girls could have been given a 10 and it would have been well deserved.

[@sallydaniel1023]

These are some of the BEST choreographed routines in gymnastics' history 👌

[@anniehope8651]

Olga Stragevas routine is legendary.

[@lovepop4336]

The Same line acrobatic Kim Jajaaa

[@RalfMtr]

Dudnik was a mega star to be... everything she did was amazing and breathtaking

[@surfer_playss124]

I agree so sad she didn’t make to the Olympics but she became a 2 time world champion which is something to be proud of

[@peaharrison9071]

The soviets kicked EVERYONES butt back in the day. Hands down. Crazy.

[@hannahmachellekelly7146]

YESSSSS and people try to deny it

[@Cara-39]

​@@hannahmachellekelly7146 Nobody denies it - the medal count speak for themselves. It's not a coincidence that the American team started winning after the fall of communism, it was due to the fact that coaches and retired gymnasts that became coaches from the former USSR moved to the US and trained American athletes. The Karolyis had been in the US since defecting in the 80s but they were essentially the only top level coaches here until 1991/1992

[@stonew1927]

Our current gymnasts would benefit by watching these throwback videos. And our national teams would also benefit hiring a choreographer like the Soviets did to enhance their routines. Simply brilliant! Loved this. Thank you for uploading it.....

[@guillermojarne2803]

But it’s not only the choreography, it is also the attention to detail and the amount of work that’s behind... to do the type of gymnastics they do requires a lot of hours just focusing on that, and the current COP unfortunately doesn’t reward it properly. Therefore, it’s not worth it for the gymnasts to try... it’s just very sad in my opinion.

[@mustyfan1584]

A choreographer wouldn’t cut it! They would need to practice ballet as a fundamental part of their training from a young age. And we could need an overhaul of the code of points that would reward beautiful form over difficulty chucking (basically the opposite of MyKayla Skinner’s strategy).

[@mustyfan1584]

@@guillermojarne2803 Yes to everything you just said!

[@seer1623]

@@guillermojarne2803 I totally agree. This video is both wonderful and depressing in that it reminds me of what was, in my opinion, the golden age of my favourite sport, and what I truly hate about it, which is the subjectivity. Why was Boginskaia the anchor when her tumbling was the weakest? To my mind, Dudnik was robbed in these championships. She was superb on all four events, had incredible artistry and difficulty and wasn't rewarded because she didn't have the "name." I despise this current COP in that it rewards ugly, inartistic skills, (wolf turn) which end up being repeated over and over to rack up the points, and ignores flexibility, toe point, elegance, et cetera. No way in this era Biles and her teammates would have cracked the top ten.

[@mariaellis2882]

Current gymnast are so boring and lack any kind of grace, and elegance. They’re so boring to watch. I could watch these girls all day. They had proper training back then.

[@imangymfans4826]

Soviet 89, what a deep pool of talents. Natalia was such a fireball ! ❤

[@gondolin12]

@@lila2986 to be honest we had nothing else to do other than either joining a gym or some kind of art class. soviet parent were relentless about kids future and education.

[@wolfiesownx4893]

I miss the days when floor routines were pure ballet AND super difficult. What a squad!!

[@llsale7191]

Well we (USA) are dominant and winning now. We were not back then. Must be doing something right. Simone. Goat!

[@twebster9498]

What I always liked about this routine from Boginskaya was how much choreography there was after the final tumbling pass.

[@worldartgym]

Great point, she really tells a story from start to finish!

[@Candlewait]

Very nice. Unbelievable really that Baitova was considered the 'weak link' - what a superb gymnast she was. I always wondered if that tag was everlasting penance for falling off the bars in the first rotation at the 87 Euros. Her performances were so consistent, and yet - always the sacrificial lamb. Always put up first to get the lowest score. And such a shame we were never able to see Sazonenkova and Dudnik at an Olympics; seeing more of Laschenova and Strazheva at Barcelona would have been wonderful also! Boguinskaia could really sell a routine couldn't she. Landings with the music, superb musicality, expression and poise throughout, never a hint of a bent leg or a flexed foot, and even her slightly haughty facial expression added to the overall experience. Worthy of 10, imo - while Dudnik and Strazheva probably could have had one as well! Fantastic. Looking forward to seeing some more vids in this series.

[@finfelagund]

Yes, that fall off the bars was a life sentence for Baitova who was also considered a Pechvogel (unlucky competitor) after ending up four times (!) fourth at ´87 World Champs in Rotterdam. Unfortunately, it seems from her recent interviews that she has been bearing the grudge for all those post-retirement years, which is hardly surprising, considering all those bad things she went through and the amount of disappointment she had to deal with.

[@Candlewait]

@@finfelagund Ah, that's sad that she's been unhappy with her achievements on the world stage - four times fourth would have been a tough pill to swallow. I always thought she was a wonderful gymnast. She brought something special to the Soviet teams she was part of, setting the tone for the team and showing all the other teams her strength and character. She would easily have been the star of any other team, and for the Soviets, her even temperament, reliability and consistency was just what was needed. I enjoyed every minute.

[@yuiop6611]

Honestly the entire team but Baitova deserved a 10.

[@bbatjargal1549]

We have to remember that joining the Soviet national team was harder for these gymnasts than winning golds at the WC and Europeans, and winning medals at the Olympics. The USSR championship and the Games of the USSR Peoples were the most important yet most difficult competitions for these gymnasts. I remember there was one occasion (USSR championship or Games, I do not remember) when three Soviet female gymnasts scored perfect 10 in one apparatus (floor - I think), and the judges did not know what to do about these three winners. In that judges' composition, 75 percent were foreign judges from Romania (two), East Germany (two), Bulgaria (one), and Hungary (one). After debating a couple of days, they awarded 1, 2, and 3 based on the preliminary and qualification scores! Horrendous!

[@thesovgc]

Strazheva deserved a 10 for choreography alone. Unreal. ♥

[@jerrywarnerinwiradireja1534]

Baitova, Boginskaya, Dudnik, Laschenova, Sazonenkova & strazheva Best team ever assembled

[@brianpatterson1827]

I think most of the girls before Boguinskaya also deserved a ten

[@maxglendale7614]

Best choreographed rotation ever!!!

[@lalanam1660]

The rockstars of gymnastics. Man were they cool, calm and unapologetic . Such attitude and genuine joy. They definitely worked as a team

[@zahirbashir2349]

If you look at the 1972 team with Ludmilla Tourischeva, Olga Korbut, Tamara Lazakovic, Korbut kind of stuck out. She was the best no doubt, but she was so unSoviet, she was more an individual than team. I remember Tourischeva did not going to hug here, and Lazakovic sobbed on the podium as she got silver behind Korbut's gold. In the 1988/1989 team, we can see it is a team, they support and hug each other.

[@len10100]

I am such a gymnastics freak, but for some odd reason I had not been into the 1989 squad. I’m so glad I came back and watched them again because damm!!!! Those Soviets were really on fire!! So much talent!! This group is now my favorite floor group!

[@worldartgym]

It’s such an amazing group of routines!! Dance, tumbling, choreography, everything was stunning! They really snatched back that gold medal from the Romanians!

[@kreul8736]

Natalia Laschenova is just amazing & fabulous. Thank tou for uploading

[@heatherjay843]

I know..that double layout to a double tuck was insane! She had so much power

[@thesovgc]

Style and execution would remain unmatched, indeed.

[@nataliasanin3097]

Amazing compilation...the coreography, the innovation, the creativity, the artistry, the execution...the Soviets deserved every medal they won

[@wolfiesownx4893]

Different times… mesmerizing routines and impressive gymnastics.

[@urbanaquatics1455]

What a team, this was, I remember watching it live and love the choreography of each and every routine. Not just a selection of tricks like so many of today's floor exercises, love the diversity of music, dance and tumbling each was a complete package. Personal favourites are Baitova, Laschenova and Boguinskaya.

[@kclive376]

that's the genuine artistic gymnastics.

[@lf2ut]

Totally agree

[@grozdovas]

1988 Bulgaria was also pretty good yet underscored

[@AFMKI_]

Those floor routines were works of art every single one of them

[@lf2ut]

Totally agree

[@DJDiegoGarcia]

"I wonder what is going on through Boginskaya's head... she probably can't help thinking she might not even make the top 36 individual All Around final"... Fast forward to the AA Final and she goes home with a gold medal, thank you very much!

[@neptunequek9104]

Omg the choreography....2016 rio could never

[@Cara-39]

Dance elements, overall elegance, musicality and clean lines are still mandatory and are incorporated into the final score. The difference between this 1989 Soviet team and any from Rio 2016 is this one likely wouldn't have even made it to the Rio team finals, let alone won a medal due to the serious increase in skill difficulty gymnasts today must master

[@WhiteBear2024]

Boginskaya was very favored by the judges. If she got a 10, I don't get why Laschenova and Strageva didn't as well. Laschenova did the best during this FX imo.

[@carolynrabbani6469]

Agreed!

[@brigidm6279]

It's always kind of amazed me that Strazheva's FX had some choreography straight from the ballet.

[@zahirbashir2349]

She used Stravinsky's Rite of Spring ballet music.

[@amethyst2823]

@@zahirbashir2349 And Maurice Bejart choreography

[@johnadam2885]

@@amethyst2823 Thanks, I did not know the choreography.

[@icarrus4u]

ARTistic GYMnastics!

[@lf2ut]

Totally agree

[@heatherjay843]

I remember this..they were incredible

[@worldartgym]

The best

[@yuiop6611]

Love the Euro commentary. ❤️

[@ranaantonio]

It seems judges protected Boguinskaya as Laschenova and Strasheva really had 10 routines

[@carolynrabbani6469]

Agreed

[@gaelgarciabernal2434]

Spectacular team and routines, but I think the Soviet lineup from the 1980 Moscow Olympics was much more scintillating and stellar. A team that deserved three 10s in that rotation: Elena Naimushina, Maria Filatova and Elena Davydova. These 1980 routines had flair, exuberance and difficulty. However, the Soviets weren't opportunistic cheats like the USA at 1984/1996 Olympics and 1991 Worlds. They scored in moderation and the only 10 was for Davydova.

[@josevallejo9613]

UN SUPER COMENTARIO,COHERENTE Y LLENO DE VERACIDAD.FELICIDADES.

[@kaprantil]

I loved Shetland, she was so good. She got me into gymnastics when I was younger.

[@worldartgym]

Which gymnast got you into gymnastics?

[@kaprantil]

@@worldartgym sorry Svetlana Boginskaya autocorrect sucks lol

[@worldartgym]

@@kaprantil haha I feel your pain! That’s awesome she got you into gymnastics! What a queen!

[@vc23]

@@kaprantil Shetland 😂😂😂😂

[@dollybb4820]

The rite of spring! Props to the soviet choreographer in 1989

[@amethyst2823]

True! But the choreography is totally copied from Maurice Bejart!

[@mihadan1627]

Minunate gimnaste, fiecare exercițiu a fost o opera de artă. Super și superb.

[@soranamamadariei906]

so much like contemporary dance today

[@zahirbashir2349]

I watch Soviet gymnastics to hear their anthem ! Thanks for including it. Of course the 1988/1989 team was very good, in an all round sense even better than the Toursicheva, Korbut and Lazakovich team of 1972 Munich Olympics - if one can imagine that.

[@casimirodasilvasantoshe-hi5797]

These were the days when gymnastics 🤸‍♂️ was exciting and thrilling. As an old gymnast, this is an era gone by, today what we have is simply tumbling, no grace, no elegance.

[@worldartgym]

It’s a completely different ballgame nowadays

[@casimirodasilvasantoshe-hi5797]

w o r l d a r t g y m it can be a different ballgame, but I lost all the interest in gymnastics and for an old gymnast that practiced for more than 20 years it is hard. Today we have no grace, no elegance, it is a bunch of muscled women doing tricks!

[@lavenderblossom4774]

There are some very graceful contortionists, but gymnastics can be graceful too sometimes

[@enchantedella6495]

Blame the open ending code.

[@yuiop6611]

@@casimirodasilvasantoshe-hi5797. What’s wrong with women with muscles?

[@BegueBackspinner88]

Excelente choice. I also loved the 1996 french olympic team on floor

[@cesarfuentes6499]

The invencible Soviet team

[@JoaoAlvez87]

Nicely done edition, awesome and stunning 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@citizenoftheworld6363]

I love it

[@かずや-k2s]

ソ連時代の体操が一番好きです(*^^*)

[@beautitudes]

I actually feel 87 worlds is for Romania team final floor

[@211jump]

The only rotations that comes close to touching these (in a artistic aspect, not exeuction/scores) is Bulagaria 1988, Ukraine’s 1996 Floor Rotation, and Russia’s 2000 Rotation

[@211jump]

@QPHashSS77 Yes, Romania's 1987 floor rotation was nice. They had a very good choreographer back then, what a shame that they didn't have the same one for a longer time.

[@211jump]

@QPHashSS77 Don't get me started with boring Gogean. Let me just say that Kui Yuanyuan was robbed of that 97 Worlds Beam Title. ROBBED.

[@211jump]

@QPHashSS77 Gina shouldn't have even made Beam Finals... Also Romania was SO overscored that year in 1997. They shouldn't have even medaled...

[@211jump]

QPHashSS77 If you ever want to email me just comment on a video on my youtube channel and i will send you my email their if you are intrested :)

[@worldartgym]

Are there any versions floating around out there of the entire rotations (Bulgaria & Ukraine?)

[@barbarachaplin886]

How about the 1985 Soviet floor rotation?

[@irazema9055]

By far, it is better gymasia than the North American one. Now it's just show. Simone Biles does doping and they allow it, both the market and the money ahead.

[@vfvf8495]

We complain that today's gymnastics is very formulated, which is true, but back in that day most routines started with a full-in and ended with a double back -- a sequence that started with Mukhina in the 1978 World Championships and became a trend some years later. Of course, the artistry of the 60s to mid-90s is unmatched.

[@Lariov]

I think the only rotation that can compete with this is the 4th rotation of the russians on team final in Sydney 2000.

[@worldartgym]

Daniel, look at you hanging out assignments!!! I’ll take a look at it, it just may find its way into the “Most Elic Rotations Ever” Series... 👍🏼

[@cyrielle_]

@@worldartgym what would be the BB and UB most epic rotations in your opinion ? Vault, I'd go with USA London 2012...

[@rachelmorales3870]

Boginskaya and Dudnik were amazing at that competition and the choreography was so creative. That has to be my favorite Boginskaya routine ever. 🔥

[@cyrielle_]

@QPHashSS77 agree with Grishina, I think a Nabieva - Komova -Mustafina UB line-up in 2012 would have been much better. I personally love the Beijing Chinese UB line-up with Jiang Yuyuang - Yang Yilin - He Kexin, that was quite impressive...

[@casimirodasilvasantoshe-hi5797]

Agree Daniel

[@rainyd4293]

Of course. USA can only dream of such a rotation on floor. It is hard to like US on the floor with their cringey choreography, lack of artistry or beauty and just pure tumbling, ugh! Long live the Soviet floor exercises ❤❤

[@worldartgym]

The USA couldn’t do that in 89 and still can’t, that’s why it’s an epic rotation. When artistry was more important than tumbling.

[@jadeyukiful]

Que belleza ❤esto si era arte puro

[@elibravo9710]

cuanta gracia y agilidad😮😮😮😮😮😮😮❤❤❤❤

[@Noelle_White]

I miss the artistry, choreography and dance that was once prevalent in women’s gymnastics. Now they look like a bunch of baby elephants jumping around and tumbling.

[@josevallejo9613]

Guauuu.hay gente que si sabe de gimnacia.felicidades✔

[@mena94x3]

The first one was sweet, but boring. Also loved the gorgeous stick in the background at 6:33 !

[@finfelagund]

Gabriela Potorac, I think.

[@mena94x3]

“Svetlana Boginska” 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😂 and later “Boginskia”

[@zahirbashir2349]

Do you have the Soviet team on the assymetric bars ? That is my favourite. I love monkey-like elegant swinging between branches.

[@dahighbar]

Romania 87?

[@worldartgym]

In the works!

[@marcoroddydamaros4451]

Questi sono i bellissimi tempi della ginnastica artistica quando la disciplina il corpo libero delle ginnaste era molto coreografico ed artistico. Purtroppo nei tempi di oggi vediamo solo delle piccole scimmie che saltano e basta. Di artistico non è rimasto niente.

[@fedeb1296]

Parole sante 👍

[@josevallejo9613]

JA,JA,JA...MAS CLARO.NI EL AGUA.FELICIDADES.

[@josevallejo9613]

FALTAN PALABRAS PARA ALABAR A LA GIMNASIA SOVIETICA RUSA🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹¡¡

[@irazema9055]

LA APLANADORA SOVIÉTICA JAMÁS SERÁ IGUALADA.

[@prcelani]

I miss the USSR so much, Todays gymnastics is so bland. America is trying to destroy artistry!

[@kballet2001]

If you don’t get goosebumps there is something wrong with you!

[@nr1785]

Back when gymnastics hadn’t become a sideshow (thanks America!)

[@enchantedella6495]

Seeing everything else and then watching the Cowboying. Boginsksya didn't deserve that ten. Her teammates were all better with more difficulty.

[@worldartgym]

Very few gymnasts didn’t cowboy their double in the 80s. The floors were a lot less bouncy, and it wasn’t really a deduction yet! Boguinskaia captivated the world with that routine, the judges were almost seduced by that avant-garde choreography! For me, looking back, of course you see the deductions (looking through a 2020 lens), but for 1989, the combination of (decent) tumbling and superior dance and musical interpretation, I think it was a rightful 10 back in the day.

[@enchantedella6495]

@D Leo Her teammates esp Lashenova were way better. If anyone deserved the ten it was Lashenovova.

[@urbanaquatics1455]

Cowboying wasn't considered bad in those days, - remember you can't judge the past by todays standards. To be honest I don't mind it, the gymnast still point their tones and have tension throughout the body... so what if their knees are apart?............ it actually makes the somersault spin faster, hang in the air and looks more exciting in my opinion

[@cheesleleh7559]

Hey admin can i know,she still live or not? ,She has instagram or facebook?

[@worldartgym]

I believe the entire squad is still alive to this day. Not sure who you’re inquiring about, specifically.

[@cheesleleh7559]

@@worldartgym i mean baitova....

[@worldartgym]

Chees Leleh pretty sure she’s still alive, I personally don’t follow her on social media

[@worldartgym]

Chees Leleh but I do I follow Boguinskaia on Instagram

[@saragrant9749]

These routines were indeed very artistic and full of difficulty. HOWEVER it demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt the ease with which the Soviet Union controlled the judging in gymnastics back then. 9.987 for a routine that featured many landings with the chest so low they were nearly parallel to the ground? For landings that had clear errors (factoring in that they were allowed to have the lunge back on landing obviously). There’s no doubt whatsoever that the Soviets had the sport in their pocket- which is really sad as it unfairly took away from other countries. 1992 was the last year of the Soviet dominance- culminating with a perfect 10 that was so utterly laughably imperfect it was ridiculous. From there on in the scoring was much more equalized- and it shows.

[@josevallejo9613]

Estas en equibocacion.totalmente. Heat al contrario.estaban en contra de los sovieticos. A causa de la rivalidad fe siempre entre RUSIA Y ee.uu que siempre dondequiera mete sus narices... pero to no SABES dnada de geopolitica.

[@liukin95]

Boginskaya 🇧🇾 Baitova 🇧🇾 Strazheva 🇺🇦 Dudnik🇺🇦 Sazonenkova 🇱🇻 Laschenova 🇱🇻 Not a single Russian on this team!

[@sigmarmammut6076]

lol, it`s soviet team, no russian federation team.

[@gondolin12]

no offense to the gymnast competing nowadays, but I find their performance very robotic and far from gymnastics. it’s seems as if acrobats are tumbling in the air. no grace no fluidity no sense of choreography. this vintage footage tells it all

[@lalanam1660]

Why did Dudnik compete in event finals if score was not so high?

[@timpani01]

Because she got a perfect score of 10 in the compulsory.

[@timpani01]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nauyXp54pNemZ7M

[@kaprantil]

The 1987 Romania choreographer was still better

[@yuiop6611]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Cara-39]

So many complaints abt "gymnasts these days" when, in reality, everyone is still judged (and can lose pts) on musicality, elegance, clean lines, dance aptitude...etc so choreography's importance hasn't gone away. This is in addition to the mandatory skills each routine must include, of which certain dance elements remain. The biggest changes are that skills have evolved over the yrs to be more advanced and adding more to the routine is the best way to increase the score, which is why routines today contain more tumbling and jumps than before. I competed at the elite leve in the 80s & 90s so gymnasts from this period are favorites (particularly Boginskya, Zmeskal, Gutsu and Milocovici) but other than more advanced skills, gymnasts then and now differ little in power, strength and grace

[@mateofesrivlaes7576]

dudnik is fantastic. the rest of the russian team is very poor.romania is absolutely superior although judges prefer russia ...mmmmm.....

[@marwahussein666]

Soviet Union, not Russia! This team don't have russians. And Dudnik is ukrainian.

[@josevallejo9613]

.la gente es de donde esta y vive donde vive...analizalo.

[@admetric]

Amazing thing is the sport completely changed by 1992 and only Bogi was strong enough to hang on. All others were crushed by the petite tumblers who came on strong and changed the sport. Of the USSR, ROM, and USA teams at these World’s only one athlete per team would make it to the olympics on 92.

[@reginarobertkrystyn]

USA on vault at the 2012 London Olympics or is this a floor conversation?

[@reginarobertkrystyn]

The Soviets lost the gold at ‘87 Worlds due to Romania’s 3 10s on floor in the final rotation. Soviet system likely made sure all 6 gymnasts floor routines (typically their last rotation during optionals) were solid top to bottom as a result! 💜🤍🖤