In 1981 Lavinia Agache found herself at the center of two major controversies, but she didn’t let either one distract her from the task at hand. Winning medals. Continue reading Lavinia Agache: The Art of Keeping Cool

In 1978 a leotard first appeared that would become so popular, nearly 30 Olympians wore it. Part III covers Japan, Canada, Great Britain, and rhythmic gymnastics. Continue reading The Most Popular Leotard in Gymnastics History (Part III)

In 1978 a leotard first appeared that would become so popular, nearly 30 Olympians wore it. Part II covers the United States, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Elena Davydova. Continue reading The Most Popular Leotard in Gymnastics History (Part II)

In 1978 a leotard first appeared that would become so popular, nearly 30 Olympians wore it. Part I covers the Soviet Union, China, Romania, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Continue reading The Most Popular Leotard in Gymnastics History (Part I)

When they weren’t winning medals, the Romanian gymnasts were afforded time to have a little fun. Continue reading The Fun Side of Romanian Gymnastics

Due to luck, misfortune, and/or fate, these gymnasts are associated with different Olympic quads despite being the same age. Continue reading Gymnasts From Different Eras Who Are Actually the Same Age

In 1986 seven gymnasts gathered for a picture. All of them remain iconic to this day. Continue reading The Greatest Picture of 1980s Gymnastics

In 1968 the Soviets sent six gymnasts to Mexico City, five of them married an Olympian. Continue reading The 1968 Soviet Gymnasts Who Married Each Other

In 1978 Elena Mukhina was asked about the possibility of serious injury. Continue reading The Elena Mukhina Tapes

Prior to the 2008 Olympic quad, the gymnasts with the most career medals came from Eastern Europe. Shannon Miller is the only exception to this trend. Continue reading The Shannon Miller Exception

Due to a quirk in age limits, for three decades gymnasts could compete in an Olympics and then return to junior competition. Continue reading The Quirky Rule Which Allowed Seniors to Compete as Juniors

This gymnast was beating Turischeva at 13 years old, scored a Perfect 10 and was named to an Olympic team the following year. But her name isn’t Nadia… Continue reading Nina Dronova: The Nadia Before Nadia

Going through pictures of Oksana Omelianchik’s leotards reveals an interesting trend. Continue reading The Lesser Known Leotards of Oksana Omelianchik

Elena Mukhina missed the 1980 Olympics due to a tragic injury. But would she have made the Olympics if that injury had never happened? Continue reading Would Elena Mukhina Have Made the Olympic Team if Not For Her Paralyzing Injury?

In July of 2020 Shawn Johnson reflected on her experiences. Her comments were almost identical to what Marcia Frederick had said nearly three decades earlier. Continue reading Marcia Frederick and Shawn Johnson Experienced the Same Struggle 28 Years Apart

In 1990 the Soviets posed for a team photo. Little did they know the breakup of the USSR was about to alter the course of their Gymnastics careers. Continue reading The Number of Olympians in this Picture is Insane

Turischeva rebounded from a devastating defeat at the hands of Nadia to salvage the final two years of her career. Continue reading Ludmilla Turischeva Went Out Like a Legend

Judges once had the power to single handedly award their own country a medal. It went about as well as one would expect. Continue reading The Unapologetically Bad Judging in Early Olympic History

The road to retrieve their daughter from Romania took Bela and Marta Karolyi to a little known Congressman who worked on trade deals. What happened next would change the course of American gymnastics history. Continue reading How Bela and Marta Karolyi Got Their Daughter out of Romania

The idea of a gymnast making it to the Olympics 2x but not the World Championships may sound ludicrous, but a surprising number of gymnasts have done it. Continue reading Two-Time Olympians Who Never Competed in a World Championships

The gymnasts who have had the worst luck with 4th place finishes. (Part II) Continue reading The Queens of 4th Place (Part II)

The gymnasts who have had the worst luck with 4th place finishes. (Part I) Continue reading The Queens of 4th Place (Part I)

Unable to hide the fact that their top gymnast had been seriously hurt, the Soviets found other ways to downplay the events that had transpired. Continue reading After Her Injury a Soviet Coverup Hurt Elena Mukhina Even More

After her injury Elena Mukhina received letters of support from fans, some of which did more harm than good. Continue reading How Fan Mail Bothered Elena Mukhina

In a little known competition from 1973, Romania’s best Olympian was beaten by an 11 year old. Continue reading The Time an 11 year Old Nadia Defeated a Legend