I always think of one woman, when gymnastics is on, now 18 years since she died aged 46.
One of the most talented gymnasts and courageous persons; she was a member of the Olympic Order, despite never competing at the Olympics.
Her name was Elena Mukhina, one of my heroes. /1
One of the most talented gymnasts and courageous persons; she was a member of the Olympic Order, despite never competing at the Olympics.
Her name was Elena Mukhina, one of my heroes. /1
Elena born on June 1st, 1960 in Moscow.
Her single mother died in 1962, when Elena was a baby, and her father wanted nothing to do with the baby.
At risk of being sent to an orphanage, her maternal grandmother stepped up and raised Elena as if she was her own ❤️
Her single mother died in 1962, when Elena was a baby, and her father wanted nothing to do with the baby.
At risk of being sent to an orphanage, her maternal grandmother stepped up and raised Elena as if she was her own ❤️
Elena loved gymnastics but didn't stand out as a top prospect. Through relentless drive, she made exceptional progress.
By the time of the European Championships in Prague in 1977, Elena was one of the best.
Won 3 gold medals, on balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise.
By the time of the European Championships in Prague in 1977, Elena was one of the best.
Won 3 gold medals, on balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise.
Nadia Comăneci expected to dominate at 1978 World's in Strasbourg.
Director of Soviet gymnastic programme famously said "it's not my fault Nadia was born in Romania", to explain USSR losing so often.
Elena beat Nadia in a huge upset to become 1978 All-Around World Champion.
Director of Soviet gymnastic programme famously said "it's not my fault Nadia was born in Romania", to explain USSR losing so often.
Elena beat Nadia in a huge upset to become 1978 All-Around World Champion.
Elena broke her leg in England in 1979.
Her coach Mikhail Klimenko asked doctors to remove the cast 4 weeks early, to get her back in time for Moscow Olympics.
Doctors refused, as x-rays showed break was not healed, but external pressure was placed on those doctors to comply.
Her coach Mikhail Klimenko asked doctors to remove the cast 4 weeks early, to get her back in time for Moscow Olympics.
Doctors refused, as x-rays showed break was not healed, but external pressure was placed on those doctors to comply.
That pressure from her coach was a symptom of relentless bullying.
Training footage from 1978, before the leg break, show her coach pushing her to practice more, even though Elena was too tired.
I don't think you even need subtitles to see how unhealthy this relationship was 😢
Training footage from 1978, before the leg break, show her coach pushing her to practice more, even though Elena was too tired.
I don't think you even need subtitles to see how unhealthy this relationship was 😢
Her coach pushed Elena to include the 'Thomas Salto' into her routine, even though no female gymnast had performed it in competition.
It's banned, nowadays, due to being too dangerous, with little margin for error.
Elena knew how dangerous it was and protested to her coach.
It's banned, nowadays, due to being too dangerous, with little margin for error.
Elena knew how dangerous it was and protested to her coach.
Elena consistently told her coach:
"I'm going to break my neck doing this, you realize that?"
To which her coach replied:
"World Champions don't break their neck."
So they kept pressuring her to perform it in practice, over and over again, despite her weak leg.
"I'm going to break my neck doing this, you realize that?"
To which her coach replied:
"World Champions don't break their neck."
So they kept pressuring her to perform it in practice, over and over again, despite her weak leg.
A fortnight before the Opening Ceremony of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Elena was practising the element.
She landed on her head, broke her neck and snapped her spine, just as she feared.
Left paralysed, with barely any movement from the shoulder down, at the age of 20.
She landed on her head, broke her neck and snapped her spine, just as she feared.
Left paralysed, with barely any movement from the shoulder down, at the age of 20.
Elena later said:
"I am a rather soft and compliant person. Before the 1980 Olympics, I was plagued by injuries. I was not ready to perform this element, but I did what my coach told me and broke my spine. I was frustrated by my own inability to stand up and say no to him."
"I am a rather soft and compliant person. Before the 1980 Olympics, I was plagued by injuries. I was not ready to perform this element, but I did what my coach told me and broke my spine. I was frustrated by my own inability to stand up and say no to him."
Professor Arkady Vladimirovich Livshits, top neurosurgeon in USSR, operated on Elena after the incident.
After the surgery he reported it was a success given his only goal was to save her life, with no realistic prospect of ever walking again.
Then began rehabilitation.
After the surgery he reported it was a success given his only goal was to save her life, with no realistic prospect of ever walking again.
Then began rehabilitation.
Elena spent a year in the spinal department of the 19th city clinical hospital on Krasnaya Presnya.
Working with therapist Nina Lebedeva, who said:
"I put Elena half an hour on stomach with emphasis on the elbows, every day. The pain is hellish, torture almost. Screams."
Working with therapist Nina Lebedeva, who said:
"I put Elena half an hour on stomach with emphasis on the elbows, every day. The pain is hellish, torture almost. Screams."
Not willing to give up her independence, Elena pushed every day, to get the most out of a bleak situation.
After a year of enduring nightmare pain in rehab, she was able to use a spoon again; though it wasn't easy.
Her goal was to use a pen, as she loved writing poetry.
After a year of enduring nightmare pain in rehab, she was able to use a spoon again; though it wasn't easy.
Her goal was to use a pen, as she loved writing poetry.
Elena was made a member of the Olympic Order in 1981, highest award of Olympic Movement and considered a big honour.
It's reserved for organisers of Olympic Games, or athletes who made a special contribution to sport, like Jesse Owens.
Elena was the youngest ever recipient.
It's reserved for organisers of Olympic Games, or athletes who made a special contribution to sport, like Jesse Owens.
Elena was the youngest ever recipient.
This letter is a lasting testament to her courage.
It took 2 painful days for Elena to write this 'thank you' letter.
"Dear Mr. Samaranch, Thank you for the honour you have given me in awarding me the “Olympic Order” It was the best New Years greetings. Elena Mukhina"
It took 2 painful days for Elena to write this 'thank you' letter.
"Dear Mr. Samaranch, Thank you for the honour you have given me in awarding me the “Olympic Order” It was the best New Years greetings. Elena Mukhina"
In 1991, Elena was asked:
"Are you tired of overcoming trauma?"
Her reply:
"The main thing (to keep going) is not to lose faith in yourself and your goals. I understand life can remain a struggle for something unattainable but if I give up I definitely won't attain it."
"Are you tired of overcoming trauma?"
Her reply:
"The main thing (to keep going) is not to lose faith in yourself and your goals. I understand life can remain a struggle for something unattainable but if I give up I definitely won't attain it."
Elena Mukhina died on December 22nd, 2006, at 5 o'clock in the evening, in her Moscow apartment near the Petrovsko-Razumovskaya metro.
Death "due to complications of quadriplegia" reported in the media.
A photo from her 1978 World Championship victory is on her headstone.
Death "due to complications of quadriplegia" reported in the media.
A photo from her 1978 World Championship victory is on her headstone.
World champion in 1978 is a big part of her story but not the part that inspires me.
The courage, resilience and hope that she showed, after being paralysed at 20-years-old, helped me keep going during depths of depression.
Truly amazing gymnast.
Even better person.
RIP ❤️
The courage, resilience and hope that she showed, after being paralysed at 20-years-old, helped me keep going during depths of depression.
Truly amazing gymnast.
Even better person.
RIP ❤️
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