I posted this over on IG, but I thought it would be a good idea to post it here as well. Most of these are old-school documentaries.


Documentaries are my favorite genre of film, and there is nothing I love more than a great documentary on my favorite sport. I think that we ought to make a list of the best gym documentaries that we have seen, so everyone can get a chance to watch them! (Sorry, some of these are in different languages)

Here are some of my favorites (I will try to include links when possible)

You in Gymnastics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RW9_GSOzX0
Great Soviet doc from 1978 I believe.

The Secret of Deva
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxmeQd5-9w
Great Romanian doc from 2004 (?)

Olga Korbut Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzwAySYuio
Interesting 1973 doc.

Natalia Yurchenko Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKlIRO59YP0
Beautiful.

Ludmilla Tourischeva Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6L0Qs1kJIg


Gymnastics in the Summer Olympics (French)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR79WfkDBBw&feature=PlayList&p=8B6736EFC130AF02&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1
It is good. Sorry, it looks like I put that in huge URL or something. :rolleyes:

Road to Glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCbctq_QRtc
Pretty cool British doc.

Chinese Gymnastics Documentary (Not sure of the actual title)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkHmrG2IhU&feature=PlayList&p=FA9398BD20B29C29&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=5
Very Interesting stuff

1983 Soviet Documentary (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MjcWEpnEjg&feature=related
Such great talent in this era.

Romanian Documentary (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz0qEDMb7PY&feature=related
Commentary from Nadia and others.

Romanian Training Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4BCcVkd7cA&feature=related


Broken Dolls (Slomannie Kukolki)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KsEd05xqoc&feature=PlayList&p=2E36871A3A888352&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=20
Sad.

Dreaming (RSG)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcCjg50dVTA&feature=related

Another Korbut one, I cant find the whole thing anymore. It is very eye opening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7RB5qhO5MY


Those are all I can think of right now. I would love to hear about more! I am getting a little bored with the ones I watch over and over again.

More Contributions:

1994 RSG WC Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U56NP...eature=related
Courtesy of TchachiBessoPavs

Admin note: Was this the intended video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U56NPXTXcnA Also, when sharing YouTube vids, please use the shortened URL found in the video's Sharing pane. The long ones (which come from clicking into search results or a vid in the related videos list) sometimes don't work, as we see here. Thanks! :-)

Wow! I saw the thread over there but never got around to commenting. Thanks for pulling all these together; some I've not seen, but will see soon.

Just started watching these...totally awesome. Just wish I understood Russian.

Back to watching...

Wow, Mukhina looks so sad in that first one. And it is fascinating that the Soviets still had a live pianist for training. Didn't they stop using live music for competitions sometime prior to 1970?

I would really like to know what the coach was saying to Mukhina towards the end of Part II of 'You in Gymnastics'. Anyone know Russian?

The 1994 RSG Documentary isn't working It says the link has a maliformed ID?

SBF (: wrote:

The 1994 RSG Documentary isn't working It says the link has a maliformed ID?

Hi, see my edit at the bottom of the OP. I *think* that's the video that was supposed to be linked to.

thepianist wrote:

SBF (: wrote:

The 1994 RSG Documentary isn't working It says the link has a maliformed ID?

Hi, see my edit at the bottom of the OP. I *think* that's the video that was supposed to be linked to.

It works now, thanks

No problem!

BTW, are you SvetlanaBaitovaFan?

thepianist wrote:

No problem!

BTW, are you SvetlanaBaitovaFan?

Haha yep, I thought most people here would be from IG so they would know it's me.

I was scratching my head last night, because when I tried to activate your account, the software claimed you weren't in the database...I was wondering what was going on. But I finally got it activated, and just now I finally guessed based on the 'SBF'. So nice to see you here!

I'm going to send you a PM shortly.

Here's one that was just uploaded, about Elena Mukhina and Tatiana Groshkova. And it's in ENGLISH!!! Very sad, though. And I will warn you, it is a bit of an exposé/hitpiece, particularly parts 2-4 which aren't about Mukhina/Groshkova.

Part 1 of 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCmMSB0VyBw


Part 2 of 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1ircdj_3QU
Part 3 of 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92U6QfmS-Sw
Part 4 of 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PotEyVmUD_0

I'm sleepless so I'm watching the one about Natalia Yurchenko now...lovely indeed. I love how they chose my favorite Chopin prelude for the music at the beginning.