Moskovsky Komsomolets. June 4, 1974. Last year in Ufa, at the national championships, the Olympic champion and Merited Master of Sports Mikhail Voronin was given a send-off. Yet, the celebrated athlete did not part ways with gymnastics.
At the recently concluded USSR Championship, he faced no fewer - and perhaps even more - worries and anxieties than the competitors themselves. In Rostov, M. Voronin oversaw the performances of the Dinamo national teams; he serves as the society's head coach.
After congratulating Mikhail Yakovlevich on his success - the Dinamo women's team took first place, while the men's team won silver - we asked him to comment on the results of the Rostov tournament.
Q: First and foremost, I would like hear about the new names the championship has brought to light.
A: There were no gymnasts whom we had been completely unfamiliar with prior to this event, yet who made a name for themselves specifically at this championship. However, some appeared in a somewhat new light.
For instance, seventeen-year-old Vladimir Tikhonov from Grozny - who competed in the youth division, performing only his optional routines - bears a certain physical resemblance to Nikolai Andrianov. His fellow townsman, Boris Kinev, is also an exceptional gymnast. However, much like the vast majority of the male competitors, he lacks consistency. Incidentally, it was not only the young gymnasts who suffered setbacks; even seasoned veterans like Viktor Klimenko, who scored an 8.8 on the pommel horse, were not immune.
In the women's competition, we once again witnessed the spirited emergence of a new generation - a group now hailed as the future of gymnastics. This cohort includes Svetlana Grozdova, who performed her floor routine with magnificent grace; Lidiya Gorbik, whose beam routine was truly stunning; and Nellie Kim from Kazakhstan. I am confident that, within a year, each of them will be capable of posing a formidable challenge to the established stars.
Q: What rating would you give the winners?
A: Lyudmila Turischeva's success is entirely well deserved. In a grueling contest, she managed to finish ahead of Olga Korbut. You must admit, that counts for something. One needs to see how Lyuda trains - with what inspiration, and with what total dedication. It was precisely the countless repetitions during her training sessions that helped her achieve such astonishing precision. Some of our other gymnasts could certainly use a dose of the diligence displayed by Turischeva and her coach, Vladislav Rastorotsky.
The duel between Nikolai Andrianov and Viktor Klimenko proved remarkably captivating. A gold medal had long been Klimenko's dream; despite being a two-time European champion, he had repeatedly failed to secure the title of the country's strongest gymnast. Trailing Andrianov in terms of difficulty, Viktor exerted every effort to bridge the gap. To this end, he even skipped last year's national championships, dedicating himself instead to mastering truly difficult elements. At the tournament in Rostov, we witnessed the fruits of nearly two years of labor.
Nikolai Andrianov is a unique phenomenon - and not merely within the realm of Soviet gymnastics. Of this, I am firmly convinced. Today, he is a leader by right, and his competitive program is the strongest in the world. It may seem that I am lavishing excessive praise upon Nikolai; believe me, however, that is not the case. His competitive tenacity and his exceptional level of technical execution serve as the ultimate proof of what I have said.
Q: In recent years, there has been frequent discussion regarding the significant gap in skill between our gymnasts and their Japanese counterparts. Has that gap narrowed today?
A: Both Nikolai Andrianov and Viktor Klimenko are capable of competing on virtually equal terms with the strongest Japanese masters. As early as the Munich Olympics, they could have been medalists in the all-around competition - a fact best demonstrated by the medals they won on individual apparatuses.
I have already spoken about the lack of consistency in our guys' performances - a factor that sometimes prevents them from securing higher finishes. The attempt to catch up with the Japanese in terms of difficulty hinders them from refining their routines to the highest standard. We still lag behind in this regard, and it is precisely in this area that our primary efforts must be focused.
Q: Finally, how did the Muscovites look at the competition?
A: Unfortunately, aside from Viktor Klimenko's gold medal, there is nothing else to boast about. Georgy Bogdanov of CSKA managed to finish in only tenth place. This gymnast seems to have it all: he certainly has enough experience - having competed on the national team - and his natural talent is excellent. Yet, time and again, it is his breakdowns - oh, those breakdowns! - that let him down.
Elvira Saadi, who became a resident of Moscow just a few months ago, finished only fifth - though greater things had been expected of her. Lyubov Bogdanova, a protege of Nikolai Maiburov, placed one step lower. This is particularly disappointing; Lyuba could well have made the podium. However, a weak performance in the compulsory program prevented her from climbing higher.
Apparently, to improve the performance of gymnastics in the capital, it is necessary, first and foremost, to focus on more painstaking and fruitful work with the youngest generation of athletes.
A. LVOV