Sports during the Soviet Era
Katie Rademacher
Facts
*Sports were free.
*Lots of pressure to win
*First competed in 1900 Olympics in Paris
*Soviet Union dominated Women's Volleyball in 1980 Olympics in Moscow.
*Soviet Volleyball joined the Olympic Program in 1964 Olympics in Tokyo
Boycotts
Prostest against the Soviet Union invading Afghanistan.
The main idea was to make their Olympics 'less grand'
Soviets- 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles
Retaliation for the U.S boycott in 1979
As a result, the U.S won more gold medals and Mary Lou became the first American to win overall in gymnastics.
Also made all of the Communist countries boycott along with them
East Germany Scandal
These athletes did not know that they were taking steroids, they were told they were vitamins
Caused birth problems and cancer later in life.
After they broke all sorts of records, people became suspicious.
The 1976 East German swim team sued the government for giving them anabolic steroids
Athlete
Olga Korbut-"Darling of Munich"
Olga is Belarusian-born gymnast.
1972 Munich Olympics- She won 4 gold medals and 3 silver medals.
She is known as the "Darling of Munich" and the "Sparrow from Minsk"
Olga was 17 when she was in the 1972 Olympics
She began training at age 8.
Gold 1972 in Munich for Team
Gold 1972 in Munich for Balance Beam
Gold 1972 in Munich for Floor Exercise
Gold 1976 in Montreal for Team
Silver 1972 in Munich for Uneven Bars
Silver 1976 in Montreal for Balance Beam
Olga with her Gold Medal
Olga on the Balance Beam
Korbut Flip
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Korbut
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union_at_the_1964_Summer_Olympics
http://pri.org/stories/2012-07-24/40-years-ago-soviet-gymnast-olga-korbut-dazzled-world
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_East_Germany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_at_the_Olympics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Summer_Olympics_boycott
http://cdmyers.info/olympics.html
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1171485-the-10-greatest-upsets-in-summer-olympic-history
http://neoneocon.com/2012/08/02/gymnasts-bodies-form-follows-function/
http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=37456
http://internetwriter62.hubpages.com/hub/Olga-Korbut-Change-the-Face-of-Gymnastices