Soviet Union women's national artistic gymnastics team
| Continental union | European Union of Gymnastics |
|---|---|
| Olympic Games | |
| Appearances | 9 |
| Medals |  Gold: 1952, 1956, 1960 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988 |
| World Championships | |
| Appearances | 14 |
| Medals | Gold: 1954, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991  Silver: 1966, 1979, 1987 |
The Soviet Union women's national gymnastics team represented the Soviet Union in FIG international competitions. They were the dominant force in the sport from the 1950s until the Soviet Union's collapse. They lead the medal tally for women's artistic gymnastics with 88 medals including 33 gold.[1] Larisa Latynina is also the most decorated female athlete at the Olympic games with a total of 18 medals.[2]
Soviet Union's success might be explained by a heavy state's investment in sports to fulfil its political agenda on an international stage.[3]
History
The Soviet Union won the team gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics - the first Olympics that the Soviet Union participated in, and they won the team gold for the next seven games. The winning streak was interrupted by the boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics, but they won gold at the 1988 Summer Olympics - the last Olympics that the Soviet Union participated in. The Unified Team won the team gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[4] The Soviet Union won team gold at every World Championships that they competed in (1954-1991) except 1966, 1979, and 1987 where they won silver.
Team competition results
Olympic Games
- 1952 —
gold medal
- 1956 — gold medal
- 1960 — gold medal
- 1964 — gold medal
- 1968 — gold medal
- 1972 — gold medal
- 1976 — gold medal
- 1980 — gold medal
- 1984 — did not participate
- 1988 — gold medal
World Championships
- 1934 — did not participate
- 1938 — did not participate
- 1950 — did not participate
- 1954 — gold medal
- 1958 — gold medal
- 1962 — gold medal
- 1966 —
silver medal
- 1970 — gold medal
- 1974 — gold medal
- 1978 — gold medal
- 1979 — silver medal
- 1981 — gold medal
- 1983 — gold medal
- 1985 — gold medal
- 1987 — silver medal
- 1989 — gold medal
- 1991 — gold medal
See also
References
- ^ "Gymnastics". sports-reference. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ "Larysa Latynina". sports-reference. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ http://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/russia-and-its-empires/tyler-benson/
- ^ "Gymnastics Women's Team All-Around Medalists". sports-reference. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
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