A Labour of Patriotism: Female Soviet Gymnasts’ Physical and Ideological Work, 1952-1991

June 1, 2004

[1] “Smile! Otherwise, the spectator will see how hard you’re working, and the illusion will be lost” – (coach Renald Knysh to Olga Korbut). [2] Soviet women gymnasts enjoyed world dominance in their sport from 1952 until the collapse of the Soviet Union almost 40 years later. But the celebration...