Strange are the ways of destiny. In Larisa Latynina’s case, it took her from the ballet studio to the gymnastics training centre.
Once the ballet class near her home in Ukraine closed down, the little girl turned to gymnastics and went on to become its biggest star. She won an astonishing 18 medals, including nine gold, from three Olympics. Until Michael Phelps came along through the waters, nobody seemed capable of breaking her record as the most decorated Olympian. Her record stood for 48 years.
That is something she is justifiably proud of. When Phelps finally swam past her in London four years ago, she, even as congratulating the American, reminded journalists that she still was the top-medalled female. She remains the athlete with the highest number of individual medals (14), one more than Phelps.
Her great medal hunt began in Melbourne in 1956 in glorious fashion. She won six — four of them gold, including the all-important one in individual all-around.
Four years later in Rome, she retained her all-around title, besides taking the gold in floor exercise and helping the Soviet Union win the team gold. Just as in Melbourne, she clinched six medals. She picked up six more in Tokyo in her final Olympics.
Another two years later, she retired after the 1966 World championship in Dortmund. She then became Soviet Union’s national coach and produced 10 Olympic medallists. “Let Phelps remember that,” she once told an interviewer.
Had destiny not intervened, she would have ensured that she became one of the finest ballet dancers in the world. Her ballet classes weren’t wasted, in any case. She was all grace in the gymnastic arena.
