Gymnastics as an international charm offensive - 1972

In the beginning, there was Korbut.  Olga Korbut, who looked like a cheeky little girl and danced like a sprite.  Her gymnastics cut through the air like a ray of light. 

We were supposed to think that the ‘Russians’, as we called them then, were emotionless, efficient, stolid and severe.  Olga (in fact a Belarusian) forced us to see beyond our prejudices, to appreciate the person on the podium. Her team, the Soviet Union (which drew its athletes from across the 15 republics it reached) would never quite be the same again.

It was a diplomatic charm coup that demonstrated the importance of sport and culture as a means of fostering a positive sentiment towards the Soviet Union from its presumed enemy, the West.  Olga’s popularity was a mistake in many ways; Soviet leaders did not want unpredictable or emotional artists who were likely to say unexpected things, and they hated it when individuals struck out and wanted to find their own way.  The defection of Rudolph Nureyev in 1961 had left a scar on their face.  The last thing they wanted was a little prodigy sparkling her way into the hearts of us in the West. 

But then again she did bring something special.  Korbut’s appeal pointed to a fundamental contradiction in the nature of the Soviet state: the cold, black and white chill of much of its self-depiction compared to the colourful, passionate charisma of the country’s contemporary and historic cultural production.  The works of Pushkin, Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky were high art consumed by those with big, intellectual and elitist tastes in the West.  Their dancers were world leaders.  Even their circus was elevated to a form of art.  But few appreciated this.

Then there was Olga.  Olga Korbut, who came along and brought Russian charm and art to the masses.  Olga, who popularised Russian culture before the Soviet Union even realised that culture was its strength and that sport could be used as a soft diplomatic tool more effectively than as a signal of its state superiority.  

Gymnastics, with its balletic beauty and acrobatic energy cut through with behind the scenes brutality of gruelling training, and imagery of physical and mental bravery, spoke of the puzzle that is Russia.  Not dance, not singing, not orchestral performances nor poetry, but sport - the Olympics - brought Russia to our world, and Olga was the first to break through and pierce the popular consciousness of Russia as a source of great and mysterious beauty.