Maria Filatova
Encyclopedia
Maria Evgenievna Filatova (born July 19, 1961, Leninsk-Kuznetsky
, Siberia
) is a retired Soviet gymnast
who competed at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics
.
Filatova began competing for the USSR junior team in 1974. In 1976 she placed fourth at the USSR National Championships and competed well in various international events.
Filatova was originally named as an alternate to the Soviet team at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
. However, during podium training, she received such a positive reaction from the crowd that she was added to the team roster. She shared in the team gold medal and was ranked ninth overall after the team competition. Because four of her teammates scored higher than she did and only three gymnasts per team were allowed to compete in the all-around, she did not advance to the AA finals in spite of her high placement.
Following the Olympics and the retirements of several high-profile gymnasts, including Ludmilla Tourischeva
and Olga Korbut
, Filatova emerged as one of the leaders of the Soviet team. She won the World Cup in 1977 and 1978; the USSR Nationals in 1977, and the Riga International meet in 1977 and 1979. At the 1980 Olympics
, Filatova served as the lead-off gymnast on several events, contributed to the team's gold medal. She continued to the 1981 World Championships, where she was the silver medalist in the all-around.
British journalist David Hunn referred to Filatova as a "fifteen year old in the Korbut tradition." As Korbut, Filatova was known for her enthusiastic, expressive floor exercise routines and her difficult acrobatic skills. She was one of the first female gymnasts to successfully compete a double back somersault on floor in 1975.
Following her retirement in 1982, Filatova worked for several years with the Irish Gymnastics Federation before moving to the United States.
Leninsk-Kuznetsky
Leninsk-Kuznetsky , known as Kolchugino until 1925, is a city in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, located on both banks of the Inya River . Population: 128,000 ; 83,000 ; 20,000 ....
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
) is a retired Soviet gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
who competed at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
.
Filatova began competing for the USSR junior team in 1974. In 1976 she placed fourth at the USSR National Championships and competed well in various international events.
Filatova was originally named as an alternate to the Soviet team at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. However, during podium training, she received such a positive reaction from the crowd that she was added to the team roster. She shared in the team gold medal and was ranked ninth overall after the team competition. Because four of her teammates scored higher than she did and only three gymnasts per team were allowed to compete in the all-around, she did not advance to the AA finals in spite of her high placement.
Following the Olympics and the retirements of several high-profile gymnasts, including Ludmilla Tourischeva
Ludmilla Tourischeva
Ludmilla Ivanovna Tourischeva is a former Russian gymnast and a nine-time Olympic medalist for the Soviet Union.Tourischeva began gymnastics in 1965 and began competing for the Soviet team as early as in 1967...
and Olga Korbut
Olga Korbut
Olga Valentinovna Korbut , also known as the Sparrow from Minsk, is a Belarusian, Soviet-born gymnast who won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Summer Olympics, in which she competed in 1972 and 1976 for the USSR team....
, Filatova emerged as one of the leaders of the Soviet team. She won the World Cup in 1977 and 1978; the USSR Nationals in 1977, and the Riga International meet in 1977 and 1979. At the 1980 Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, Filatova served as the lead-off gymnast on several events, contributed to the team's gold medal. She continued to the 1981 World Championships, where she was the silver medalist in the all-around.
British journalist David Hunn referred to Filatova as a "fifteen year old in the Korbut tradition." As Korbut, Filatova was known for her enthusiastic, expressive floor exercise routines and her difficult acrobatic skills. She was one of the first female gymnasts to successfully compete a double back somersault on floor in 1975.
Following her retirement in 1982, Filatova worked for several years with the Irish Gymnastics Federation before moving to the United States.
Achievements (non-Olympic)
| Year | Event | AA | Team | VT | UB | BB | FX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | USSR Championships | 3rd | |||||
| 1977 | World Cup | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | ||
| European Championships | 3rd | 1st | |||||
| USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | ||||
| 1978 | World Cup | 1st | 1st | ||||
| World Championships 1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 19th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Strasbourg, France, in 1978 from October 23 to October 29.The new rule was introduced: eight gymnasts competed in each of the apparatus finals.... |
1st | ||||||
| USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | |||||
| USSR Cup | 1st | ||||||
| 1979 | World Championships 1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 20th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Fort Worth, USA, in 1979. In November 1977 the 55th FIG Congress, held in Rome, changed the cycle of world championships: since 1979 they were to be held each two years, and the pre-Olympic ones were to be qualifications for the Olympic... |
2nd | |||||
| Universiade 1979 Summer Universiade The 1979 Summer Universiade, also known as the X Summer Universiade, took place in Mexico City, Mexico.-Medal table:... |
2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| USSR Championships | 2nd | 2nd | |||||
| 1980 | World Cup | 2nd | |||||
| 1981 | World Championships 1981 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 21st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Moscow, the capital of the USSR, in 1981.-Medals:-All-around:- Floor exercise :-Pommel horse:-Rings:-Vault:-Parallel bars:-Horizontal bar:-Team final:-All-around:... |
2nd | 1st | ||||
| Universiade 1981 Summer Universiade The 1981 Summer Universiade, also known as the XI Summer Universiade, took place in Bucharest, Romania. The events were watched by 200,000 spectators.-Medal table:-External links:*... |
2nd |
External links and sources
- List of competitive results
- Whatever happened to Maria Filatova?
- Hunn, David; (1980). The Complete Book of Gymnastics, London : Ward Lock Ltd. ISBN 99903-963-2-9.