In honor of Tatiana Nabieva returning to the Russian national team and being announced as part of the Universiade squad, let’s spend a vital moment or two appreciating our first and (to date) only fully sarcastic gymnastics career. The woman who invented doing elite gymnastics as a prank, Tatiana Nabieva.
Noted primarily for her two most famous inventions, 1) the layout Tkatchev on bars
and 2) fierce investment in floor choreography
Nabieva is actually so much more.
She is a dance icon.
A fighter.
A slapstick comedian.
And a master of endurance.
In addition to her innovative work on bars
She invented a beam mount.
Became the code’s exemplar of creative work into the corner.
Originated the Yurchenko triple full
And authored an iconoclastic treatise that all twisting need not be completed before landing
She has taught us how to appropriately enter a room
How to show that you care
How to stay present
And not just go through the motions
How to live with grace
And maturity
How to stay on course
Surf every wave
And always finish on a high
Because of that, Tatiana Nabieva, I choose you.
OK it’s over.
