The Silver Queens of Beam from 1962 to 2023
The balance beam is one of the most demanding and elegant events in women’s artistic gymnastics. It requires a combination of strength, flexibility, balance, precision, and courage, as the gymnasts perform acrobatic and artistic skills on a 10 cm wide and 5 m long apparatus. Beam has witnessed some of the most memorable and impressive performances in the history of the sport. In this article, we pay tribute to all the silver medal winners on the balance beam at the World Championships, from 1962 to 2023.
The first silver medalist on the balance beam displayed on this video is Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union, who achieved this feat in 1962 in Prague. Latynina was one of the most successful and decorated gymnasts of all time, winning 18 Olympic medals and 14 World medals. She was known for her grace, elegance, and versatility, excelling on all four apparatuses. On beam, she performed with fluidity and confidence, showing a new backward somersault.
The next silver medalist on beam was Věra Čáslavská of Czechoslovakia, who won her medal in 1966 in Dortmund. Čáslavská was one of the most dominant and influential gymnasts of her era, winning 11 Olympic medals and 10 World medals. She was known for her power, dynamism, and charisma, captivating the audiences with her expressive routines. On beam, she performed with speed and agility, showing skills such as back handsprings, aerials, and twists.
The first non-European silver medalist on beam was Cathy Rigby of the United States, who got her medal in 1970 in Ljubljana. Rigby was one of the pioneers of American gymnastics, winning two World medals and two Olympic medals. She was known for her difficulty, innovation, and consistency, and she performed with precision and control, showing skills such as back walkovers, front somersaults, and full turns.
The next silver medalist, at the World Championships in 1974 in Varna, was Olga Korbut of the Soviet Union. She was one of the most popular and influential gymnasts of all time, winning six Olympic medals and four World medals. She was known for her originality, artistry, and emotion, revolutionizing the sport with her daring and spectacular skills. On beam, she performed with flair and courage, showing skills such as back flips, her own skill, called the Korbut flip, and a back salto dismount.
In 1978 in Strasbourg, raising star Elena Mukhina of the Soviet Union, finished second on beam. One of the most talented and tragic gymnasts of all time, Elena won three World medals and one European medal. She was known for her elegance, beauty, and difficulty, performing with grace and poise, and showing skills such as a back handspring layout, a side somersault, and a double back dismount.
The 1979 World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, was the first to be held in the United States, and also the first to use the 10-point scoring system. The silver medal went to Nellie Kim of the Soviet Union, who was one of the most successful and versatile gymnasts of her generation.
In 1981 the World Championships were in Moscow, Soviet Union; the silver medal went to Chen Yongyan of China, who was the first Chinese woman to win a medal on the beam at the World Championships.
The 1983 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, was the first to be held after the boycott of the 1980 Olympics. The silver medal went to Hana Říčná of Czechoslovakia, who was one of the most elegant and artistic gymnasts of her time. Říčná was the first Czechoslovakian woman to win a medal on the beam at the World Championships.
The next silver medalist on beam was Ecaterina Szabo of Romania, in 1985 in Montreal, Canada. Szabo was one of the most dominant and consistent gymnasts of her era.
The 1987 World Championships were held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The silver medal went to Elena Shushunova of the Soviet Union, who was one of the most powerful and dynamic gymnasts of her time. Shushunova performed high-flying skills with technique and precision, including the spectacular Rulfova.
The 1989 World Championships in Stuttgart, West Germany, was the first to include the new life scoring system. The silver medal went to Olesya Dudnik of the Soviet Union, who was one of the most innovative and daring gymnasts of her time. Olesya performed her famous side aerial followed by 2 back layout stepouts acrobatic series.
The next silver medalist was Tatiana Gutsu, of the Soviet Union, in 1991 in Indianapolis, United States. this would be the last time that the Soviet Union competed as a team at the World Championships. Gutsu, who would later become an Olympic all around champion, was one of the most complete and versatile gymnasts of her time. On beam, she performed with bravery and confidence, showing very tricky skills such as a back layout stepout mount, a Rulfova, a Shishova, and a full twisting double back dismount in combination.
The 1992 World Championships in Paris, France, was the first to be held in an Olympic year. The silver medal went to Li Yifang of China, who was one of the most graceful and expressive gymnasts of her time.
The 1993 World Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, was the first to include the new countries that were "created" after the breakup of the Soviet Union. The silver medal went to Maria Neculita of Romania, who was one of the most reliable and steady gymnasts of her time.
Watch the above video to learn about the rest of the gymnasts.