Tamara Manina
Encyclopedia
Tamara Ivanovna Manina (born September 16, 1934, Petrozavodsk
) is a retired Soviet
Olympic gymnast
and a sports scientist. She competed for Burevestnik sports society, in Leningrad
.
Her family lived in Petersburg (and later in Leningrad
), but Manina was born in Petrozavodsk, where her father was on a long mission. During the German-Soviet War she was evacuated from besieged Leningrad into Tashkent
. She returned into Leningrad in 1944 and began gymnastics at the Leningrad Young Pioneer Palace in the same year. She was called "Monia the bird" by groupmates for her graceful and light vault
s.
Competing as a junior, she won the all-around title at the USSR Nationals in 1953, and became a candidate for the USSR team. In the same year Manina debuted at the senior USSR Championships, placing 12th in the all-around. Between 1953 and 1964 Manina successfully competed in many national and international events.
One of Manina's most successful performances took place at the 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
, where she earned several gold medals on vault, on the floor and in the team competition. At the 1956 Olympics
she rivalled Ágnes Keleti
, Larisa Latynina, as well as other strong competitors, and placed 6th in the all-around, but managed to win silver medals on vault and balance beam. She also contributed to the team's gold and bronze medals. The USSR team
won more gold medals, than any other country at that year's Olympics. In one of her interviews Manina said, that the team had a very warm welcome everywhere in the USSR: on their way by train from Vladivostok
to Moscow
they were met with flowers on each small station, people organized solemn meetings and made a big fuss over them.
Although in the event finals of the 1958 Worlds
Manina, apart from the gold in the team competition, won just one silver, on vault, she placed 3rd in the all-around to Latynina and Eva Bosáková
. She missed the 1960 Summer Olympics
due to an injury, but competed in the 1962 Worlds
, contributing to the team's gold and winning the bronze on vault. At age 30 she went to the 1964 Summer Olympics
and won the team's gold and silver on the balance beam. Finishing her competitive career, Manina seriously injured her ankle during the display competition in Vienna
and was not able to continue trainings any more. She coached the French national team in 1975 and has been an international judge since 1971.
Manina is also known for her scientific activities. Since 1958 she studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, graduating in 1965, defended a dissertation for the Candidate of Science degree at the Lesgaft State Institute of Physical Culture in 1969 and taught at the gymnastics department of the institute until 1973. Since 1975 she has been a professor at the Saint Petersburg State Art-Industrial Academy. She published more than forty scientific, methodical and popular science books.
Tamara Manina lives and works in Saint Petersburg. She is married and has a son.
Petrozavodsk
Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It stretches along the western shore of the Lake Onega for some . The city is served by Petrozavodsk Airport. Municipally, it is incorporated as Petrozavodsky Urban Okrug . Population:...
) is a retired Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Olympic gymnast
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
and a sports scientist. She competed for Burevestnik sports society, in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
Her family lived in Petersburg (and later in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
), but Manina was born in Petrozavodsk, where her father was on a long mission. During the German-Soviet War she was evacuated from besieged Leningrad into Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
. She returned into Leningrad in 1944 and began gymnastics at the Leningrad Young Pioneer Palace in the same year. She was called "Monia the bird" by groupmates for her graceful and light vault
Vault (gymnastics)
The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault...
s.
Competing as a junior, she won the all-around title at the USSR Nationals in 1953, and became a candidate for the USSR team. In the same year Manina debuted at the senior USSR Championships, placing 12th in the all-around. Between 1953 and 1964 Manina successfully competed in many national and international events.
One of Manina's most successful performances took place at the 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Rome, the capital of Italy, on June 28 - July 1, 1954.-Medals:- All-around :- Floor exercise :- Pommel horse :- Rings :- Vault :- Parallel bars :- Horizontal bar :...
, where she earned several gold medals on vault, on the floor and in the team competition. At the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
she rivalled Ágnes Keleti
Ágnes Keleti
Ágnes Keleti is a retired Hungarian artistic gymnast. The winner of 10 Olympic medals including five gold medals, she is considered to be one of the most successful Jewish Olympic athletes of all time. She was the most successful athlete at the 1956 Summer Olympics.-Career:Keleti is Jewish, and...
, Larisa Latynina, as well as other strong competitors, and placed 6th in the all-around, but managed to win silver medals on vault and balance beam. She also contributed to the team's gold and bronze medals. The USSR team
USSR at the Summer Olympics
The Soviet Union first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952, and competed at the Games on 18 occasions since then. At seven of its nine appearances at the Summer Olympic Games, the team ranked first in the total number of medals won, it was second by this count on the other two...
won more gold medals, than any other country at that year's Olympics. In one of her interviews Manina said, that the team had a very warm welcome everywhere in the USSR: on their way by train from Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
they were met with flowers on each small station, people organized solemn meetings and made a big fuss over them.
Although in the event finals of the 1958 Worlds
1958 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 14th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held on July 6–10 1958 in Moscow, the capital of the USSR.-Medals:-All-around:- Floor exercise :-Pommel horse:-Rings:-Vault:-Parallel bars:-Horizontal bar:-Team final:-All-around:...
Manina, apart from the gold in the team competition, won just one silver, on vault, she placed 3rd in the all-around to Latynina and Eva Bosáková
Eva Bosáková
Eva Bosáková-Hlaváčková, née Věchtová was a Czech gymnast whose career spanned at least from the 1954 World Championships to the 1962 World Championships...
. She missed the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
due to an injury, but competed in the 1962 Worlds
1962 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 15th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held on July 3–8, 1962 in Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia.- Men’s events :- Women's events :- Medal table :-References:*...
, contributing to the team's gold and winning the bronze on vault. At age 30 she went to the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
and won the team's gold and silver on the balance beam. Finishing her competitive career, Manina seriously injured her ankle during the display competition in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and was not able to continue trainings any more. She coached the French national team in 1975 and has been an international judge since 1971.
Manina is also known for her scientific activities. Since 1958 she studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, graduating in 1965, defended a dissertation for the Candidate of Science degree at the Lesgaft State Institute of Physical Culture in 1969 and taught at the gymnastics department of the institute until 1973. Since 1975 she has been a professor at the Saint Petersburg State Art-Industrial Academy. She published more than forty scientific, methodical and popular science books.
Tamara Manina lives and works in Saint Petersburg. She is married and has a son.