YELENA DAVYDOVA Biography - Theater, Opera and Movie personalities

 
 

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YELENA DAVYDOVA
       

Yelena Davydova (born August 7, 1961 in Voronezh) is a Russian (former Soviet) gymnast, winner of the Olympic all-around title in 1980.

       

Although a top competitor in her own country, Davydova did not compete in international championships until the 1980 Summer Olympics, which were held in Moscow. The 1978 World Champion, Yelena Mukhina , had been paralysed after a fall from the balance beam, which left Davydova in a fight for the all-around title with reigning Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci of Romania and Maxi Gnauck of East Germany. The competition was a close affair, as Comaneci and Gnauck both missed the gold with only 0.075 points; with the Romanian’s last exercise taking a long time to produce a note. In addition, Davydova won a gold medal with the team and a silver medal on the balance beam.

       

Davydova also participated in the 1981 World Championships, her second and last major international event. She finished third in the all-around final after an improper landing in the balance beam event, and won two more medals in the apparatus events.

       

After her retirement, Davydova married boxing coach Pavel Filatov , with whom she moved to Canada in 1991. Davydova now works there as a club coach.