In 1972, the young, tiny, and fiercely athletic 17-year-old Russian gymnast Olga Korbut captured the world’s attention at the Munich Olympic Games with bold stunts never before seen on the uneven bars and balance beam.
In Munich, Korbut won three gold medals and one silver, and she became a star, which she has said overwhelmed her almost immediately. She also earned her place in history as playing a role in revolutionizing the nature of the sport, shifting its focus from elegant maneuvers toward powerful acrobatics better suited to younger athletes. While plagued with injuries in the Montreal Games four years later, Korbut still took home a gold and silver medal.
Relaxnews: During the peak of your training, what did a day in your life look like?
Olga Korbut: I trained for 10 years, up to 10 hours a day for the 1972 Olympics. My elements required that much practice.
RN: Your diet was notoriously strict during your training. What were the rules?
OK: No sugar. A lot of protein, and vegetables.
RN: How did you mentally prepare for a competition like the Olympics?
OK: The Olympics was a huge stage. You really can’t prepare for it. During my routines, I trusted my body to do what it was trained to do.
RN: What advice would you give a gymnast heading to the London Games?
OK: The best advice I could tell someone is to trust their body, and don’t let your mind get the best of you.
RN: What inspires you most now?
OK: Staying in shape. I can’t do gymnastics as I once did, but I enjoy the fact that I’m only five pounds heavier than I was in 1972. That’s a direct result of keeping up my physical fitness and diet.
RN: Can you tell me about your fitness now?
OK: I walk at least five miles each day. After my walk, I spend an hour in the gym working on my core, legs, and back.
