Over the Limit

If you made up the story of 'Olympic Dreams of Russian Gold' (a rubbish title by the way - you could just as easily call it 'Russian dreams of Olympic Gold' and not lose any meaning, suggesting it is really just a random collection of vaguely suitable words thrown together at random for aesthetic effect - but I digress), you might not beleive it. A beautiful, talented but apparently tender-hearted youung Russian gynmast is bullied relentlessly by her coaches ahead of the Olympics. What they do is not coaching at all in any sense that I would recognise: rather, it reminds one more of the world of 'Full Metal Jacket': even if they aren't pumping her full of performance enhancing drugs, this is abuse of the highest level. One's ability to enjoy the extraordinary athleticism on display, meanwhile, is offset by the extent to which the competitotrs are sexualised - and forced to perform in what is little more than underwear. The narrative points in one direction - my only spoiler is that the final updates we receive are not what I was expecting, but complete the story arc as a grand tragedy. I found this a harrowing film to watch: in general, I'm not in favour of a punitive legal system, but it made me want to take those responsible, lock them up, and throw away the key, and I don't care how many champions they have produced.

The film-maker (herself an ex gymnast) has used an extremely sparse style of documentary making here. There's no back-story, no intro, no interviews, no beautiful juxtaposition and no narration. It's a very effective way to make the viewer uneasy and wrong footed from the start... And that's how you should feel watching this true life horror show.... Unless you are into 70 minutes of verbal and psychologic abuse of course!

Now as for the main protagonists themselves... it's the story of a high level gymnast and her two coaches preparing her for the olympics in 2016. What we are unflinchingly witness to is nothing short of verbal and psychological abusive. How a fellow human being can treat someone in such a degrading, disrespectful and abusive way in the name of making them better at a SPORT is utterly beyond me. Yes the gymnast was eventually very successful, but at what cost mentally?! One coach is so used to saying and doing whatever she pleases she thinks nothing of saying the most vile things in the name of "toughening up the gentle soul" of her young star, the other coach veers wildly from doing exactly the same one moment, to extremely inapropriate physical contact the next. It's very disturbing to watch. And don't even start me on the IMDb description of the documentary, who wrote that ... The coaches themselves?! Calling this girl "emotionally fragile" is utterly ridiculous, the unflinching strength she shows in withstanding the bullying only makes the abuse even harder to swallow. Watch it not for the pleasure of perfect elegance but as a study of a beautiful SPORT (as in something done for enjoyment) completely corrupted by the selfish human need for power and glory.

Although I enjoyed watching the journey of an elite Russian rhythmic gymnast as she prepares for a possible Olympic birth, this was difficult to watch on many levels. Bullying through verbal abuse is on full display and how it effects the three main women involved in this documentary. If you do not have some basic knowledge of rhythmic gymnastics and the three women involved, this documentary does not give you enough information to fill in the gaps. Understanding more background on the two coaches would have added some much needed context.

When you want to discredit a person, what will you do? Obviously, you will show only the bad things the person does. But you'll never show WHY the person acts this way.

Being a rhythmic gymnastics fan, I remember almost all the top gymnasts' leotards, music pieces, exercises, and scores. I'm immersed in the subject. When I started watching this film, I supposed it would be about Rita's struggle with drops which didn't allow her to win. But what did I see? That's ridiculous, guys! That's so unfair!

There are many talented gymnasts in Russia. But only two of them, according to FIG Technical Regulations, have the right to participate in the finals of FIG major tournaments and the Olympic Games. That's the key point. After the most titled gymnast Evgeniya Kanaeva finished her career in 2012, Irina Viner proclaimed Rita Mamun as Russia's number one gymnast 'cause Viner thought Rita would exactly win the next Olympics. But Rita's instability allowed Yana Kudryavtseva take the lead.

In 2015, Yana was the unconditional number one of Russian team. Rita was unconditional number two. Viner had other brilliant gymnast as Averins twins and Selezneva but she loved Soldatova, another gymnast as her own child. (Soldatova's ribbon version that she performed in the WCH 2018 qualifications is one of the best ever in my opinion). And the film director was not honest not showing Soldatova as a supporting actor in this film. She was just a face in the background.

In qualification at the 2015 World Championships in Stuttgart Rita dropped her ball. Soldatova had problems with ribbon. And as according FIG Technical Regulations three best gymnast scores get into account Rita beats Soldatova and came into AA-final (Rita perfomed four exircizes, Soldatova three 'cause Yana Kudryavtseva was replays by Soldatova with the Hoop. Viner originally didn't plan to give Soldatova any chance to came into AA-final).

Events that could appear in the film:

• In the all-around final, Rita drops her ribbon and loses the title to injured Yana showing once again that she's not a fighter.

• Grand Prix Moscow 2016. Yana is after surgery and does not compete. Rita drops her hoop, club, and ribbon. She does not win an all-around medal while Soldatova takes 1st place.

• Grand Prix Thiais. Rita drops her ribbon. She wins the title just because, stupid Soldatova club loss is out of bounds.

• Pesaro World Cup. Rita drops, Yana wins. Yana withdraws from the apparatus finals. Rita drops her ball and ribbon, and Ganna Riztdinova from Ukraine gets the gold medals.

• Rita drops and Soldatova wins Russian National all-around (Yana doesn't compete).

• Guadalajara World Cup. Rita drops her club and ball.

• Minsk World Cup. Rita drops her ribbon. Soldatova was very bad. That's was the reason why Irina decides that Rita, not Soldatova, goes to the Euros which take place in Holon, Israel, where Rita drops and Yana wins. Nothing's unusual.

• Kazan World Cup. Rita drops her hoop.

I expected to see at least Stuttgart, Moscow and Holon drops. But only one of them (hoop in Moscow) is shown in the film. OK, let's believe that an ex-gymnast (the film director) didn't get that it all was about the battle for the 2nd quota between Rita and Soldatova. But why doesn't she show us the losses? Are they not the obvious reason for Viner's dissatisfaction? By the beginning of the Rio Olympics, not only Viner but fans around the world were so tired of Rita's drops. We all wanted Rita to do her best.

Historically, many Polish people dislike Russians. And I've got the impression that the director's aim was not to show a TRUE story but to tarnish Viner's reputation.

Being a native Russian speaker, I must tell that no translation can is able to convey the excat meaning of the Russian words. Especially those which Viner says in Holon, Israel, a few minutes after Rita's dropped her hoop (Rita's in her ball leotard and Katsiaryna Halkina's clubs music is playing ). I truly believe that a Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences knows better what to say and choose every time the right words. Being a huge Irina's fan I must tell that I personally think that irina is the the wisest person in the entire World and maybe in the Solar System. She never makes mistakes. That's why she gave the 2nd quota to Rita not Soldatova. 'Cause Soldatova is unworthy to represent Russia in Olympics Games.

And for those who know nothing about rhythmic gymnastics, I want to say. Don't fall for Marta Prus' trick. Viner and Zaripova do love Rita! And it's not about evil - it is all about LOVE. So, read the Rules, guys. Watch the competitions. Love gymnastics. And don't forget that Rita is a black swan and Irina is as wise as you can't even imagine!

I'd been waiting some time for this to come out. As a gymnast myself, I totally felt this character. The actor did a brilliant job. Well done!