@QPHashSS77 why u gotta be like that? Come on to say she sucks says more about you than Anna. Besides what does it matter Europe or not, she is a great gymnast regardless of her nationality or continent she's from. Take a deep breath and exhale, and enjoy the sport :)
@@AM-ml4ww There's no use trying to reason with him, he says all the Russians suck for no reason, he never backs up his viewpoint because he knows he can't yet he refuses to re-evaluate his viewpoint.
This routine is everything what gymnastics is supposed to be. Look at her beautiful and greaceful moves, she's so amazing to watch. Her coreography is out of this world. I mean, i love this performance is one of the best of all time
Her difficulty was a 5.9, which was not even close to the top gymnasts who had 6.5s or 6.6s. There was no way she could’ve factored into the medals unless all the top gymnasts faltered. It was a beautiful performance though
Veronica Galante because he’s a bitter, racist asshole. He hates Europeans, yet fails to realise he is almost certainly part European. He definitely grew up in a prejudiced area - prejudice like this can only be taught.
Putting the artistic in artistic gymnastic. Elegant, graceful and a beautiful flow. It never feels like she ever stops and thinks "oh here's my dance" or "ah gotta now stop and execute my jumps". Just beautiful and smooth.
+Shannon A .L Totally agree. Well choreographed and performed routine should look like one whole, harmonious thing - tumbling blending into the music, seamless transitions without pausing, precise and effortless moves . And yes, Pavlova's tumbling is artistic too, where even her hops and run are pretty and with pointed toes....
You put it so perfectly. When I watch today's gymnasts it's exactly like you said, it's like "ok here's my dance now which are really just me making poses and hand gestures" "ok now here's my leap series, hope i get 180 degree split." It's so stop and go nowadays, I hate what's happened to gymnastics.
I agree but she had a 5.9 start value which wasn’t close to any of the top competitors that have like 6.5s and 6.6s but I agree the score deserves to be 3 tenths higher
Anna Pavlova deserves a lot of medals the judges decided to give somebody else. She's so elegant and graceful... Such a shame she didn't win almost anything big..
She’d have gotten more medals if it wasn’t for a few things- one, bars. You can’t be that weak on bars and contend in the AA especially with that scoring system. Two, if she’d gone with a green light for vault- I definitely think that one would have netted her bronze. Three. If she’d gotten that one missed element in beam final- it was such a huge point loss that it was definitely the difference maker. She just had a lot of bad luck. The judges don’t “decide to give medals to other people,” they give the scores to those who perform the best, cleanest and highest starting value routines the according scores. Just because an athlete that is preferred doesn’t get the prize doesn’t mean the judges did the job incorrectly- it means that athlete didn’t perform to utmost potential.
@@mht4908I saw that vault, and it was definitely scored fairly… especially considering how vault was judged in general during that quad. Most vault scores seemed a bit lowballed. The very best AA gymnasts- those who earn medals- are strong on bars, not just floor, vault and beam. She stated just that later in life. I’m just glad she did at least earn those two medals in 2004. What really irritates me is how she was treated after these games- blackballed by her own country for the mistakes when she still had plenty to offer.
So many people around internet say the same thing: one of the best gymnasts the last 15 years and the most underscored. I dont know since i m not an expert but sure i m fan of u miss Pavlova!!!
It's funny you say that because this Pavlova didn't even like dance or ballet. Her name is actually a portmanteau of her parents names Anatoly and Natalia - *An-Na!*
Literally everything about this routine is perfect. The leo, Pavs herself, the music...that's to say nothing of her dance and expression. And that double layout is what dreams are made of.
Honestly in no order: Pavlova EF, nastia EF/AA, Sandra izbasa EF, cheng fei TF, jiang yuyuan TF , Ksenia AA - these were some of the best SHOWS in the history books of gymnastics
Sandra is FIRST in the list. Her execution in finals was unmatched by any athlete at those games total, and definitely was the gold medal standard. This comes in second, but by a substantial margin.
You know this floor routine was something special because it inspired Tim to actually make a thoughtful and insightful remark at 2:24 rather than yelling “GINORMOUS! Like a kid on the playground!” as usual, lol
Everyone talks about how Nastia is one of the most elegant and gracefull gymnasts. They obviously don't know Anna Pavlova. They're both Russian anyways ;)
This is what I love about Russian gymnastics. ..they never forget about the "art" in artistic gymnastics. It's not the Americans' fault about the deterioration of the elegance. Blame the FIG. They eliminated compulsory routines and implemented the open scoring system.
@QPHashSS77 Just so you know, it actually is--"In addition to the technical execution, artistic harmony and feminine grace must also be considered." Section 13, page 51 - www.fig-gymnastics.com/publicdir/rules/files/en_WAG%20CoP%202017-2020.pdf
@QPHashSS77 Look at the second synonym for elegance when searched - www.google.com/search?q=elegance+synonym&oq=elgenance+synony&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i13i457j0i13l6.6398j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. That comment has nothing to do with vagueness and/or subjectivity rooted in eurocentric bias, as illustrated by the NUMEROUS non-European, non-eurocentric gymnasts whose artistry remains praised for daring to be original--most notably Dianne Durham who is credited with introducing the more 80s Jazz style dance (a *VERY* American, non-European style) to the sport in 1981-83. Which along with other American dance styles ranging as hip-hop to country/western, became hugely popular within several European federations with Daniela Silivas, Camelia Voinea and Sarah Mercer being just three of many examples. So honestly, I don't why you watch WAG when you'd be better suited to campaigning for ESPN to bring back the Professional Gymnastics Challenge (PGC)--the only other version of WAG (bar the NCAA) that was created in the U.S., is based on Americentric standards of the sport and also allowed for international competitors to participate. Because you're absolute lack of knowledge combined with your fervent insistence to _educate_ everyone (especially those who have been watching the sport longer than you've been born) continue to embarrass you on a daily basis.
The open scoring system has been excellent for the sport. Athlete can no longer medal with level ten style routines that are cleanly executed but completely amateurish. Now, you actually have to have elite level skills to contend. And the compulsory routines? Good riddance, the same thing performed by all gymnasts… No thanks.
Almost ten years ago. This is why i love youtube. You can revisit the moment and read the comments from people who truly love artistry. And also how many people are a bit peeved that the difficulty was just a tad low. Maybe i'm nuts but I could see a full twisting double back as a last pass. 2.5 to punch front lay out in the third And a double spin with leg at horizontal or even a semenova turn
This is still one of my favorite routines from her! It's such a shame that she never got the recognition she deserved because Anna was one of the most graceful and beautiful gymnasts of this quadrennial!
10 years later and I still got chills from watching this! Incredible! I remember getting stars in the eyes from watching this when I was kid, I’ll never forget this floor performance!
Back in 2008 my mom was watching this on TV while we were eating dinner. I was so invested in Pavlovas routine. It was incredible. Ever since then I have been following Women's (and Men's) gymnastics a lot. Thanks for introducing me to gymnastics Anna! Sincerely, a guy
You know the COP is screwed up when an athlete like Pavlova was never the Olympic AA champion. This was the best floor performance in Beijing and her score was so low.
Drew Blumfield They weren't that bad. This COP favored bar workers, didn't Nastia have a 7.7 start value? That's crazy high compared to the SV's on the other 3 events. Anna wasn't a great bar worker and the code screwed her.
sailormoonlove shawn was by no means a great bar worker yet she was able to muster up a decent start value on bars (6.5?) and the silver medal. this code did screw gymnasts who weren't great on bars but pavlova was not one of them. Even in 2004 with a completely different cop, her start value was only like a 9.7 on bars.
Kristian Kowalski Have you not seen Zhang Nan bar routine in the 2004 AA? it was way worse than pavlova. She should have gotten bronze or even silver..
I can watch this video again and again in my office while resting during lunch time all these years, and am never bored by it! I think her career is very unique - she only won a handful of medals, and always disappointed us by making mistakes in the big competitions, yet she still makes a big influence on this sport. This routine will still be discussed by many new gymnastics fans in decades ahead, while a lot of gold-medal winning floor routines might be forgotten the next day...
@QPHashSS77 They didn't say it was the ONLY form of artistry though, did they? Stop being so aggressive, you're literally arguing against a point they didn't make
I never ever really enjoy the commentators and their opinions, the EF is a perfect example. But comparing Pavlova to Podkopayeva is the most perfect comparison, both these ladies had power and grace. Close seconds were Nastia and Izbasa
The Russians' biggest problem in 2008- settling for A and B skills! They didn't fully exploit the code and count 10 difficult skills like the Chinese and Americans did, leaving them up to a point behind in each routine.
Rocky McDuffie I believe on floor Anna counted a whopping 4 B skills on floor alone- switch leap, step out front layout, full leg back spin, and straddle full to prone. It left her D score at just 5.9 when they counted 10 skills. If she'd just made them C skills her D score would've been 6.3 at least, not counting possible connection values. The same is true for her on bars. It's a real shame. Ksenia Semenova did it too, counting 2 B skills on floor and a C on bars where she was world champion! It was their greatest downfall in my opinion.
The russian program was very focused on tradition while the sport was progressing forward. Part of me loves it because the Russians are the best at the artistic side of gymnastics, and the other part wants me to see them win medals doing it. The new COP was new for everyone at these Olympics, they're doing much better since then but I can tell its becoming hard for them to keep up with the acrobatic side of the sport.
It's such a shame. After watching this routine again, decided to look at all the all-around scores. Anna posted some of the highest scores on vault, beam, and floor. If she would have had a slightly stronger bars routine, she would have easily medaled. This is a case where I blame the coaches and not the athlete. This is when you have to have a superior coach that even if it isn't your strongest event, can construct creative skills to an athletes talent and create a medal worthy routine. It's clear she had the goods to be an all-around winner and her coaches failed her. I truly believe that. How ironic she got so much flack from her coaches for going a bit early on her vault and scoring a zero, which ultimately bruised her confidence and cost her an event final medal on floor. She was then blackballed and had to compete for another county to just continue in the sport. What an exceptional unbelievable talent that didn't receive the ultimate in coaching and in my opinion easily could have been a contender at the 2012 games if she would have been properly supported.
She was robbed in Athens. And she basically had no chance of medalling on floor because of her start value, but she was robbed of the bronze during beam finals. Cheng Fei had much more significant balance checks
Some people just have their limits, she reached great heights on 3/4 apparatus and the one that was missing is Russia's specialty, so I'm not sure it's the coaching. Also I think it's important to acknowledge that she technically got her basics at the tail end of the 10.0 system, from 92-2000, you could get away with a lot of stuff and still maintain a 10.0, until 2004. So there wasn't as much of an emphasis for everyone and then when the system swapped, she was left high and dry. Just a theory though.
@@naailtariq5930 I respect your opinion, but I believe Pavlova had the incredible foundation of technique and skill where a great coach could have designed a bars routine that capitalized on the skills she performed very well just like Svetlana Khorkina's coach Boris Pilkin did for her. Pavlova had excellent swing mechanics on bars but unfortunately her coaches continued to design routines that were not capable of scoring high and therefore lessened her chances of medaling.
Timothy Thompson I personally did not like Yang Yang. She did not show very strong skills and her routines were very plain and boring. My dream podium would be Shawn Anna Nastia
AfanasyevaFan even if she hit she wouldn’t have won the AA. Her bars start value was way too low, even though her other 3 events all scored higher than Yang Yilin
Everything in this routine is a masterclass of a virtuoso performance. The connection of her movement to the music and it's climax is just breathtaking.
She even run so elegant and beautiful. This is a gold floor routine, that’s how suppose to be in woman gymnastic. And the end is just something, she is like a beautiful swan.
I've noticed Pavlova does better when not working under pressure. Certainly one of the greatest gymnasts of the millennium certainly doesn't hold a big title like many thought she would. However she is certainly not a competitor, she's an artist.
De las últimas gimnastas "ARTISTICAS" aunque fue boicoteada en toda su carrera estuvo a la altura de las grandes ojala aparezca una Anna Pavlova nueva ❤
So glad she is performing again. Her switch in nationalities is her door towards seeing the international stage again. She's already medalled in Euros. I'm rooting for her.
Unfortunately for Pavlova chances are she will be back to where she was on the Russian team...Pravdina is surpassing Pavlova in difficulty and executions
Anna Pavlova, one of the most classical gymnasts of all time, balletic, fluid and exuberant. Russia has always represented the essence of artistic gymnastics, elegance and beauty in movement, China now demonstrates the same. Incredible !
El ejercicio muy bueno amo la Gymnacia Russa pero acá quien se llevó toodo fue Sandra Isbaza el ejercicio fue perfecto seguido de Nastia que aunque representanto a USA se le vio la clase en sus ejercicio muy estilo Russo,Pavlova acá tuvo mala suerte
@GymnasticsFan1144 I couldn't agree more. This is the type of routine that can leave you speechless. Even to this day, I still watch this video at least 2 a day, at the minimum. If their was a medal for gracefulness, or perfection. Anna Pavlova would certain win. I seriously hope she countinues to make her comeback. And be on the Russian Olympic Team. I think her Experience, Grace, Fluidity would make a huge impression amoung the judges. I just love Anna Pavlova!
@Dee The Longines Prize for Elegance had long been in existence for almost 10 years by this time, but sadly Pavlova was never even awarded that either. I personally think it should be awarded at the Olympics as well as World Championships, because there are some gymnasts who's programmes deserve way more recognition than they receive.
I was freaking out when I saw the title!!! I didn't know there was another Anna Pavlova who was a gymnast!! I only know of the Ballet dancer Anna Pavlova ❤❤❤
i absolutely loved everything about this routine. the choreography/dance, to the tumbling & the music. i remember watching this live on tv, back in 2008. i still consider this to be one of my favorite fx routines ❥
I think what made Pavlova's routines so beautiful to watch in addition to the obvious skill involved was the fact that she was a WOMAN competing. Not a pre-pubescent child. This is not meant to offend the teenage competitors but there is something different about watching an adult vs a child gymnast. Even Shawn Johnson said that she had yet to hit puberty by this point because of the rigorous training and dieting. Pavlova looked beautiful and brought a grace and elegance that the other very young gymnasts simply could not simply by virtue of being a developed woman. And I say this as a straight woman not some creepy dude. Pavlova looked amazing and like so many other people here I feel as though she deserved to walk away with a medal.
After she lands the double layout she is probably thinking "Yeah bitches that's how you do a double layout." When she ends her floor routine she is probably thinking "Nastia don't even try to compare your handflicks with my routine." ANNA PAVLOVA FAN!
How is that even remotely how you do a double layout? Her feet are flexed, apart, and her chest is low. Yes, she’s a lovely and brilliant performer, but you pavolva stans shouldn’t be blind to her VISIBILE deductions.
She is far from perfect in her gymnastics, including this routine. Beautiful? Absolutely. But I can assure you Nastia was unfazed by her performance- considering SHE won gold. What a presumptive and pompous statement.
My favorite gymnast ever! Love her! Even a lot of analysts commented on this. In 2008, it was the first Olympics since gymnastics changed from the perfect 10 scoring system and the Russians were structuring all of their routines on most of the events based on the old system. Focusing on artistry (which is not a bad thing, in fact many of us sorely miss the artistry in modern gymnastics) rather than exploiting the scoring system to get the highest degree of difficulty to maximize their scores. And you can see it in this routine. DONT GET ME WRONG!!!! THIR FLOOR ROUTINE IS BEAUTIFUL. ARGUABLY MY FAVORITE FLOOR ROUTINE EVER!!!!! BUT someone as skilled and capable as Anna Pavlova should have had a higher start value on floor than a 5.9 in my opinion. Her 3rd tumbling pass should have been upgraded and her choice of leaps and spins should have been upgraded and switched around to increase her D-value.
You can have the best floor and not have the best score or metal. Artistry, skill, dance, refreshing, well balanced elements. Very unique. Loved it so much!
Such as breathtaking, emotional, and passionate routine from a gorgeous gymnast. She was so under appreciated and the knee injury after these games was heartbreaking.
Undoubtly this was one of the best floor routines at Beijing and if Anna didn't make any mistakes in floor finals she probably would've been in medal contention
I agree! This is truly a masterpiece and I would name this the best choreographed routine for an Olympic games in the 00's. I pray this will influence gymnasts coming up.
![2008 OG Sandra Izbasa FX EF [HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pCD_t5Jz5R8/mqdefault.jpg)
this was not a floor exercise routine, it was a performance.
most underrated Olympic gymnast ever
The most underrated routine too!
Yeah. Could've been a really darn good gymnast her inconsistency was her downfall.
@@ledhicks I think her bars SV was her downfall 😭
@@thesovgc sadly it was- in both ‘04 and’08.
Most robbed too, imo!
She is so underrated by judges but so loved by everyone else
@QPHashSS77 why u gotta be like that? Come on to say she sucks says more about you than Anna. Besides what does it matter Europe or not, she is a great gymnast regardless of her nationality or continent she's from. Take a deep breath and exhale, and enjoy the sport :)
@@AM-ml4ww There's no use trying to reason with him, he says all the Russians suck for no reason, he never backs up his viewpoint because he knows he can't yet he refuses to re-evaluate his viewpoint.
The BEST routine and performance, she deserved gold 💕
She was great, except on bars- that’s where she was outmatched at this competition unfortunately. That scoring system…
This routine is everything what gymnastics is supposed to be. Look at her beautiful and greaceful moves, she's so amazing to watch. Her coreography is out of this world. I mean, i love this performance is one of the best of all time
You are right this is what gymnast should be.
Grace and power.
@QPHashSS77 oh look, a Simone's fan
OH MU GOD HOW I AGREE WITH THAT! Shes unique!!!
@QPHashSS77 It is called ´artistic´ for a reason!
this is a gold medal-worthy floor routine
Her difficulty was a 5.9, which was not even close to the top gymnasts who had 6.5s or 6.6s. There was no way she could’ve factored into the medals unless all the top gymnasts faltered. It was a beautiful performance though
@@mht4908 Sorry but she was fourth in fx (all around) (NL and SJ 15.525, SZ, 15.50 and AP, 15.05) not that far
@QPHashSS77 why do you waste your time watching videos of a Russian gymnastic? better watch only Americans
Veronica Galante because he’s a bitter, racist asshole. He hates Europeans, yet fails to realise he is almost certainly part European. He definitely grew up in a prejudiced area - prejudice like this can only be taught.
@@mht4908 difficulty like americans?? Where were the elegance and feminine in Shawn and Nastia?? Anna was the BEST 🥇
Putting the artistic in artistic gymnastic. Elegant, graceful and a beautiful flow. It never feels like she ever stops and thinks "oh here's my dance" or "ah gotta now stop and execute my jumps". Just beautiful and smooth.
+Shannon A .L Totally agree. Well choreographed and performed routine should look like one whole, harmonious thing - tumbling blending into the music, seamless transitions without pausing, precise and effortless moves . And yes, Pavlova's tumbling is artistic too, where even her hops and run are pretty and with pointed toes....
+Shannon A .L Hahahaha made me think of Aly Raisman being the opposite.
The kind of gymnastics that is all too rare these days. It's all about tumbling today. Dance is merely an afterthought.
You put it so perfectly. When I watch today's gymnasts it's exactly like you said, it's like "ok here's my dance now which are really just me making poses and hand gestures" "ok now here's my leap series, hope i get 180 degree split." It's so stop and go nowadays, I hate what's happened to gymnastics.
+nathaliexlr8 Lol!
This is what Artistic Gymnastics is all about. Period
A 15.05 will never be enough for this peace of art!
Exactly
I agree but she had a 5.9 start value which wasn’t close to any of the top competitors that have like 6.5s and 6.6s but I agree the score deserves to be 3 tenths higher
Anna Pavlova deserves a lot of medals the judges decided to give somebody else. She's so elegant and graceful... Such a shame she didn't win almost anything big..
She’d have gotten more medals if it wasn’t for a few things- one, bars. You can’t be that weak on bars and contend in the AA especially with that scoring system. Two, if she’d gone with a green light for vault- I definitely think that one would have netted her bronze. Three. If she’d gotten that one missed element in beam final- it was such a huge point loss that it was definitely the difference maker. She just had a lot of bad luck. The judges don’t “decide to give medals to other people,” they give the scores to those who perform the best, cleanest and highest starting value routines the according scores. Just because an athlete that is preferred doesn’t get the prize doesn’t mean the judges did the job incorrectly- it means that athlete didn’t perform to utmost potential.
@@saragrant9749 I still think she should've won bronze in the AA in 2004, her vault was underscored
@@mht4908I saw that vault, and it was definitely scored fairly… especially considering how vault was judged in general during that quad. Most vault scores seemed a bit lowballed. The very best AA gymnasts- those who earn medals- are strong on bars, not just floor, vault and beam. She stated just that later in life. I’m just glad she did at least earn those two medals in 2004. What really irritates me is how she was treated after these games- blackballed by her own country for the mistakes when she still had plenty to offer.
Ну да, решили, что хватит с нее, надо дать дорогу молодым и более способным. Ведь к тому времени у нас были Алия Мустафина и Виктория Комова.
So many people around internet say the same thing: one of the best gymnasts the last 15 years and the most underscored. I dont know since i m not an expert but sure i m fan of u miss Pavlova!!!
She and the music are so beautiful, this rutine is so perfect, i will never be tired of watching it.
Así es
Fantastic!
Es cierto, Ana es una magnifica gimnasta y esta rutina es hermosa y la música igual.
Whadya know. Anna Pavlova (ballerina) came back to life as a gymnast 😄
Yes you are saying right
True AF.
Yeah!😂
It's funny you say that because this Pavlova didn't even like dance or ballet. Her name is actually a portmanteau of her parents names Anatoly and Natalia - *An-Na!*
Such an interesting comment. 👌 Both exude beauty in different ways.
I am SO addicted to this floor routine. I miss artistry and difficult together like Pavlova used to do.
Literally everything about this routine is perfect. The leo, Pavs herself, the music...that's to say nothing of her dance and expression. And that double layout is what dreams are made of.
Simplicity beautiful. The double layout in the first tumbling pass was 10/10 execution. The artistry in this floor exercise is absolutely outstanding.
No doubt, the floor routine of the 2008 Olympics. Sandra Izbasa's EF performance is a close second.
If pavlova didn't fall
Honestly in no order: Pavlova EF, nastia EF/AA, Sandra izbasa EF, cheng fei TF, jiang yuyuan TF , Ksenia AA - these were some of the best SHOWS in the history books of gymnastics
Sandra is FIRST in the list. Her execution in finals was unmatched by any athlete at those games total, and definitely was the gold medal standard. This comes in second, but by a substantial margin.
You know this floor routine was something special because it inspired Tim to actually make a thoughtful and insightful remark at 2:24 rather than yelling “GINORMOUS! Like a kid on the playground!” as usual, lol
This is the epitome of artistic gymnastics
WE LOVE YOU ANNA!!
Everyone talks about how Nastia is one of the most elegant and gracefull gymnasts. They obviously don't know Anna Pavlova. They're both Russian anyways ;)
This is what I love about Russian gymnastics. ..they never forget about the "art" in artistic gymnastics. It's not the Americans' fault about the deterioration of the elegance. Blame the FIG. They eliminated compulsory routines and implemented the open scoring system.
@QPHashSS77 Just so you know, it actually is--"In addition to the
technical execution, artistic harmony and feminine grace must also be
considered." Section 13, page 51 - www.fig-gymnastics.com/publicdir/rules/files/en_WAG%20CoP%202017-2020.pdf
@QPHashSS77 Look at the second synonym for elegance when searched - www.google.com/search?q=elegance+synonym&oq=elgenance+synony&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i13i457j0i13l6.6398j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8.
That comment has nothing to do with vagueness and/or subjectivity rooted in eurocentric bias, as illustrated by the NUMEROUS non-European, non-eurocentric gymnasts whose artistry remains praised for daring to be original--most notably Dianne Durham who is credited with introducing the more 80s Jazz style dance (a *VERY* American, non-European style) to the sport in 1981-83. Which along with other American dance styles ranging as hip-hop to country/western, became hugely popular within several European federations with Daniela Silivas, Camelia Voinea and Sarah Mercer being just three of many examples.
So honestly, I don't why you watch WAG when you'd be better suited to campaigning for ESPN to bring back the Professional Gymnastics Challenge (PGC)--the only other version of WAG (bar the NCAA) that was created in the U.S., is based on Americentric standards of the sport and also allowed for international competitors to participate. Because you're absolute lack of knowledge combined with your fervent insistence to _educate_ everyone (especially those who have been watching the sport longer than you've been born) continue to embarrass you on a daily basis.
I hope it's OK if I have this inscribed on my tombstone 🙌🏼
The open scoring system has been excellent for the sport. Athlete can no longer medal with level ten style routines that are cleanly executed but completely amateurish. Now, you actually have to have elite level skills to contend. And the compulsory routines? Good riddance, the same thing performed by all gymnasts… No thanks.
Almost ten years ago. This is why i love youtube. You can revisit the moment and read the comments from people who truly love artistry. And also how many people are a bit peeved that the difficulty was just a tad low. Maybe i'm nuts but I could see a full twisting double back as a last pass. 2.5 to punch front lay out in the third And a double spin with leg at horizontal or even a semenova turn
This is still one of my favorite routines from her! It's such a shame that she never got the recognition she deserved because Anna was one of the most graceful and beautiful gymnasts of this quadrennial!
The most underrated gymnast ever!
Absolutely love this gymnast style. She should've medal way more often, one of the best russian for sure, so graceful and talented.
Complete mastery of her tumbling, dance, and presentation. Brava !
Anna was by far the most underrated gymnast ever!!! Such a shame she competed in an era when difficulty outweighed beauty!
She didn’t capitalize on the scoring system. That isn’t being underrated, that’s not utilizing what’s presented in the most effective manner.
I miss Anna☹.
I could watch this floor routine over and over again just totally amazing
10 years later and I still got chills from watching this! Incredible! I remember getting stars in the eyes from watching this when I was kid, I’ll never forget this floor performance!
Back in 2008 my mom was watching this on TV while we were eating dinner. I was so invested in Pavlovas routine. It was incredible. Ever since then I have been following Women's (and Men's) gymnastics a lot. Thanks for introducing me to gymnastics Anna!
Sincerely, a guy
In 2012 Mustafina introduced me to gymnastics and I’ve been the biggest gym fan ever since
You know the COP is screwed up when an athlete like Pavlova was never the Olympic AA champion. This was the best floor performance in Beijing and her score was so low.
her floor score was a little low but her bars were garbage and totally took her out of the hunt for a medal. not the COP's fault there.
Drew Blumfield They weren't that bad. This COP favored bar workers, didn't Nastia have a 7.7 start value? That's crazy high compared to the SV's on the other 3 events. Anna wasn't a great bar worker and the code screwed her.
sailormoonlove shawn was by no means a great bar worker yet she was able to muster up a decent start value on bars (6.5?) and the silver medal. this code did screw gymnasts who weren't great on bars but pavlova was not one of them. Even in 2004 with a completely different cop, her start value was only like a 9.7 on bars.
She was barely eligible in 2004.....her bars weren't great and because of that she could never win an all around medal
Kristian Kowalski Have you not seen Zhang Nan bar routine in the 2004 AA? it was way worse than pavlova. She should have gotten bronze or even silver..
my favorite floor routine of all time
The most underrated gymnast of 2008 olympics..she's my favorite along with US shawn johnson
I can watch this video again and again in my office while resting during lunch time all these years, and am never bored by it! I think her career is very unique - she only won a handful of medals, and always disappointed us by making mistakes in the big competitions, yet she still makes a big influence on this sport. This routine will still be discussed by many new gymnastics fans in decades ahead, while a lot of gold-medal winning floor routines might be forgotten the next day...
This is artistry 😱😍💖💖👏👏👏
@QPHashSS77 They didn't say it was the ONLY form of artistry though, did they? Stop being so aggressive, you're literally arguing against a point they didn't make
@@jgsh8062 Well said. But arguing against artificial self-created narratives is QPHash's specialty, so no surprises here.
@@MD-722 Certainly
I never ever really enjoy the commentators and their opinions, the EF is a perfect example. But comparing Pavlova to Podkopayeva is the most perfect comparison, both these ladies had power and grace. Close seconds were Nastia and Izbasa
The Russians' biggest problem in 2008- settling for A and B skills! They didn't fully exploit the code and count 10 difficult skills like the Chinese and Americans did, leaving them up to a point behind in each routine.
Agree completely! Anna could have been so much more involved with medals if she had upgraded her routines! Such great execution and presentation.
Rocky McDuffie I believe on floor Anna counted a whopping 4 B skills on floor alone- switch leap, step out front layout, full leg back spin, and straddle full to prone. It left her D score at just 5.9 when they counted 10 skills. If she'd just made them C skills her D score would've been 6.3 at least, not counting possible connection values. The same is true for her on bars. It's a real shame. Ksenia Semenova did it too, counting 2 B skills on floor and a C on bars where she was world champion! It was their greatest downfall in my opinion.
The russian program was very focused on tradition while the sport was progressing forward. Part of me loves it because the Russians are the best at the artistic side of gymnastics, and the other part wants me to see them win medals doing it. The new COP was new for everyone at these Olympics, they're doing much better since then but I can tell its becoming hard for them to keep up with the acrobatic side of the sport.
Rocky McDuffie Agreed. We need more Afanasyeva types- perfectly combining artistry and acrobatics.
To be fair counting up to two B skills was still standard even under this code.
It's such a shame. After watching this routine again, decided to look at all the all-around scores. Anna posted some of the highest scores on vault, beam, and floor. If she would have had a slightly stronger bars routine, she would have easily medaled. This is a case where I blame the coaches and not the athlete. This is when you have to have a superior coach that even if it isn't your strongest event, can construct creative skills to an athletes talent and create a medal worthy routine. It's clear she had the goods to be an all-around winner and her coaches failed her. I truly believe that. How ironic she got so much flack from her coaches for going a bit early on her vault and scoring a zero, which ultimately bruised her confidence and cost her an event final medal on floor. She was then blackballed and had to compete for another county to just continue in the sport. What an exceptional unbelievable talent that didn't receive the ultimate in coaching and in my opinion easily could have been a contender at the 2012 games if she would have been properly supported.
pappysprite I agree....a higher bars score wpuld have earned her an AA medal in Athens, too.
She's like one of the only Russians to ever be weak with bars
She was robbed in Athens. And she basically had no chance of medalling on floor because of her start value, but she was robbed of the bronze during beam finals. Cheng Fei had much more significant balance checks
Some people just have their limits, she reached great heights on 3/4 apparatus and the one that was missing is Russia's specialty, so I'm not sure it's the coaching. Also I think it's important to acknowledge that she technically got her basics at the tail end of the 10.0 system, from 92-2000, you could get away with a lot of stuff and still maintain a 10.0, until 2004. So there wasn't as much of an emphasis for everyone and then when the system swapped, she was left high and dry. Just a theory though.
@@naailtariq5930 I respect your opinion, but I believe Pavlova had the incredible foundation of technique and skill where a great coach could have designed a bars routine that capitalized on the skills she performed very well just like Svetlana Khorkina's coach Boris Pilkin did for her. Pavlova had excellent swing mechanics on bars but unfortunately her coaches continued to design routines that were not capable of scoring high and therefore lessened her chances of medaling.
Stunning! Almost brings tears to my eyes, its just amazing how elegant and also stylish Anna pavlova is.
That was a perfect 10. She should have won the Gold Medal. She was so much better than Shawn Johnson. There is simply no comparison.
She should have if she had hit all her routines :/
She was gorgeous. I wish she would've medaled. I never like Nastia at all and a dream podium would be Yang, Shawn, and Anna in any order.
Timothy Thompson I personally did not like Yang Yang. She did not show very strong skills and her routines were very plain and boring. My dream podium would be
Shawn
Anna
Nastia
AfanasyevaFan even if she hit she wouldn’t have won the AA. Her bars start value was way too low, even though her other 3 events all scored higher than Yang Yilin
I disagree, Shawn's gymnastics was fabulous in both difficulty and technical execution, Pavlova was robbed in 2004 but not here
I love this routine and especially her third tumbling pass. It's so unique. Probably the best floor routine of modern artistic gymnastics
Everything in this routine is a masterclass of a virtuoso performance. The connection of her movement to the music and it's climax is just breathtaking.
She even run so elegant and beautiful. This is a gold floor routine, that’s how suppose to be in woman gymnastic. And the end is just something, she is like a beautiful swan.
This has to be the best floor routine with passion and beauty the music is just breathtaking and she really delivers here l really like Anna
I've noticed Pavlova does better when not working under pressure. Certainly one of the greatest gymnasts of the millennium certainly doesn't hold a big title like many thought she would. However she is certainly not a competitor, she's an artist.
De las últimas gimnastas "ARTISTICAS" aunque fue boicoteada en toda su carrera estuvo a la altura de las grandes ojala aparezca una Anna Pavlova nueva ❤
Vladislava Urazova tal vez tenga esta elegancia y componente artístico no?... que hermoso es siempre ver a Pavlova.
Pues aparecio, vlada urazova llego ❤️
This routine is a masterpiece 😍
So glad she is performing again. Her switch in nationalities is her door towards seeing the international stage again. She's already medalled in Euros. I'm rooting for her.
Unfortunately for Pavlova chances are she will be back to where she was on the Russian team...Pravdina is surpassing Pavlova in difficulty and executions
Anna Pavlova, one of the most classical gymnasts of all time, balletic, fluid and exuberant. Russia has always represented the essence of artistic gymnastics, elegance and beauty in movement, China now demonstrates the same. Incredible !
Not sure how many times I’ve watched this, but I can say it’s a lot. This is one for the ages.
El mejor ejercicio de suelo en las Olimpiadas,música,expresión y realización, sublime..el deporte se convierte en arte
El ejercicio muy bueno amo la Gymnacia Russa pero acá quien se llevó toodo fue Sandra Isbaza el ejercicio fue perfecto seguido de Nastia que aunque representanto a USA se le vio la clase en sus ejercicio muy estilo Russo,Pavlova acá tuvo mala suerte
I don’t care what anyone says this is the true AA champ right here in my heart.
Totally agree! ♥️
Lol yeah, with a bars routine that was TWO points less in SV then the majority of the top contenders… not.
When my kids ask what perfection means, I'm gonna show them this
I love the ending pose, a very classical artistic Russian floor exercise!❤️🇷🇺
@GymnasticsFan1144 I couldn't agree more. This is the type of routine that can leave you speechless. Even to this day, I still watch this video at least 2 a day, at the minimum. If their was a medal for gracefulness, or perfection. Anna Pavlova would certain win. I seriously hope she countinues to make her comeback. And be on the Russian Olympic Team. I think her Experience, Grace, Fluidity would make a huge impression amoung the judges. I just love Anna Pavlova!
@Dee The Longines Prize for Elegance had long been in existence for almost 10 years by this time, but sadly Pavlova was never even awarded that either.
I personally think it should be awarded at the Olympics as well as World Championships, because there are some gymnasts who's programmes deserve way more recognition than they receive.
That was a beautiful double layout, everything was beautifully delivered. 💙
I LOVE TO WATCH HER!
Utterly in love with this routine right now...
Stunning, it was a as much of a performance as it was a routine.
I was freaking out when I saw the title!!! I didn't know there was another Anna Pavlova who was a gymnast!! I only know of the Ballet dancer Anna Pavlova ❤❤❤
2008 was so elegant and powerful. Unlike today, lots of wolf turns and are more of technical routines.
Gorgeous routine, truly inspired. Such a shame she didn't win a medal
i absolutely loved everything about this routine. the choreography/dance, to the tumbling & the music.
i remember watching this live on tv, back in 2008. i still consider this to be one of my favorite fx routines ❥
Way better than Johnson....and maybe even Nastia. The straddle jump thing to landing in a russian split was stellar! She is true class.
I could watch this routine over and over, I love the music and I love her lyrical style :)
just beautiful to watch
I think what made Pavlova's routines so beautiful to watch in addition to the obvious skill involved was the fact that she was a WOMAN competing. Not a pre-pubescent child. This is not meant to offend the teenage competitors but there is something different about watching an adult vs a child gymnast. Even Shawn Johnson said that she had yet to hit puberty by this point because of the rigorous training and dieting. Pavlova looked beautiful and brought a grace and elegance that the other very young gymnasts simply could not simply by virtue of being a developed woman. And I say this as a straight woman not some creepy dude. Pavlova looked amazing and like so many other people here I feel as though she deserved to walk away with a medal.
When Pavlova became 4th in Athens I was like: ahwww... too bad. When she became 4th again in 2008, I almost cried for her.
Totally agree, :(.
After she lands the double layout she is probably thinking "Yeah bitches that's how you do a double layout." When she ends her floor routine she is probably thinking "Nastia don't even try to compare your handflicks with my routine." ANNA PAVLOVA FAN!
Hahaha I love this! I feel the same way
How is that even remotely how you do a double layout? Her feet are flexed, apart, and her chest is low. Yes, she’s a lovely and brilliant performer, but you pavolva stans shouldn’t be blind to her VISIBILE deductions.
She is far from perfect in her gymnastics, including this routine. Beautiful? Absolutely. But I can assure you Nastia was unfazed by her performance- considering SHE won gold. What a presumptive and pompous statement.
So gorgeous and elegant
Esto se llama ¡PERFECCIÓN! es hermoso este ejercicio de suelo.
My favorite gymnast ever! Love her! Even a lot of analysts commented on this. In 2008, it was the first Olympics since gymnastics changed from the perfect 10 scoring system and the Russians were structuring all of their routines on most of the events based on the old system. Focusing on artistry (which is not a bad thing, in fact many of us sorely miss the artistry in modern gymnastics) rather than exploiting the scoring system to get the highest degree of difficulty to maximize their scores. And you can see it in this routine. DONT GET ME WRONG!!!! THIR FLOOR ROUTINE IS BEAUTIFUL. ARGUABLY MY FAVORITE FLOOR ROUTINE EVER!!!!! BUT someone as skilled and capable as Anna Pavlova should have had a higher start value on floor than a 5.9 in my opinion. Her 3rd tumbling pass should have been upgraded and her choice of leaps and spins should have been upgraded and switched around to increase her D-value.
The best floor routine EVER
Does perfection exist? I say: yes, and it's called Anna Pavlova.
This should have been a standing ovation routine! The audience must have been blind
I love her! The truly champion for me! ♥️
You can have the best floor and not have the best score or metal. Artistry, skill, dance, refreshing, well balanced elements. Very unique. Loved it so much!
Fabulous routine!!
This routine alone deserved a medal. If I had to visually define artistic gymnastics I would show this routine. Period.
Woops I was looking for "how to make a Pavlova" but shes good!!
Lmao 😂
That double layout was just breathtaking.
Sometimes you wonder: how are they now? Tis lady was one of the best ever.
Best piece of gymnastics in the history of gymnastics!!!
Such as breathtaking, emotional, and passionate routine from a gorgeous gymnast. She was so under appreciated and the knee injury after these games was heartbreaking.
Knee injury?
My most rewatched FX from the Beijing Olympics. Probably my most re-watched FX for the past 20 years if I'm honest.
This routine could have won gold
Every Olympics we get to see one or two fabulous floor routines that have the same passion as this one. Just beautiful!!!
Undoubtly this was one of the best floor routines at Beijing and if Anna didn't make any mistakes in floor finals she probably would've been in medal contention
I agree what EVERYONE has said about this performance and I would like to add one more thing: NO FUCKING WOLF TURN ANYWHERE.
Mire por donde se mire, este ejercicio es una MARAVILLA. Grandísima gimnasta.
This was, without a doubt, the best floor routine of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Lol the best floor routine was Sandra Izbasa- who won floor GOLD for a reason. This was great- but certainly not the best.
I agree! This is truly a masterpiece and I would name this the best choreographed routine for an Olympic games in the 00's. I pray this will influence gymnasts coming up.
Master piece of pure art
Totally underscored on the execution! She was awesome!
in gymnastics they should have another area for artistry. Like if you agree
Great finale 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
unreal.
BEAUUUTIFUL!!! best floor routine for the 2000 decade!!!! Perfection :')
Omg forgot what a stunning gymnast she was
I love her gymnastics!