Svetlana Khorkina

[Tigger&Belle]

I never saw her smile even once last night (we did lose our power for the last 1 or 2 rotations, though, so maybe I missed it) and yes, she looked like she was sucking on a lemon. I call her anorexia, she is so rail thin. I don't see the attraction at all, except in the old pictures. I wonder what she is like in the real world. And then there was Coutney, there with an injury and I know she was hurting. She still showed her beautiful smile, both before and after her routines. Great sportsmanship!!!

T&B

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by theSurlyMermaid
Gosh, I wonder too...it sounds like something you'd read in a historical romance novel. That's why this girl cracks me up...she takes herself and her sport so seriously, you just have to laugh.

Kind of "at her" and not "with her" though.

Yeah, its definately AT. Not very nice, but there you have it.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by missypie
But the thing is, we're talking about her. I don't know the names of the girls on the Romanian team that took team gold; can't remember the names of those cute Chinese girls or even the French girls with those stunning leos. But we all know Svetlana's name, so I think she's accomplished her goal of standing out from the crowd.

Agreed. She's a great gymnast, and she's got that elusive "it" thing going on. Whatever "it" is, she's got it, since we're all talking about her this morning, even though she came in second.

Whoever said upthread that she reminded them of Katerina Witt, I agree.

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by missypie
But the thing is, we're talking about her. I don't know the names of the girls on the Romanian team that took team gold; can't remember the names of those cute Chinese girls or even the French girls with those stunning leos. But we all know Svetlana's name, so I think she's accomplished her goal of standing out from the crowd.

ITA
I really respect her. She does not pretend to be something she's not. She's the first one to tell you that she is a diva.
She has accomplished so much when the cards are stacked against her.

She is tall (for a gymnast) and her strength, grace and fluidity were her strengths in a sport where small, muscular girls with explosive power are rewarded more and more. I give her credit for hanging in there and fighting for her dreams.

Like someone else said, she is an inspiration to lots of gymnasts out there who don't happen to be 4ft. 8in. powerhouses.

I'm also amazed at how incredible she is on the bars. That is usually the event that gives tall girls the most trouble and it is probably her strongest event. What determination she must have to have mastered it!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by snoopy
Agreed. She's a great gymnast, and she's got that elusive "it" thing going on. Whatever "it" is, she's got it, since we're all talking about her this morning, even though she came in second.

Whoever said upthread that she reminded them of Katerina Witt, I agree.

Yeah, that was me I definitely think Khorkina plays up the diva, queen, somewhat b*tchy, entitled aristocrat well. I think she does it on purpose and loves the awed attention it gets her. Witt was exactly the same way. She used to get a kick out making up her own routines to her competitors' music in practices. Everyone would rush to look at her and it would totally rattle the competition. Khorkina has that attitude.

Unfortunately for her, Carly Patterson was just not intimidated. In fact, her reaction to Khorkina's stunts is quoted as "Whatever."

Heehee!

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by theSurlyMermaid
Yeah, that was me I definitely think Khorkina plays up the diva, queen, somewhat b*tchy, entitled aristocrat well. I think she does it on purpose and loves the awed attention it gets her. Witt was exactly the same way. She used to get a kick out making up her own routines to her competitors' music in practices. Everyone would rush to look at her and it would totally rattle the competition. Khorkina has that attitude.

I remember that, poor Debi Thomas. She was so rattled by Katerina Witt.

But as you said, Carly does not seem the type to get rattled. Good for her. 95% of competition is handling the nerves, anyway; all of these girls can do the tricks, they train hours every day for years to make it to that level. It really comes down to who can keep it together when it counts.

 

[treesinger]

3 points.
1. She is undeniably talented, committed and competitive.
2. Her attitude, or diva-show, is reprehensible. I don't consort with people like this in real life and I sure won't respect it in a stranger, even a famous one.
3. The fact that I think she is one of the least attractive famous people I have ever seen in my life is really irrelevant. Her looks, or factor of attractiveness, have nothing to do with talent and attitude.

Though, to be fair, after winning the silver last night, she didn't get all bent out of shape. She shrugged, like "oh well", but it was a statement of acceptance rather than complaint.

 

[TheRatPack]

It showed some footage of her training last night and it showed her unwrapping her feet and her toe nails were thick and yellow and her feet looked horrible. She is very skinny but I can only imagine her country and how she lives. She's trained so hard to get where she's at, and I'm sure the way her country treats her has helped her along with getting that 'diva' complex. I'm still glad that the American won though....I just thought her floor routine was too cute.

 

[dzneelvr]

I agree. The Russian Olympic federation is a pale ghost of what it was when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s watching the Olympics.
Did you happen to see the training facilities on the video they ran during competition? Looked like an old lazy boy couch was in one corner and mats that wouldn't make a high school program in American were all they had to land on.

As far Svetlana, I DON"T think she will be anything like Katarina Witt. Katarina had a personality that played to audiences and she was well-liked by American sponsors enough to make her fortune and fame. I can't see Svetlana joining any touring American gymnastics show--she just doesn't come across to the masses. Sure hope she's got something else in her future--her body type seems so fragile--I thought her legs were going to break on some of those landings.

GO USA

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by dzneelvr
I can't see Svetlana joining any touring American gymnastics show--she just doesn't come across to the masses. Sure hope she's got something else in her future--her body type seems so fragile--I thought her legs were going to break on some of those landings.

GO USA

Actually, She DID headline with the TJ Maxx tour of gymnastics champions after the Atlanta games.

I think there are a couple of different touring shows happening after the olympics this year too and I BET she's a part of one of them!

Don't get me wrong - I'm glad Carly won the all-around and think she definitely deserved it. I just hate to see Svetlana beat up so badly here.
I for one really admire everything she has accomplished and am VERY impressed that she did it despite some pretty formidable obstacles.

 

[cati]

I am really amazed how her and Mo at their age has accomplished so much during the olympics. I can not imagine being able to do the things they do even when I was 25 yrs old.

I dont have a problem with what she did with her flag. They did an interview with Courtney and she said that Svetlana was really nice to her and congratulated her afterwards. So, I think she was just saying her goodbyes because she had already said this was her last olympics.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I think she is an amazing gymnast. I enjoy watching her routines. I understand that she has to concentrate hard, but does she have to go around looking so sour ALL the time? When she smiles she is attractive. She just smiles so seldom, even when she is between events. She always looks like she's just popped a lemon in her mouth.

I think she is way too thin! Her legs look like pencils. I would guess she tries to stay that way. I can't imagine that anyone could be that thin without working at it. If she just has a killer metabolism, I'd guess she needs to try to eat more. She's always looked thin, but this time I thought she looked ill.

I also suspect an eating disorder of some kind, but I could be wrong. And I'm not saying that those of you who are thin have eating disorders or that you aren't beautiful. I don't think you can compare height and weight statistics and have it hold water. That's too generalized. She is undeniably thin. I can't say about any of you.

And I have to admit that even though I like to watch her compete and I think she was on good behavior when she got the silver last night, I hate her attitude and behavior at times. She can sure act witchy. Not good sportsmanship in my opinion.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Originally posted by Disney's Deluxe Princess
I also get annoyed by the "double standard" that it's ok call someone annorexic looking, but God forfid you call them a fat pig. They are both equally insulting.

I agree it's insulting to remark about people's weight. However, I disagree that it's equally insulting. The reason is because in our society, being skinny is considered a good thing. Being fat is a bad thing. When somebody comments, "how can you eat that pizza and those fries and still be so skinny" in their mind, they are offering a compliment...probably because they have stuggled with weight issues and envy the skinny pizza eater. While it's tacky to apprach somebody in that way, when a person says that to a skinny person, it's rarely meant as an insult. When it's said to a fat person, it's ALWAYS meant as an insult.

I think that discussions of weight should go under the same headings as discussions of politics, sex and religion. It just shouldn't be discussed unless you KNOW the person you have having the discusion with is open to it.

 

[mom2of2]

I agree it's insulting to remark about people's weight. However, I disagree that it's equally insulting. The reason is because in our society, being skinny is considered a good thing. Being fat is a bad thing. When somebody comments, "how can you eat that pizza and those fries and still be so skinny" in their mind, they are offering a compliment...probably because they have stuggled with weight issues and envy the skinny pizza eater. While it's tacky to apprach somebody in that way, when a person says that to a skinny person, it's rarely meant as an insult. When it's said to a fat person, it's ALWAYS meant as an insult.

The question then is why on earth does anyone think they have the right to comment on a person's weight or eating habits regardless if they are thin or heavy? This has always bothered me as well. I have been called skinny all my life. I HATE it, always have. I'm thin. It's NOT a compliment when I hear comments on what I eat or how skinny I am. People honestly don't think twice about comments towards me and just once I'd love to have the nerve to say something back at them.
Matter of fact just yesterday shopping with my 13 yr old DS at Old Navy I was trying on jeans and had to go get a different size. There was a mother there looking for larger sizes (we had been in the dressing room at the same time) and I was getting aggravated that I couldn't find my size when my son asked me what size I needed. I replied and the woman looked at me and said that she wished I had my problem. Oh Yeah lady!!! Try finding something "suitable" for a 38 yr old woman in the ladies section in my size!!! Close to impossible believe me! Wouldn't have a problem in the "teen" section but I don't feel comfortable in those styles. Sorry this is OT but this is really one of my biggest pet peeves and SK is THIN. NOT skinny and unless she has been diagnosed...not anorexic.

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

I just had to ROFLMBO at the OP....she does look like an Ostrich!

Also, just wanted to ask why everything has to turn into a debate? Afterall, nobody is going to change the way they feel about things so why even bother to debate about it? Agree to disagree and move on. I'll get off my soap box now.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

Originally posted by KathyTX
I think the poor girl looks anorexic...

all the men in my family, made comment on how sick (read ill) she looked.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Originally posted by Mr.MouseFan
Also, just wanted to ask why everything has to turn into a debate? Afterall, nobody is going to change the way they feel about things so why even bother to debate about it? Agree to disagree and move on. I'll get off my soap box now.

When someone starts a thread about the way someone looks, there are bound to be differences of opinion. However, I don't see this as a debate. What I see are people just sharing opinions. Although, sometimes things get said that seem ignorant and offensive. There's no harm in defending yourself and trying to educate people at the same time.

JMO, you can think what you like.

mom2of2, I agree with your entire post.

 

[tonyswife]

Originally posted by Dakota_Lynn
I agree it's insulting to remark about people's weight. However, I disagree that it's equally insulting. The reason is because in our society, being skinny is considered a good thing.

I totally disagree that people commenting on someone who is "skinny" think they are giving a compliment. Look at this thread. People are calling Svetlana "anorexic" and an "ostrich" and saying she looks "sick" etc.. These things are not meant as a compliment. I think when people see very thin people, they automatically think they have some kind of eating disorder. It IS just as insulting to call someone an ostrich because they are super thin as it is to call someone a cow because they are fat.

I would also like to say, again, that it is highly unlikely that Svetlana made it to the age of 25 as an Olympic level gymnast with any kind of eating disorder. Gymnastics requires the athlete to be in such excellent physical shape, there just is no way that her body would have lasted this long with little or no food AND an Olympic traning schedule.

Anyway, no offense meant to anyone. I just think the double standard and the stereotypes are unfortunate and I wanted to add my 2 cents.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I never thought about the fact that calling someone skinny could be just as hurtful as calling someone fat. I'll have to think on that one. In our society, I know it is much more acceptable to be thin than it is to be overweight. Models and movie stars often have the waif look.

As a Pooh-shaped woman, I am very sorry if my comments hurt anyone. It was not my intention.

I still stand behind my statements that I think she looks sour. And I do think she has lost weight. Personally, I do think she looks like she's been ill. Someone said she has, so that might be the reason.

 

[syncer55]

She is very thin, but that could be becasue of the the training she does.