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Olga Korbut Breaks the Mold in 1972

One thing was certain at the 1972 Olympics in Munich: Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut was different. In a field previously dominated by older gymnasts emphasising poise and elegance, the 17-year-old firecracker mesmerised the world with her daredevil moves on both the uneven bars and balance beam, raw displays of emotion, and charismatic performances, resulting in the modern archetype we see today in women's gymnastics.

Watch Korbut compete at the 1976 Olympic Games here.