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1973 MAG Riga International WAG

1973: Schegolkova and Andrianov Win the Riga International

The Riga International was one of the first major international competitions in 1973. Olympic gold medalists Nikolai Andrianov, Klaus Köste, and Elvira Saadi competed, but it wasn’t a well-attended event:

The attendance was very light for both men’s and women’s events with some increase during the finals.

Gymnast, June/July 1973

Riga was a place where gymnasts often debuted new skills. In 1972, Tsukahara did his full-twisting double back off high bar, and Gehrke became one of the first women to do a Tsukahara on vault. In 1973, Andrianov did one of the first double pikes on floor.

Historical context: At the 1962 World Championships, Hristov of Bulgaria attempted one of the first double backs at a major international competition. (He face-planted it.) Eleven years later, the world finally saw one of the first double pikes.

Source: Padomju Jaunatne, Nr. 70, April 10, 1973
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1972 MAG Riga International WAG

1972: Korbut and Andrianov Win the Riga International

The Riga International was one of the big competitions early in the 1972 competitive season. It allowed gymnasts to try out the compulsory routines in an international setting and test new elements.

On the women’s side, Korbut swept all five gold medals while performing many of the skills that would captivate the world in Munich. (Unfortunately, her struggles on bars continued.) Plus, Bogdanova (URS) performed one of the first double fulls off beam, while Gehrke (GDR) performed one of the first Tsukahara vaults in women’s artistic gymnastics. 

On the men’s side, Tsukahara unveiled a new dismount off high bar: a full-twisting double back. And Zoltán Magyar performed his famous travel on pommel horse.

Here’s what else happened at the 1972 Riga International…

A medal from the Riga International
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1971 Age Riga International USSR

1971: Lazakovich and Nakayama win the Inaugural Riga International

From April 23, 1971, until April 26, 1971, gymnasts from around the world gathered in the capital of Latvia for the inaugural Riga International. The competition took place a couple of weeks before the men’s European Championships, so the top European teams were reluctant to send their top gymnasts. Nevertheless, Japan sent one of its top gymnasts: Nakayama Akinori. 

On the women’s side, Tamara Lazakovich won the all-around, but much of the attention centered on 13-year-old Nina Dronova, who performed a rare double full on floor. A fall on an aerial front walkover on beam kept Dronova off the all-around podium, but she bounced back to win two gold medals during the event finals.

Reminder: At the 1970 Congress, the FIG lowered the competitive age to 14.

Sovetsky Sport, Apr. 27, 1971
Thanks to The Medal Count and Olga for helping me track down the articles from Sovetsky Sport.