Apparently Klimenko went with the Thomas salto on FX for Elena to save her landing on her weakened leg after it had not recovered correctly from being broken. Unfortunately the skill, if under-rotated, would cause the gymnast to land on their neck instead! However, the to-be Olympic champion and teammate Elena Davydova had mastered the skill and performed it in amazing fashion at the Olympics that July. There was huge pressure for Elena to perform the skill as well because Klimenko wanted to be the coach of an olympian. Elena tried, but the skill went wrong, and she became paralyzed. She did live 26 years afterwards but it was a reclusive life. Overall she had a life of hard knocks but she faced it all with courage and grace. That's the way I would like to remember her.
Apparently Klimenko went with the Thomas salto on FX for Elena to save her landing on her weakened leg after it had not recovered correctly from being broken. Unfortunately the skill, if under-rotated, would cause the gymnast to land on their neck instead! However, the to-be Olympic champion and teammate Elena Davydova had mastered the skill and performed it in amazing fashion at the Olympics that July. There was huge pressure for Elena to perform the skill as well because Klimenko wanted to be the coach of an olympian. Elena tried, but the skill went wrong, and she became paralyzed. She did live 26 years afterwards but it was a reclusive life. Overall she had a life of hard knocks but she faced it all with courage and grace. That's the way I would like to remember her.