Czech Gymnastics Icon Věra Čáslavská - A National Hero | Mexico 1968 Olympics

With the added political pressure surrounding her participation in the Games, Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska puts on an incredible performance at the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games.

After winning three gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Games, Vera Caslavska was the favourite to repeat her success in 1968. In April she had signed the "Manifesto of 2000 Words", which rejected Soviet involvement in Czechoslovakia. Two months before the Olympic Games began, Soviet tanks rolled into Prague.

Warned that she was in danger of being arrested, Caslavska fled to the mountains. In hiding, she kept in shape by swinging from trees and practising her floor exercises in a meadow. After three weeks, the government allowed her to join the rest of the Czech team in Mexico City.

Caslavska competed under enormous pressure against Soviet athletes. Despite the rudimentary preparation, she successfully defended her all-around and vault titles, adding two more golds and two silvers. The Mexican people identified with her stand against oppression, and she became the star of the Games.

Upon her return, she was not allowed to take employment by the Soviet government unless she stated she had not signed the manifesto. She refused. In 1989, after the fall of Communism, she was reinstated as a public figure and became an adviser to President Vaclev Havel.

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[dmmchugh]

Vera Caslavska was not only a champion, she was a HERO . I was only elementary school age during these Olympics and it took my some years to understand the implications of her protest.

It is possible to make your voice heard without violence or verbal offense.

Vera Caslavska protested with dignity and class.

She has always been one of my idols.

[MissFunnyBunneh]

one of my favorite videos to watch.. and I really agree, the grace and maturity in this video makes gymnastics amazing..

[lukasoulehla]

Rozplakalo mě to opravdu jsem hrdý obrovská legenda a Bojovnice nádhera.

[HamsterQueen]

Such a beautiful mature woman, not a child like these days...I love her elegance and style, not a robot but a human being.

[catherinewhitaker]

I wasn't alive then, I don't go gymnastics, and I'm from the U.S.A, but she's still one of my favorite gymnasts. Watching her makes me happy, her grace is amazing. Rest In Peace❤

[jackcz]

Bůh opatruj Vaši duši, paní Čáslavská... :(

[mannyg]

These were the real thing; WOMEN gymnastics not children gymnastics. I loved how every team strutted in, swinging their arms and marching in. It was a classy thing to watch, never vulgar.

[adolforenteria]

The Queen and favorite of the olympic games of México 1968, in México at that time we called the México's girlfriend, so fine, so artistic, so briliant, so unique, we fall in love with Vera, now i see your skills and i'am not tired to see again and again vera's interpretation of the mexican song, and she took everybodys heart, VIVA VERA, BRAVO, MEXICO IS CRYING VERA, MEXICO DOESN'T FORGET YOU NEVER, YOU ARE IN OUR HEART

[withlovefromrussia]

A strong woman and a role model of resistance.

Thank you, Vera!

[justapersonwithlungs]

I like how she had a smile on her face as she was doing the routine.

[outloudkat]

The quality of this footage is remarkable!

[danahendrychova]

Byla perfektní. Ještě že se nedožila dnešního řádění Rusáků.

[CarolanIvey]

A smile on her face the whole time. You hardly see that anymore!

[MegaMesozoic]

I've seen her do moves that nobody else has done since, not especially 'difficult' but requiring absolute precision.

[arnoldsimon]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video of our beautiful Vera. She is so beautiful and mesmerizing. It's like watching a beautiful Miss Universe contestant competing in the final round of the swimsuit competition combined with the talent portion of the competition!!! May you R.I.P. beautiful and magnificent Vera!!! We all love you!!!

[ZhanaZee]

Stumbled on this by accident. This is an amazing feat not because of her athletic ability but because of the pressures on top of training in her personal life. To not have personal freedom and still survive..is A true test of will. The other part of her story had to be an immense struggle.

[maryjimenez]

Cuando las gimnastas eran mujeres y no

[mcdechambly]

Rest in peace beautiful Vera, queen of 1968 Olympic Games. Mexico felt in love with your beauty and grace and you'll always be remembered

[adolforenteria]

We won't forget you Vera, the Queen of gymnastics in México 1968, you printed our hearts for Ever , so elegant, so Unique, vera we love you, our eternal love to you, God bless you vera, we can see you here the time we see a gymnastics competition or exhibition, viva Vera viva Checoslovaquia and viva México

[MaHaClDu]

Věra Čáslavská a remarkable gymnast, one of the greatest, competed in three Olympics: Roma 60, Tokyo 64 and Mexico 68 she was winning lots of medals; she was the precursor to give more breadth to the routines in uneven bars and floor, great vaulter; Their contributions Issue foreshadowed the golden age of gymnastics in the seventies When This discipline Reached the Top With Tourischeva, Korbut and Comaneci.

Čáslavská was also a remarkable political activist against the dictatorship of the Soviet Union and in their own country Czechoslovakia. May she rest in peace