when Yurchenko was dangerous

The old vaulting horse was more dangerous than today’s table.

Round-off vaults were more dangerous before the introduction of the Yurchenko collar. I recall duct taping our home made versions, back in the day, before you could buy them.

There were some serious injuries. The death of Julissa Gomez, as an extreme example, resulting from her 1988 accident.

Bogi, at the time, disagreed.

From the L.A. Times – November 17, 1989:

Svetlana Boginskaia of the Soviet Union, who used a Yurchenko when she won the gold medal in vaulting at the 1988 Olympics, said there’s little risk with the roundoff approach.

“I’ve never had a problem with it,” she said through an interpreter last Sunday while participating in an exhibition at the Forum. “It’s an easy vault for me. …

It’s Dangerous From the Start : Gymnastics: Some officials and coaches wonder if the spectacular Yurchenko vault is worth the risk.

The table was one of FIG’s best equipment innovations.