multibeautiful

Korean-American symphony conductor. Artistic director of the Orchestra Nova San Diego. (Sorry friends, I’m having a deadly week at work and I don’t have the spoons to write a more detailed summary.)



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Virtuoso cellist whose career spans decades. He is probably the most globally famous of the musicians I’ll post this week. He’s won multiple Grammy awards, recorded a gazillion CDs and film scores, and plays an eclectic range of styles, including traditional Chinese melodies, bluegrass and strange melancholy noodling with Philip Glass. He was a child prodigy who can be said to have fulfilled all of his early promise and more.



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Yo-Yo Ma plays a Bach cello suite in the middle of a building site (YouTube, 03:10)
Yo-Yo Ma adds to the ominosity factor of Philip Glass’ Naqoyqatsi (YouTube, 07:58)

From the pure power of Cheng Fei we go to flawless grace. Nellie Kim was a half-Sakhalin Korean, half-Tatar Soviet gymnast. She won five gold medals in 1976 and 1980 and was considered one of the most elegant and expressive performers on the floor. She was the first woman to perform the full twisting Tsukahara vault in Olympic competition in the 1976 Olympics, and she received perfect 10s for some of her performances. She had clean form nearly all of the time. The only reason I believe she isn’t so well known now is that her achievements were somewhat overshadowed by, er, Nadia Comaneci. To me, she's the ideal choice for wrapping up Gymnast Week.



( Nellie Kim is aristocratic even in knee socks )

Nellie Kim flows across the floor in the 1980 Olympics (YouTube, 01:23. She shared the gold with Nadia.)
Nellie Kim vaults in the 1976 Olympics (YouTube, 00:50)

Next week’s theme will be Classical Musicians. By the way, I hope no one thinks I’m co-opting the community by using themes. They’re just to keep me on track with posting at least five days a week.

Today’s honouree is a legendary Japanese gymnast who won seven Olympic gold medals in the 1960s (five gold, two silver). He was the originator of the “Endo” skill, variations of which are among the most commonly performed on the high bar today. Look at his arms. Holy triceps, Batman.



( Images are b/w and grainy due to the 1960s. )

Yukio Endo on the parallel bars, 1964 Toyko Olympics (YouTube, 00:39. Such control!)

Dominique Dawes welcomes you to Gymnast Week here on multibeautiful. The three-time Olympian was the first black American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics (Bronze, Floor, Atlanta 1996), and the first black person of any nationality or gender to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics (Team, Atlanta 1996). As a gymnast she was notable for her long lines and extraordinary grace, which have not left her now that she’s retired!



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Dominique Dawes’ 1996 Olympics floor routine (YouTube, 03:57)

Samoan-British rugby union player. The youngest of seven brothers, six of whom play rugby, he is in England’s World Cup team this year. He’s only 20 and he’s so cute, it burns. I want to feed him chicken adobo and pat him on his enormous back.


( Manu Tuilagi scores tries. Gleefully. )

Somalian-British middle distance runner. Has won multiple gold medals in the European Athletics championships and recently won silver in the 10000 m at the World Athletics championships.

“I'm a Muslim, so I observe the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan fasting isn't always the easiest thing for a sportsman. It's quite difficult to fit it in with your training. But that's what you have to do. You learn self-control.”



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Jamaican-British Olympic gold medalist in the 800 and 1500 m. She won those medals in the 2004 Olympics, age 34. The Queen made her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire the following year.



( Dame Kelly raises her hands cos she's Sure. Sure she's awesome lightly daubed with awesomesauce. )