Yelena Davydova

Although a top competitor in her own country, Davydova did not compete in international championships until the 1980 Summer Olympics, which were held in Moscow. The 1978 World Champion, Yelena Mukhina[?], had been paralysed after a fall from the balance beam, which left Davydova in a fight for the all-around title with reigning Olympic champion Nadia Comăneci of Romania and Maxi Gnauck[?] of East Germany. The competition was a close affair, as Comăneci and Gnauck both missed the gold with only 0.075 points; with the Romanian's last exercise taking a long time to produce a note. In addition, Davydova won a gold medal with the team and a silver medal on the balance beam.

Davydova also participated in the 1981 World Championships, here second and last major international event. She finished third in the all-around final after an improper landing in the balance beam event, and won two more medals in the apparatus events.

After her retirement, Davydova married boxing coach Pavel Filatov[?], with whom she moved to Canada in 1991. Davydova now works there as a club coach.