This was probably the last time she did "normal" choreography, thank goodness. But even at a young age, her gymnastics was beautiful. And I love to see how people's unique mannerisms carry with them throughout their lives. Svetlana has many of these unique qualities: that stoic stare, the way she hunches her shoulders at times, and the somewhat masculine gait. All combined to make a beautiful gymnast.
So she's always had that stare...brrr. Well, fabulous routine but the music and choreography don't exactly fit her the best. She was at her absolute best performing avant garde and dramatic routines.
Here, she didn't yet have the gravitas or experience of her later, more dramatic Era. I think this music was age appropriate and, of course, totally 80's. But of course, her later routines were her forte.
She didn't improve acrobatically much after this anymore. Also because of her heigth of course. Gymnasts often say that that acrobatics was easier when they were younger, shorter and lighter. Especially as a woman it's hard to compensate your maturing body with power. I think this video is an example of that, compared to what she could do let's say 6 years later. Of course she did improve a lot artistically, in an era when that still was appreciated.
