In honor of Tatiana Nabieva returning to the Russian national team and being announced as part of the Universiade squad, let’s spend a vital moment or two appreciating our first and (to date) only fully sarcastic gymnastics career. The woman who invented doing elite gymnastics as a prank, Tatiana Nabieva.

Noted primarily for her two most famous inventions, 1) the layout Tkatchev on bars

and 2) fierce investment in floor choreography

Nabieva is actually so much more.

She is a dance icon.

A fighter.

A slapstick comedian.

And a master of endurance.

In addition to her innovative work on bars

She invented a beam mount.

Became the code’s exemplar of creative work into the corner.

Originated the Yurchenko triple full

And authored an iconoclastic treatise that all twisting need not be completed before landing

She has taught us how to appropriately enter a room

How to show that you care

How to stay present

And not just go through the motions

How to live with grace

And maturity

How to stay on course

Surf every wave

And always finish on a high

Because of that, Tatiana Nabieva, I choose you.

OK it’s over.