Editing Yelena Davydova (section)

==Early life==
Davydova was born in [[Voronezh]], 500 kilometres south of Moscow, to Victor, a mechanic, and Tamara, an employee at the ''Leningrad Optical and Mechanical Works''. She became interested in gymnastics at age six after seeing on television the famous Soviet Olympic gold medallists [[Larisa Petrik]] and [[Natalia Kuchinskaya]].<ref name='fameeludes'>{{Cite news |last=Goodbody |first=John |date=December 27, 1980 |title=Fame Eludes Russia's Star Olympic Gymnast |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/27/Fame-Eludes-Russias-Star-Olympic-Gymnast/1870346741200/ |website=upi.com |access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref> She wanted to be enrolled in ''[[Spartak (sports society)|Spartak]]'' Gymnastics school, but was turned away for having the wrong physique.

Soon a coach at the school, Gennadiy Korshunov, noticed her. He invited her into the school. He asked his wife, Ina, also a gymnastics coach at the school, to train Davydova in her group. Yuri Shtukman, the administrator at the school, did not like this initiative by his new training staff and reprimanded the Korshunovs; however he allowed Davydova to stay in the school. It soon became apparent that she was a talented gymnast and Gennadiy took over her coaching himself. By 1972 Davydova was the best in her age group at the school.

Davydova has a brother, Yuri, who is 12 years her junior.