![]() |
| This free digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox |
You've been competing internationally for over 30 years. How has gymnastics changed over that time? Is there anything about your sport that has remained the same for decades? First of all, the age has changed. More mature athletes are competing now, which makes me happy. Secondly, the apparatuses. They've become more comfortable and sophisticated. Gymnastics in general has become more challenging, but in my youth, people performed mostly the same elements as they do now. Back then, this was par for the course, but now it surprises many. It's a bit amusing. Has the nature of the training itself changed? For me personally, absolutely. Now, my life isn't just about my athletic career. I'm involved with the Oksana Chusovitina Academy, which was personally opened by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It has 155 students, both girls and boys. I used to train three times a day, but now I train once. The entire afternoon is taken up with the academy and organi...

This is a digital photo album based on a set of 1979 Soviet produced postcards celebrating the achievements of their gymnasts. If any of you know the whereabouts of Alexander Tkachev, Gennady Krissin, Vladimir Markelov, or can update any of the information here, I would be most grateful if you could comment.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, enjoy!
I think Tkachev is coaching somewhere in the northwest USA.
ReplyDeleteI think he did spend some time at Peninsular Gymnastics and West Valley Gymnastics School - seems however to have moved on ... ?
ReplyDeleteTkachev and gorbik bought one of Rita Browns gyms and are now in Florida. Bilozerchev is in peninsula though. Markelov lives in Moscow and is basically retired. He's still in touch with the gym world, always goes to the Moscow world cup and apparently always knows what's going on. Dont know about krissin but I can always ask my friend who can ask Markelov.
ReplyDelete