Skip to main content

Amazing Grace : Afanasyeva wins blue riband event of the World Championships

By
And finally, we have a floor world champion who is worthy of the title. At times, watching this final, I felt that the floor should be replaced with a tumble track. Last year Marta Karolyi pronounced that gymnasts should not have to be ballerinas to win. But, surely, they should have to adhere to some form of dance tradition. For Alexandra Raisman to medal is a terrible comment on the state of women’s gymnastics, but then I suppose she was as good as many of the other participants in the final who finished below her in the rankings.

Then came Sui Lu and Ksenia Afanasyeva and it felt as though you were watching a different sport. For once, the judges acknowledged the added dimension these gymnasts brought to the floor, and justice was done. Congratulations to both of them! I am particularly delighted for Afanasyeva, a truly outstanding gymnast who has contributed to many Russian team efforts but often fallen away during individual finals. For her to be World Champion on floor seems such a fitting reward.

With thanks to Albert for providing a link to the following video, which stands as a far better record of Ksenia’s amazing grace than any words.

Labels:

Comments

  1. Anonymous16 October 2011 at 09:48

    can't wait for the full video! MOLODETS KSENIA!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sazarific17 October 2011 at 00:18

    She was born the day they gave Kim Z that gold medal in Indianapolis. (Ain't Google grand?)

    Something good comes of it at last!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Queen Elizabeth17 October 2011 at 06:31

    Brilliant comment!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

‘We all love her very much’ - Roschina speaks of Mustafina and the need to perfect an Amanar vault

By
From sport.ru via vk.com.  Google translate  A big interview with Anastasia Loginova from Sport24 with Lyudmila Roshchina following the Strongest Cup, where the gymnast won four out of five gold medals. We quote several fragments, the full version is available on the publication's website, link at the end. ❓ The Strongest Athletes Cup has recently ended. Did you have time to analyze your performances? 💬 I just rewatched the broadcast, looked at my shortcomings. ❓ Did you set a medal plan for this start? 💬 I didn't think about it. Only that I needed to do my program - and then what will happen. ❓ Did you have time to discuss the competition with your coach? 💬 She praised me, said that I was great. She didn't scold me for mistakes on the beam - on the contrary, she supported me. ❓ Can we say that the beam is your weak spot? This is the only final you didn't get to. 💬 Probably yes. I have this apparatus that is a bit unpolished, so to speak. Treacherous. I need to work...
Post a Comment
Read more

FIG to reconsider refused applications for neutral status

By
PLEASE NOTE: statement from the FIG website is below. Source : RGF. Google translate The FIG Executive Committee has revised the rules for admitting Russian athletes as neutrals A meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 and 10. Following its results, the rules for obtaining neutral status by athletes from Russia were revised. According to the updated rules: – Russian athletes will be able to compete under the auspices of FIG not only in individual, but also in group and team disciplines. – Athletes who were previously denied neutral status will have the right to have their applications reconsidered. – New criteria for considering applications have been introduced and FIG clarifications to the updated rules have been approved — this should increase the objectivity of the admission procedure, eliminating cases of unjustified refusals. The President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Oleg Belozerov ...
Post a Comment
Read more

AA Champion Liudmilla Roschina targets Olympic gold

By
  Liudmilla is the first gymnast of the new generation to win AA in the most important international competition in Russia.  The Krasnodar born gymnast was at one time said to be the favourite of head coach of the junior team, Aliya Mustafina.   Source: gymnastics group on VK.com.  Google translate Lyudmila Roshchina shone at the "Strongest Athletes Cup" in artistic gymnastics in Moscow.  🔝 The 17-year-old gymnast became the absolute champion in the all-around and in individual disciplines, winning the vault, parallel bars and floor exercises!  "I am very pleased. There were small mistakes, but they did not prevent me from showing a decent result. I liked the atmosphere of the competition, the full stands helped when I went out on the apparatus. I love all the apparatus, but especially the parallel bars. And, of course, it was interesting to test myself against foreign rivals. In September, the Russian Championship will be held, I want to perform there at ...
Post a Comment
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more