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Denis Ablyazin : Time to fly

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I really like the new generation of young Russian men gymnasts, particularly Nikita Ignatiev, Emin Garibov and Denis Ablyazin.

There is something particularly captivating about Ablyazin's character - he is still a boy but on the brink of manhood - ambitious, honest and disarmingly charming. Read this translation of an article by Alina Volnova from the latest edition of Gymnastika, on the Russian Gymnastics Federation's website. He speaks here of his early days in sport (BMX didn't give him enough opportunity to fly, and he stuck at gymnastics in order to avoid having to study ;-)) and of the way competition within the team spurs him on to greater achievement (Golutsotskov seems to be particularly inspirational.))

Ablyazin was born on the 3rd August 1992, meaning he will turn 20 during next year's summer Olympics. He is the first gymnast from the town of Penza to make an impact on the Russian national team, and his developing success is a clear outcome of significant investments of time and money the Russians have made in expanding the geographic base of the sport across their huge country. His current coach is Sergei Starkin. Denis also pays tribute to his late coach, Dimitri Derzhavin, who had hoped to see Denis compete at the Olympic Games but who sadly passed away recently after an illness.
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