A single picture is worth thousands of words, so take your time to look at these images. Consider the variety of feeling, shape and flow. There is a quality of gymnastic eloquence that is about more than 'form'. A quality that is trained, but innate and deeply embedded in Russia's gymnastics culture. A quality that has been uniquely the possession, and responsibility, of the Russians in recent years. I believe it used to be called virtuosity. Consummate artistry. The beauty, the power and the glory.
These Russian women gymnasts are the rarest of the rare, the final, finest remaining strand of a chain of heritage. You are experiencing here the last masters of a fading art form. In London, America may well take the medals with their power and consistency. But Russia already owns the soul of artistic gymnastics. Only they understand the sport in all its colours. What we call choreography is for them an alchemy of technique, energy and emotion. Few, if any, are capable of emulating them. Their consummate mastery and leadership is vastly underrated.
These stunning photographs were taken by Elena Mikhailova. There are more at the Russian Gymnastics Federation's site. A series of galleries will shortly be under development on this blog's Facebook page.
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| Aliya Mustafina. Her downcast eyes lend a feeling of anticipation to this static pose |
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| Grishina draws attention towards her arms, hands and face in this strong, concentrated starting pose |
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| Yulia Inshina. The head position shadows the backward angle of the arms; eye and hand direction is aligned in this forward moving choreography |
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| Anna Rodionova - light as a butterfly |
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| Harmony: the 'X' of the arms is balanced by a similar pose of the legs; the downcast face lends drama |
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| This charming, complex pose characterises Rodionova's wistfulness and youth, pulling the audience in with an outstretched, open palm. A subtle cross of the arms is balanced by similar leg positions. |
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| Even in transition, Mustafina displays grace and perfect body alignment in this difficult twisting leap on the beam |
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| Mustafina's personal brand of expression: ambition, energy, charisma |
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| Anastasia Grishina - head to toe expression |
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| Even in this strong, risky flight Grishina's fingers and toes remain extended |
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| Arms mirror legs in this softly flowing leap |
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| Framing the face for dramatic effect |
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| Mustafina maintains eye contact, even in this head position - notice the trademark purple nails! |
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| 'I want to fly' - Anastasia Grishina |
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| Mustafina conveys determination and poise |
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| Even this slightly off-angle shot captures Afanasyeva's talent for shape, mood and expression |
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| Energy and emotion is emphasised by the backward sweep of the head, legs and arms Photographs by kind permission of the Russian Gymnastics Federation |
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