Media links : Alexandrov, Nazarova, Garibov, Rodionenko

Team caption Emin Garibov says he prefers action to thought

Here are some brief extracts from  the most interesting pieces in the Russian media at present.  Lupita is away for a few days, so I am relying on Google translations.  Only bare bones, then, of what I can say with at least reasonable certainty.  The titles are linked to the original, Russian language pieces.  We have here quotes from Alexander Alexandrov, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Aliya Mustafina, Maria Nazarova, Emin Garibov and Valentina Rodionenko.










 'We'll win with beauty’

National women's coach Alexander Alexandrov says of the Amanar : 'we need it like air'.  Without giving any promises, he says  "I can say only one thing: we're going to London to win the medal, no matter how difficult it is!"

Ksenia Afanasyeva expresses sympathy for those gymnasts who have to stay in Moscow training, even though they know that their chances of competing are zero. Aliya Mustafina says how much she just wants to get started on the competition.

Title above corrected 21/7.  You can now read a full translation of this compelling article at the official Russian Gymnasts site.






Maria Nazarova : 'None of our girls come from rich families'

On Semenova coming fourth in the all around at the 2008 Olympics, unexpectedly: Semenova's performance was a surprise, and 'assessment of an athlete in training becomes for [the judges] a kind of benchmark for all future performances, regardless of how the athlete performs'.

She confirms that Ksenia Afanasyeva will help the team on beam and floor, and hopes she will qualify to one of the individual finals. Ksenia can still perform all around, but the team has three stronger athletes, all younger than her.

She speaks of the accident to Maria Zasipkina.  Maria Nazarova was very upset, and unable to make herself go back to the gym for some months, but Zasipkina asked Maria to help her to return to training with the hopes of making the Olympics.  However, Zasipkina's own fear following the injury were too great to overcome and she was unable to reach her former level.

Ksenia Semenova is now coaching with her, doing well.  [I believe she spends time with the national junior team at Lake Krugloye, and is currently on holiday with the junior girls in Spain.]

Maria saw the American trials. She was very impressed with vault, but saw nothing special elsewhere.

She seems to believe that there is a connection between athletic excellence and children who come from less well off backgrounds (I think I heard Karolyi say something similar once).

The captain of the national team : Emin Garibov

He is a fan of football and was disappointed at Russia's performance in the European Championships.

He says he tries not to be affected too much by adrenalin in competition.  He is very level headed; a 'quiet man'.   He is a little excited about the Games, but tries not to think about how and what will be in London. It is better to concentrate on work.

He chose gymnastics in preference to school! 

Valentina Rodionenko : gold depends on the Yurchenko

Apparently the journalist had dinner at Lake Krugloye with the Rodionenko family.  Andrei Rodionenko said little, and left early. Valentina talked a lot about the Amanar, the necessity of risk, and a whole lot more.  I think you probably get the gist.