Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

A montage from E007y that just about says it all when it comes to this compelling coach/gymnast pair.  I do so love these videos. And go to Gymnastike to view a video of the Russian team in training with Alexandrov at the 2011 World Championships.  They look disciplined enough to me. Apparently the sports federations have meetings with Russian Sports Minister Vladimir Mutko on Monday to analyse the results of the Olympics and development plans for the coming years.  At this meeting the decisions of the Coaches' Council of the Russian Gymnastics Federation will be discussed, including the re-allocation of coaching responsibilities.  In an article in Izvestia , Alexandrov has said that the meeting was secretly videotaped, suggesting that the proceedings and decision to let him go were rigged.  I do not know if Mutko can overturn the decisions taken or suggest further or alternative measures be taken to re-establish calm and discipline at Lake Krugloye. W...

Evgeny Grebenkin watched admiringly by Russian gymnastics supremo Andrei Rodionenko at the London Olympics.  Courtesy of the RGF . While there has been so much talk about Alexander Alexandrov's departure from the role of WAG head coach, the appointment of his successor, Evgeny Grebenkin, has gone almost without comment.  If one positive thing can come out of the current brouhaha, I hope it will eventually be the emergence of a strong new coach at the top of the Russian gymnastics tree.  At 44, Grebenkin breaks the mould; he will have trained under the old Soviet system, but brings to the role the potential of a future for Russian gymnastics.   Russia needs some young blood to take the sport forward towards Rio 2016 and beyond.  70 year old Rodionenko, 60 year old Alexandrov, 59 year old Alfosov ... these coaches simply cannot go on forever. Grebenkin does not obviously have much experience as a head coach, but then again neither did Alexandrov when...

Andrei Rodionenko makes reference in his 27th September interview with Sovietski Sport to a video tape of the Coaches' Council meeting at which Alexander Alexandrov was voted out of his job of head WAG coach.  Here, Lupita translates an article from the same newspaper, with what are suggested to be key points of the meeting. Aliya Mustafina with personal coach Alexander Alexandrov.  Courtesy of Sovietski Sport At first sight it doesn’t make sense. Our coaches are not often recorded. But here… Rodionenko makes the suggestion that Alexander Alexandrov should concentrate on another job. At Krugloye I watched the recording of the Coaching Council where it was announced that the head coach would be replaced by someone else. The situation turns out to be not as simple as it seemed at the beginning.  I have to say I watched the video with the idea that I would see a trial against the winner. What will happen if we start to judge the winners of our rare victor...

National Coach Andrei Rodionenko - picture taken nine days before the team's Olympic departure.  Courtesy of Sovietski Sport A 27th September Sovietski Sport i nterview with national coach Andrei Rodionenko is translated here by Lupita:  'It's nothing personal!  Just look to the future!' Andrei Rodionenko didn’t like the word “dismissal” when I asked about Alexandrov’s situation. There were difficult moments during our talk in his office at Krugloye. It’s to be expected, because the reason for my visit was not a simple one. – Andrei Fiodorovich, Alexandrov’s dismissal has given rise to different reactions. Not everyone supports you.   – I am against this being called “a dismissal”. It’s a change of status. I was dismissed when I was the women’s team coach in Seoul [1988]. The Soviet team won gold and Elena Shushunova won the AA. But А rkayev (former president of the Russian Federation and head coach) с onsidered he had to dismiss me. Nobody...

Elena Vaitsekhovskaya (26th September) commented on current toings and froings in the Russian camp ( Sports Express ).  Vaitsekhovskaya reveals how Anna Dementyeva was needlessly excluded from camp by the Rodionenkos, roster decisions were made that went against the basic interests of the gymnasts, and much more. The key sentence in this excellent piece is, in my opinion : 'Isn’t it a paradox? If we count Mustafina’s medals out of the titles conquered by Russian gymnasts, it becomes quite clear: in this situation, the Federation’s bosses could lose their jobs.' Basically, it appears, Alexandrov was far too good at his job for the liking of the Head Coaches. There is a second part to this article, and many other emerging pieces including interviews with Evgeny Grebenkin, Farhat Mustafin and, at last Andrei Rodionenko.  Summaries and key quotes will appear on this blog as soon as possible. But for now, Lupita translates.  Read on, enjoy, and comment, plea...

This interview with leading gymnastics journalist Natalia Kalugina took place a few days after the Olympics.  Even then, it was clear that Alexandrov's continuing position as head coach of the Russian team was in doubt.  Thanks to Zarariel Kyora on Youtube for the video, and the captioned translations. Please note : Lupita writes : There is a mistake in the captions. When asked about training Mustafina in the future, Aleksandrov answers: “It will depend on her”.

76 year old Valentina Rodionenko.  Picture courtesy of the RGF . Read below Lupita's translation of what Valentina Rodionenko had to say yesterday evening about the current staff changes at Russian Gymnastics, from Sovietski Sport . Valentina Rodionenko : Alexandrov stays as coach to Mustafina. Therefore, he is not allowed to be a national coach! Head coach Valentina Rodionenko commented on Alexander Alexandrov’s dismissal specially for “Sovietski Sport”.   - Alexandrov hasn’t been fired. You don’t need to make up things like that. We have been assigning the duties. When we dismissed Leonid Arkaev, it was decided that the team’s coach doesn’t have the right to be a personal coach at the same time. Alexander Sergueievich combined both functions, but it was against the rule. Now we have eliminated this. - In an interview with “Sovietski Sport”, Alexander Alexandrovich said that he had been blamed for working poorly. Do you personally think that he d...

Evgeny Grebenkin.  Courtesy RGF Sovietski Sport has now announced that the council of the Russian Gymnastics Federation has appointed bars coach Evgeny Grebenkin as head coach of the WAG team. Valentina Rodionenko made the following statement : "On Monday took place the Coaches’ board of the national team. The decision was made to relieve Alexander Alexandrov of his duties as head coach of the Russian team.   This decision was made because he is Aliya Mustafina’s personal coach. He’ll remain Aliya’s personal coach. He’ll be replaced by Yevgeny Anatolevich Grebenkin. We cannot have someone as head coach and as personal coach.  [Aleksandrov] bet on his pupil. We put up with this during a certain time. Then all the coaches’ group rebelled. The medals are the result of a group’s work. Nobody understands why this is associated to a single individual. Gymnastics is not like athletics, where technique is taught by one coach and then the athlete runs. ...

Alexander Alexandrov with Aliya Mustafina at the London Olympics.  Courtesy of the RGF . UPDATE: Evgeny Grebenkin now appointed as WAG Head Coach.  Read about it here . UPDATE: An interview with Alexandrov here suggests the reasons for his dismissal were personal and led by Andrei Rodionenko.  Alexandrov says his coaching contract with Mustafina lasts until 30 December, but after that he does not know what he will do. Sports Express today confirmed the news that Russian WAG team coach Alexander Alexandrov has been fired from his job as WAG head coach.  The decision was made by a vote of the board of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, including some of the coaches of gymnasts who performed poorly in London, reports Elena Vaytsehovskaya. Sources close to the Russian team suggest that Alexandrov will continue as personal coach to 2010 World Champion and 2012 Uneven Bars Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina though this has yet to be officially confirmed and (up...

A few days ago I posted a link to a video of Maria Paseka training tumbling and bars, crediting the video to the Maria Paseka fan page on Facebook.  In fact the video was produced by Esther, or Requena89 on Youtube, who has since posted a whole collection of wonderful videos of the Russian team, including Dementyeva, Nabieva, Komova and Mustafina.  Do take the time to visit Esther's Youtube channel to view these videos, which are giving arise to much speculation as to the possible content of the gymnasts' routines in the coming year!  And many thanks Esther, for taking the time to record, edit and post these valuable video records! The team who travelled to Mallorca included Tatiana Nabiyeva, Alyona Polyan, Maria Paseka, Viktoria Komova, Anna Dementyeva, Yulia Belokobylskaya, Yulia Inshina, Aliya Mustafina and, some sources are saying, Anna Rodionova.  But no Ksenia Afanasyeva who seems currently to be involved in some extra mural political activity, and no An...

There is a great interview at the VTB website with Alexander Alexandrov.  The Russian WAG head coach discusses the Olympics, the pros and cons of his team's performances, and some of the differences between  working in Russia and the States. Just look and see what he says about Grishina's training arrangements!! I'm expecting a formal announcement some time soon about the coaching staff at Lake Krugloye.  I simply hope that they can find an arrangement that makes the best use of the coaching talent in Russia and gives the head coach the right level of authority.  And, as far as I am concerned : who else in Russia could possibly replace the inimitable Alexandrov?  Mustafina and the team need him!  The Russian team also needs to consider succession planning as Alexandrov, Rodionenko and the like cannot go on forever.   Now read on ... Alexander Alexandrov.  Picture courtesy of the RGF Alexander Alexandrov , head coach of the ...

Viktoria Komova's mother said : “The doctors told us that Vika should rest her injuries for at least eight months”  Picture courtesy of Komsomolskaya Pravda Lupita translates here a 29th August interview with Viktoria Komova and her mother, Vera Kolesnikova, from Komsomolskaya Pravda.   There is a video at the link which is well worth a look. All the people in Voronezh who were interested in sport, supported Vika Komova at the Olympics. They admired her skills, were saddened when an imperfect performance made her cry. We invited Viktoria and her mum and coach Vera Kolesnikova to our editorial offices, to ask what happened behind the scenes of the gymnastics’ competitions. - Vika, tell us about the Olympic village. In which conditions did you live, did you often meet other athletes? - I shared a room with Ksenia Afanasyeva. There were two beds in each room. Everything   was functional, no excesses. Most of the time we trained, we didn’t go to parties....