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.
We'll continue to try to do what we can to find some clarity in this knotty situation.
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.
We'll continue to try to do what we can to find some clarity in this knotty situation.
The only word I have in my mind is JEALOUSY, jealousy from his own colleagues, and in my opinion, Valentina´s furious jealous that conquered everyone in the team...
ReplyDeleteI agree Barbara, especially the part about Valentina.
DeleteOK, review the coaches' responsibilities, but there is no need to seek to humiliate Alexandrov publicly. And what is being said is either implausible or so lame as to be laughable. The Rodionenkos have been watching too much Make It Or Break It, or reading too much into podium training reports on Gymnastics Examiner.
Make staff changes if you want - but do them in the right way and leave people with some wiggle room so they can keep working. Most of all, don't drag the gymnasts into it.
I so want Aliya to win everything in the next quad with Alexandrov as her coach, just to silence Valentina.
Who will be 80 by the time of the next Olympics by the way. Her husband 74.
Elizabeth, do you know what happened to Leonid Arkaev? As team coach, I remembered he was Prodounova´s personal coach (and step-father), and before that, Galieva´s one? After Sidney 2000, I never see him again...
DeleteHi Barbara, I think Leonid continued as head coach of the Russian team until 2004. He is now Director, Head Coach, and God (as far as I can tell) of gymnastics in his home town of Saransk.
DeleteHe has three jobs and says he enjoys being busy. After being forced to step down as head coach he was disappointed, but he loves his new jobs and wouldn't go back to being a national coach - it was a very worrying responsibility.
I'm pretty sure I saw him at the London Olympics and there are a couple of profiles of him on this blog. I have always liked Leonid.
Thanks for your answer!! I´ll see the profiles of your blog! It´s great to know he continues on Gymnastics, he is a legend!
DeleteI hope Alexander stays in Russia, I have nightmares about a second departure to the US... that would be extremely disappointing...
Have you ever met Vika, Aliya or some other russian gymnast? The only international elite gymnast I met once was Daniele Hipolito in a World Cup here in Chile, and well, Tomas Gonzalez (since he was 14)
Hi, I interviewed Shushunova, Artemov, Arkayev and Alexandrov back in 1989 - must try to find them so I can post here. Haven't met any of the others personally. Put that down to my British reserve, the sport is really friendly.
DeleteWhen coaches are encouraged to slander other coaches, camaraderie dissolves and, sadly, so does the support system that anchors these young athletes.
ReplyDelete[Whether a success or failure at the last competition] "You have support from your friends, your personal coach, the head coach, your family. All this helps to fight to overcome your nerves and fear." - Anna Dementyeva
"Everyone just sees us compete. But it's really not just us. It is our coaches. And it's our family, and everyone back home that's supporting us. Without him [personal coach Mihai Brestyan] and [wife] Sylvia none of it would have been possible." - Aly Raisman
It will probably take longer than the next Olympics to clean up the Chernobyl disaster that is happening in the women's program. Moreover, once it has been contained, and trust somewhat restored, finding a leader who is amicable to all and talented enough to bring the program back to preeminence may require another quad (or two).
"Without question, the accident at Chernobyl was the result of a fatal combination of ignorance and complacency." - CHERNOBYL by Richard Rhodes
This is a haunting assessment.
Ouch.
DeleteI keep envisioning a scenario where Alexandrov heads West, taking Mustafina with him only to return to Russia for qualification events.
Rodionenko has confirned that younger coaches are thin on the ground in Russia. I wonder if we will see a more individualised training regime develop, a little like tennis where talented players travel to be with coaches overseas.
Looks like the team spirit has well and truly broken down. That's sad. I hope they can find some sticking plaster to glue it together. Not only does Russia need a good team of coaches, the world needs Russian gymnastics to elevate the sport beyond mere athleticism.
Just leaving this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/68120809/Russian%20TV%20report%20on%20Alexandrov.m4v
ReplyDeleteMaybe Lupita can translate. Looks interesting, for sure. It's from last weekend, I think, reporting on the whole situation, with the recordings from the coaches council.
Thank you v much Lily. x
DeleteThe quality of the recording is surprisingly good for a meeting that was secretly videotaped...
ReplyDeleteI must confess I find watching that video quite upsetting, in particular the posture and facial expressions of Alexandrov who was visibly distressed throughout, the use of Mustafina as an example of poor behaviour, and the sickening theatricals of Zelikson - who has really achieved very little as a coach but obviously really loves the sound of his own voice. Considering that he is now no longer even personal coach to an underachieving Olympian ...
ReplyDeleteLupita is very busy at present with work commitments - if this can be translated, it will be, but I'm not sure it really adds anything more to what has already been said.
We are now really just waiting to see whether Sports Minister Mutko makes any statement, and to hear what Alexander Alexandrov finally decides about his own position as personal coach of Aliya Mustafina.
This is interesting http://www.mk.ru/sport/article/2012/10/04/757209-aliya-mustafina-kak-yabloko-razdora.html (Aliya Mustafina - a bone of contention)
ReplyDeleteBesides the nice pics of coach and pupil, it's yet another recap of what has happened until now, plus some questions about Aliya's future and Alexandrov calling the whole "you can't have a personal student" thing a non-issue.