Alexandr
Alexandrov, former Russian national gymnastics coach, stated that,
most probably, he’ll stay in Russia and will train Olympic champion Аliya Mustafina further.
The
Ministry has asked me to stay, with the same salary I was earning. Some
people want me to be in the team, so I rather think I’ll stay in
Russia. At some meetings, some people expressed their claims against me.
I don’t know if they were right or wrong. Time will tell.
I
was offered to work abroad, but I told them to wait. I was born in
Moscow, I grew up and I spent all my life here. Only if something
doesn’t turn right, then... I’m not 15. I went abroad only because I was
obliged to, when everything collapsed.
All this concerned Mustafina, as
if she was to blame because she didn’t train well in the team. I don’t
understand. If someone doesn’t train well, how can this affect the rest?
We’re not a football team, where, because of someone, everything can go
wrong. Could she influence someone, all the more she had such a
difficult year, — explained Alexandrov to «Р-Спорт».
Link to Russian language report.
Link to Russian language report.
Hopefully at the next World Championships Aliya will win all gold medals, that would be a big FU to the Rodionenkos and all the jealous gymnasts.
ReplyDeleteSo glad he is staying!
ReplyDeleteMe too ... I'm also really interested that the Ministry is maintaining his salary at the earlier level, and how he says that 'some people' want him to remain on the team ... sounds to me as though it's not over by a long chalk!
DeleteThere are other stories on R Sport which I will post in a couple of days ... Rodionenko predicting 2 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes for the Russians in Rio, and also asking for the Ministry of Sport to support the establishment of a training camp for the gymnasts in Sochi, where they can train in similar conditions to those in Brazil.
Interesting that these stories are released almost concurrently, almost as though Rodionenko feels the need to assert his authority just as Alexandrov announces he will stay.
Great news about Alexandrov.
DeleteBut have the Rodionenko's contract also been renewed? Will they be allowed to continue demoralizing the entire team as they have been doing these last few years?
I'm curious about the r-sport report too it's like they are playing a cats and mouse here to me,but im confident that everything will be fine because above all
Deletewhat is really matter for them (Russian gymnastics fed) is regain their prestige that long time ago had separate them from the rest of the world.There should be no financial problem because Russia is no longer in the mid 90's I think.
@Daniel, I think it is clear that for the time being at least the Rodionenkos remain in position.
DeleteThere seems to be a delicate balance of power between those supporting Alexandrov, and those supporting Rodionenko.
It is difficult to know exactly what the issues and arguments are, but Alexandrov is always direct and clear in where his own position lies.
I am glad that he will be staying, I know that is a load off Aliya's shoulders. I am sure that some aren't happy with him, but since they love to stress "team" him staying is best for the "team" as Aliya will hopefully continue to do well.
ReplyDeleteI have read those articles on R Sport. I am not sure about that gymnastics place in Sochi, I understand why they want it, but that will cost a lot of money and will they be using it often after they do the Olympics?
I follow Rodionenko's reasoning in some ways but not others.
DeleteSurely the Russian team will need to travel to Brazil well in advance of the Games anyway, in order to acclimatise to the time difference?
On the other hand, a warm weather training centre may well be a good thing for the Russians in the long term. I don't think money will be a barrier, the Russian Ministry and VTB are investing hugely in sport at present, and with the Winter Olympics taking place in Sochi soon there will surely be sporting facilities that could relatively easily be converted for specialist gymnastics use.
I too am delighted Alexandrov will stay with Mustafina, and by the sounds of it the team arrangements are still in the balance.
LET´S GET READY FOR THE NEXT LEGENDARY RUSSIAN STAR!!!
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think Alexandrov will be the AA champ coach. I mean, will he be coaching another gymnast next to Mustafina?
ReplyDeleteAlfi
Don't really know, Alfi. Is that the right question? The longer I reflect on this report, the more I realise we do not know.
DeleteAlexandrov has always been a great team coach, capable of motivating both gymnasts and coaching staff. I suspect there are disruptive forces at work, making it impossible for him to work his magic on a team level. Is the arrangement Alexandrov describes proposed as a 'holding position' - will he eventually return to his team role once difficult political circumstances are cleared up?
Alexandrov says he is being paid by the Russian government, at the same level as he was paid as national coach. That is a lot of money for coaching one gymnast. It is also a statement of support. Alexandrov says that there are certain people who want him to be on the national team, but does not specify who. Presumably, however, these are budget holding, powerful people within the Ministry of Sports. Sports Minister Mutko had said he would make a statement about the team leadership in November; as far as I am aware, however, he has still to say anything definitive.
The key people at grass roots level - the Rodionenkos - do not want him on the team, at least in a leadership position. Alexandrov may well be hindered in any efforts he might make to expand his empire. He may even be held back in his work with Aliya; do not forget that the Rodionenkos began briefing against Aliya as early as last spring, and that after the Olympics they tried to blame her storming for the failure of the team to train well.
The position of the Rodionenkos is critical but there has been no clear statement about their future. However, as Andrei has been making press announcements about the Rio Olympics I think we should assume that they remain in position and have some level of influence over what Alexandrov does and doesn't do, at least for the time being.
Grebenkin, the new national WAG coach, as far as we know, has kept relatively quiet. He is a good coach, and no reason to think that he can't do his job well, but did the Rodionenkos select him for his malleability? As a relatively inexperienced team coach he would demand less autonomy than Alexandrov and therefore be less threatening.
It's an uneasy truce and we cannot assume that Alexandrov's statement says it all, or is the final position that will emerge before the Rio Games. It is interesting to consider whether Alexandrov will take on other gymnasts, but the precise administrative arrangement between him and the Rodionenkos is unclear and it is this that will ultimately determined exactly what duties Alexandrov takes on, at least for the time being.
Now that Alexandrov is a Minisport associate rather than a member of the RGF rank and file, could he be (unofficially of course) Rodionenko's boss?!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your information that Alexandrov is an employee of the Ministry of Sport?
ReplyDeleteI do not have any evidence--just inductive reasoning and a wistful sense of poetic justice. If an RGF department committee can kick someone out of the fold, they are probably instrumental in bringing them in. And this, I would suspect, is how most coaches climb the ranks.
DeleteBut Alexandrov has been appointed by their bosses' boss...
The witch-hunt is over.
Thanks. Interesting thinking and there could be some truth in it.
DeleteI think that the Federation (in this case, Andrei Rodionenko as head coach) makes the staffing proposals to the Ministry, who then endorses the plan (or otherwise) and pays the coaches. Obviously in Alexander Alexandrov's case there was more of a direct negotiation going on. But I'm not sure what implications this has in terms of seniority or autonomy.
No official announcement has been made about the position of the Rodionenkos, although they themselves have been making announcements about plans to prepare for the Olympics in Rio so obviously they want to give the impression that they are continuing on a business as usual basis, or there is no final decision from the Ministry to which they can refer ...
I find it intriguing that Alexandrov's position has been made clear - while the Rodionenkos' position remains moot. What you suggest is one possibility but my guess is that the situation is still fluid, and we will have to wait an indefinite period before a final arrangement becomes clear.