Skip to main content

Alexander Alexandrov to coach Brazilian WAG?

It seems that former WAG national coach, now personal coach to Aliya Mustafina, Alexander Alexandrov, is considering an invitation from the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation to take on the role of national senior WAG coach there as they prepare for the Rio Olympics.  Alexandrov would be working alongside his former colleague Oleg Ostapenko, junior WAG coach, who left the Russian junior team for Brazil in 2010, and would no doubt considerably strengthen the Brazilian gymnasts as they prepare for their home Olympics.

Nothing is certain yet: Alexandrov went on a fact finding tour to view training facilities and meet the gymnasts recently, and still has to make his decision. If he were to decide to go, he would be a significant loss to the Russian WAG team and in particular to Russia's only Olympic gold medal gymnast.  Alexandrov had recently confirmed that the Russian Ministry of Sport had asked him to stay in Russia and he appears on the RGF's recently published list of coaches.  However, the Brazilian Federation benefits from significant financial support as it prepares for its home Olympic Games in 2016, meaning that it can probably afford to make Alexandrov a very attractive offer.  I would assume that Alexandrov's decision is also likely to be influenced by his working relationship with the senior team leadership, Andrei and Valentina Rodionenko, and whether he feels he is likely to have the autonomy to give the best to his gymnast/s.

View the source articles here, here and here.  Google translates work pretty well, but we should wait for official confirmation of Alexandrov's final decision ...  this decision, apparently, is due tomorrow.  Do not hold your breath though, I have known such negotations to take weeks.

With many thanks to Bernard Abdo who provided the links at GymFever.

Alexander Alexandrov (third from left) during a recent trip to view training facilities in Brazil

Comments

  1. It would be a big loss if he does take it. Also if he does, I wonder where Aliya gets another coach.

    Too many times Russia are losing their best coaches for various reasons, although I am sure Rodioneko's has to do with a lot of them.

    I wouldn't want him to leave especially for Aliya's sake, but if the working relationship with the others are toxic, anything can happen. I guess we will wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is worrying - Alexandrov is like a cipher for Russian success and I would hate the team to lose him.
      But this might well turn out to be nothing ... even perhaps a two week workshop that he will run for them :-).

      Delete
    2. It would be great if it is just a workshop or something. Since he had returned the Russian program has changed for the better. However, if he leaves, Russia loses another great coach.

      We will just have to wait and see.

      Delete
    3. Yes, it's worrying. As a Brazillian, I would be very happy if a great coach as Alexandrov could work here, on the other side, it would be terrible to Mustafina.:(.And Alexandrov looked pretty entusiastic about training conditions, so I don't know... My intuition says he will accept, but I hope he doesn't.

      Delete
  2. Lupita now confirms that the Revistaon article says that the invitation from the Brazilian Federation is to work in Brazil for a period of six months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. whew, that sounds better. Do they know when that would be. I know Aliya has a lot of tournaments she wants to do this year. Especially the Universiade. I would hope he works with her for that as well as the Russian, European and World Championships.

      So maybe there is some free time after World Championship?

      Delete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  4. The latest on this (via Brazil gym blog) is that Alexandrov is unlikely to join Brazil during the year of 2013 - the Federation were unable to draw a deal with him.
    So for the time being, it looks most likely that Alexandrov will remain in Russia.
    http://www.gymblogbrazil.com.br/2013/02/futuro-de-alexandrov-no-brasil-ainda-e.html

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

‘We all love her very much’ - Roschina speaks of Mustafina and the need to perfect an Amanar vault

From sport.ru via vk.com.  Google translate  A big interview with Anastasia Loginova from Sport24 with Lyudmila Roshchina following the Strongest Cup, where the gymnast won four out of five gold medals. We quote several fragments, the full version is available on the publication's website, link at the end. ❓ The Strongest Athletes Cup has recently ended. Did you have time to analyze your performances? 💬 I just rewatched the broadcast, looked at my shortcomings. ❓ Did you set a medal plan for this start? 💬 I didn't think about it. Only that I needed to do my program - and then what will happen. ❓ Did you have time to discuss the competition with your coach? 💬 She praised me, said that I was great. She didn't scold me for mistakes on the beam - on the contrary, she supported me. ❓ Can we say that the beam is your weak spot? This is the only final you didn't get to. 💬 Probably yes. I have this apparatus that is a bit unpolished, so to speak. Treacherous. I need to work...

FIG to reconsider refused applications for neutral status

PLEASE NOTE: statement from the FIG website is below. Source : RGF. Google translate The FIG Executive Committee has revised the rules for admitting Russian athletes as neutrals A meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 and 10. Following its results, the rules for obtaining neutral status by athletes from Russia were revised. According to the updated rules: – Russian athletes will be able to compete under the auspices of FIG not only in individual, but also in group and team disciplines. – Athletes who were previously denied neutral status will have the right to have their applications reconsidered. – New criteria for considering applications have been introduced and FIG clarifications to the updated rules have been approved — this should increase the objectivity of the admission procedure, eliminating cases of unjustified refusals. The President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Oleg Belozerov ...

AA Champion Liudmilla Roschina targets Olympic gold

  Liudmilla is the first gymnast of the new generation to win AA in the most important international competition in Russia.  The Krasnodar born gymnast was at one time said to be the favourite of head coach of the junior team, Aliya Mustafina.   Source: gymnastics group on VK.com.  Google translate Lyudmila Roshchina shone at the "Strongest Athletes Cup" in artistic gymnastics in Moscow.  🔝 The 17-year-old gymnast became the absolute champion in the all-around and in individual disciplines, winning the vault, parallel bars and floor exercises!  "I am very pleased. There were small mistakes, but they did not prevent me from showing a decent result. I liked the atmosphere of the competition, the full stands helped when I went out on the apparatus. I love all the apparatus, but especially the parallel bars. And, of course, it was interesting to test myself against foreign rivals. In September, the Russian Championship will be held, I want to perform there at ...

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more