Skip to main content

Russian ace Denis Ablyazin ... can he rival Kenzo Shirai?

Image
By
Denis Ablyazin with coach Valeri Starkin at Lake Krugloye this week.  Courtesy RIA Novosti
More information on the Russian men's programme has been released after this week's press day at the national training centre, and much of it centres on opinions of the amazing Japanese floor specialist Kenzo Shirai.

European Champion David Belyavski and Universiade Champion Nikolai Kuksenkov have now both commented favourably on the Japan athlete's prowess on floor, and his astounding difficulty.   'Shirai can perform on the floor mat, what others cannot even do on a trampoline', says Kuksenkov.  In competition so far this has included a quadruple twisting somersault and a mountain of other superior twisting skills in combination, although we must be careful to note the absence - to date - of any double somersaults in his work.

Kuksenkov was quick to point out the relative ease with which a specialist on one piece can rise to the top of the sport, emphasising his admiration for such competitors as Alexei Nemov and Vitaly Scherbo, who worked at the very highest level on all six apparatus.  'Very few are willing to go that way, because it is so hard', he added.  So can the Russian men rival Japanese all arounder Kohei Uchimura? Belyavski replied that he believed Uchimura to be working on new routines but that as Uchimura's current competitive form was an unknown quantity, the all around final was likely to be very unpredictable.  Both Russian all arounders were quick to emphasise their readiness for the competition in Antwerp, playing down recent injuries (Belyavski - ankle, Kuksenkov - finger). 

With the focus back on floor, though, the big question for all followers of Russian men's gymnastics is, can Olympian Denis Ablyazin rival Shirai on the world stage?  MAG head coach Valery Alfosov warns against underestimating the 21 year old.  Denis is currently practicing a floor routine with a 7.3 D value, only .1 behind Shirai and has enough difficulty up his sleeve to be able to attempt a 7.4 routine, says Alfosov.


Labels:

Comments

  1. Jay Jaxon21 September 2013 at 17:27

    Who is Koichi Uchimura? Any relation to Kohei Uchimura? Just kidding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queen Elizabeth21 September 2013 at 18:54

      :-) My brain hurts ... to much blogging. Thanks!!

      Delete
    2. Jay Jaxon22 September 2013 at 20:19

      No problem :-). Love your blogs so keep them coming.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous21 September 2013 at 20:52

    Videos have surface of Kenzo training a triple double and double double layout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj49EgkZw3s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPlZpNTdVI

    ReplyDelete
  3. LoveRGMusic1 October 2013 at 02:55

    now im crying because he didnt make finals :(

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dmitri Andreev - we are building towards long term goals

By
  Dmitri Andreev, Russia’s gymnastics leader now that Andrei Rodionenko has stepped into an advisory capacity, is a long standing national coach and well respected international judge.  Now, as gymnastics in Russia steps forward onto the international arena once more, (via its neutral athletes, coaches and officials), it’s up to Andreev and his team to support and structure the growth and development of gymnastics.   Russia’s first big goal as neutral athletes is to qualify for the Olympics at the October World Championships.  Many of the gymnasts have limited experience on the big stage.  The necessary placements are therefore a big ask - especially emotionally and psychologically.   Here is how Andreev sees things working. 1. Transition Phase: Building Toward Major Goals The Russian team is in a deliberate rebuilding and preparation phase. Early-season competitions like the Russian Cup serve more as evaluation tools than peak performances. The primary o...
1 comment
Read more

Nelli Kim - 'Russian gymnastics has closed in on itself' - Lupita translates

By
Lupita has translated this ITAR-TASS interview with Nelli Kim.  It's controversial, to say the least. Ed's note : much of the initial response to this interview - both here and in the wider gymternet -  has focussed on the detail of Kim's words and especially her comments about Viktoria Komova, and smiling.  But I think these have to be taken in context, and not too literally. Don't forget that just a day ago Andrei Rodionenko complained bitterly about the judging in Antwerp, calling Kim's behaviour 'aggressive'. Kim is responding to this here, and to the wider current context of Russian gymnastics.  What she is essentially saying to the Russian coach is 'get your own house in order, produce confident, disciplined, well trained gymnasts - stop complaining, do your job, and I will do mine.'   She goes about saying this in a somewhat long winded way and says some things along the way that seem contradictory, unfair, inappropriate even for th...
30 comments
Read more

Andrei Rodionenko explains Russia's performance at Worlds - Lupitatranslates

By
Rodionenko with European Champion David Belyavski  Courtesy RGF/Elena Mikhailova This is the interview that many people on the internet have already commented on, regarding Andrei Rodionenko's alleged racism.  The original, Russian language version, appears on VTB Bank's website (VTB are sponsors of Russian gymnastics).  It takes cleverer people than me to decide what is racism, what is deliberately perjorative, and what is inferred in an interviewer's question.  For now, I will not comment on this, therefore, but I would ask you to read Lupita's translation carefully before you form your own opinion.   I am providing some links below which might help you to decide where you stand. Definition of racism Definition of sexism BBC Sport article by Matthew Syed : Is it wrong to note that 100m winners are always black?            Updated 24/10 CSKA Moscow: UEFA opens racist chants case         ...
48 comments
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more