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| The peerless Viktoria Komova will have a chance to compete bars and beam if fully recovered from her recent illness |
WAG : All Around : Aliya Mustafina, Tatiana Nabiyeva Event specialists: Maria Paseka, Aliya Mustafina, Tatiana Nabiyeva, Viktoria Komova or Anna Rodionova
MAG : All Around : David Belyavski and Nikolai Kuksenkov. Event specialists : David Belyavski, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Emin Garibov, Denis Ablyazin, Mattvei Petrov
If Komova is ready, she will compete either bars or beam or both but, it seems, not all around.
Sadly, Ksenia Afanasyeva, who would have been a front runner for a floor medal, is confirmed as having had an ankle operation last week, and so is out of this competition. Valentina Rodionenko says she should be back in shape in December.
In as far as Grishina is concerned, Valentina says that the gymnasts selected all participated in all of the necessary qualifying events, and that the selection was made on purely sports basis. I suppose we have to take her word for it, although ... if Grishina were healthy, preferring Rodionova as reserve seems a questionable decision especially given the former's ability to substitute on all four apparatus if required.
However, there is no team event in Antwerp, and I am glad that there is a prospect of Komova competing. Apparently she was on stellar form before falling, ill, outscoring Grishina by five points in an internal test competition. So Grishina would probably have fallen well behind other team members, and only have been trying for the reserve spot in any event.
RRG supports the Russian team in preparation for World Championships, and looks forward to seeing them compete! Cheer along everyone! Good luck all!!
It's such a pity, really. Russia was destined to dominate these World Championships, but then they made stupid moves and got their gymnasts injured. And now, their only medal hope is Aliya Mustafina... once again. I am so sorry for the future of Russian gymnastics. I hope the MAG team is a little more successful this year, though. And China sending such a weak and inexperienced team, this might be Russia's chance to shine on the MAG side for once given how deep they are.
ReplyDeleteHow it getting Menegitis, the Russian team "making stupid mistakes and getting their gymnasts injured" Are you serious? This is gymnastics! Shit happens. And the only one who is injured is Afan. Grish is out because R has a personal vendetta against her, not because she is injured. AND Afan's injury was not the result of a "Stupid move", it is an old injury, which again, this is gymnastics.....Good luck finding a single gymnast who has never been injured.
DeleteNow and again, VR is taking gymnastics from Russia to the hole. Some Russian coaches say that when VR does not like a gymnast, the gymnast is out of the game. It happened with Anna Dementeyva. In the words of Aleksander Alekxandrov , ex- coach of Aliya Mustafina, fired for VR because according to VR, Aleksander "only trained" Aliya, he said that excluding Anna may have cost the Olympic title. Ie the VR machine gun is not directed only at Nastia Grishina. Aliya and Anna are in the crosshairs of VR. And I'm not talking about the 5 ex coaches who have made great Olympic and World champions , but despite their experience, they were not good enough for VR. And when I think she is incapable of inventing something worse, she wants to leave Komova to the Worlds, newly recovered (?) Meningitis.
DeleteNot satisfied, puts all the weight again of the Worlds on the shoulders of Mustafina, one month after firing her coach. Ok, Valentina, which government do you work for? Whether it is for the Russian government, I have serious doubts.
I completely understand the awfulness of Rodionenko. And I am not sure what you meant in your sentence about Komova, but it was her decision not VR's. Komova herself announced it, not VR.
DeleteEveryone knows that the R's are terrible, but saying that it is their fault their gymnasts get injured, is not right and not fair. This is gymnastics, there are injuries. If the Russians were getting slaughtered with them, then id be concerned, but they have the same number as everyone else.
The Russians have had terribly bad luck in the run up to this comp but anyone can fall ill or have an injury. i have no doubt that vika has been really poorly - this is no one's fault.
DeleteThe real problem is that the team has little reserve and even worse is inequality gymnast short thanks to the exclusion of Grishina. The first problem is the circumstantial result of events that too place 20 years ago, but the Rodionenkos have to work harder to optimise the gymnasts they have available and to improve conditions in Russia overall to attract and tokeep good people.
Sorry for my English. There are a long time, I have not been pratice it anymore.
DeleteAbout Vika Komova, I think it is a stupid thing to leave a newly recovered gymnast. But, in Russia, they do not exactly live in a democracy, you understand me now?
And about the injuries,
when I said that injuries are the fault of Rodienkos was based on an interview that Aleksandrov gave here in Brazil, about the training in Lake, saying how VR intrudes in training (and this is not her assigning, but the head coach) and how she can be irresponsible.
Moreover, it was the duty of VR have a B team in the event of injury to her girls, but she has her personal vendettas, so she couldn´t call Grishina, Dementeyeva, and others ...
And VR is very old ... she does not think in future and does not prepare one or two persons to her place and and she is not preparing a basis for artistic gymnastics have a future in Russia. She concentrated all power in her hands. Or She will think her daughter, married to a politician linked to Vladimir Putin, will replace her after Rio Olimpcs Games to train Russian gymnastics?
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DeleteSorry to disagree. But if Russia does not have a reserve team, it is not for lack of talented girls. it is due to the persons vendettas Valentina. And also resignation of Oleg Stapenko who coached the junior team and could not stand working with Rodienkos. In addition, VR fired Aleksandrov who have took the Worlds in 2010 to Russia after years that they had not got anything. Aleksandrov and Oleg Stapenko always make champions. (??????)
DeleteThey fired four coaches internationally recognized, because no one is good enough. And the way that lead Rodienko things, who wants to work with them!
So what is the problem: the gymnasts, working conditions, coaches or Rodienkos?
Hi Glaucia ... we are not disagreeing ... I have said that the Rodionenkos have to work harder to optimise the gymnasts available.
DeleteThere IS a shortage of strength in depth in Russian WAG thanks to low participation during the years of little investment in the sport. Again, it is the Rodionenkos' job to address this and to improve it for coming years, but the effect of any effort they make may take years to filter through.
I completely agree with what you say about the Rodionenkos' appalling record of staff turnover, and the attitude to certain gymnasts doesn't help. But it is difficult to prove the latter - we are dependent on first hand information - there's a huge chunk of this in the Alexandrov interview which I coordinated along with Isa Alexandrova.
There is no one single problem - the Rodionenkos have some responsibility for addressing these issues. There are clear problems with the working conditions and atmosphere at Lake Krugloye.
I think that Russian Gymnastics needs to appoint high ranked directors to work alongside the Rodionenkos in key areas, with a view to succession planning. Blaming them 100% and sacking them will achieve nothing. They both need reining in to a particular job description and a particular set of performance indicators, but this is Russia.
No real argument to be had!!
I agree with you as you say There IS a shortage of strength in depth in Russian WAG thanks to low participation during the years of little investment in the sport, but the Rodienkos had time enough to solve these problems if they really the want to. And I do agree that Russian Gymnastics needs to appoint high ranked directors to work alongside the Rodionenkos in key areas, with a view to succession planning., Mainly, VR and AR are getting old and need a plan to be replaced.
DeleteYes, this is Russia! A country very difficult and very resilient people!
I think Mr. Sports Minister, Vitaly Mukto should hear the claims of former gymnasts and former coaches, that despite ALL DIFFICULTIES, refuse to leave your country! And we, the international community must help them!
You know that man who once said: "I have a dream ..." Today, the U.S. has a black President.
We must support the claims of Aleksander Aleksandrov, Elena Proudunova, Tatiana Frolova, Olga Mostepanova, Elena Shevchenko, Vera Kolesnikova, Anastasia Kolesnikova, Victor Gavrichenko, Alexander Kiryashev, Evgeny Nikolko, .... well, let's do them be heard!! At least the Rodienkos can no longer use the press of the country as they please.
Without Komova the whole pressure will be upon (saturated) Mustafina to get medals, and that's just unfair for her and I will not blame her if she falters ...
ReplyDeleteyou're absolutely right and completely
DeleteDamn, who would have thought 6 months ago that Ksenia and Grishina would be out and Tatiana would be in?
ReplyDeleteShoot, Afanasyeva is injured?? That really sucks. Glad Vika is getting a chance but it's going to be stressful for Aliya. So good luck to Aliya and the team!
ReplyDeleteAs has been said before, I do not know if Afan is an old injury, or if it is actually in an acute phase of this injury. VR does not usually respect the limits of the gymnasts, and this is the reason for his personal vandetta againts Grishna who had chronic back injuries this year and refuses to goes in the Lake.
DeleteI'm glad for Nabiyeva ... and I think with her conscientious preparation this year she might surprise us with a thing or two. Like so many of the Russians, she promised more as a junior than she delivered as a senior. To be able to recapture her form as she has, shows considerable discipline.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Mustafina will be determined to show her best in the all around, to show that without the injury she might have been able to win at the Olympics. I really hope she makes it, and takes some medals in EF as well.
I'm sad for Komova and Afanasyeva - this is bad luck - but Afanasyeva has had a good medal winning time this year and missing worlds might save her for more important enterprises further down the line. This is not a vital Worlds.
Grishina - well, I think it's a tragedy. The Russian team could really use her, and excluding her from selection seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot.
I hope so, but I think that Nabieva can't contend for any medal due to her low D-score even in her best event which is UB, where her team mates like Mustafina and Komova (if she competed), Chinese and Brits have 6.5+ D-score ...
DeleteAnyway good luck for her and thank you Queen Elizabeth for keeping us updated
I hope so, and pray to God bless your words. But, I have my doubts if Nabieva can contend for any medal. She has a low score to this event. And I will love to watch Komova compete, but if it is better for her health she rest, I prefer that she stay at home.
DeleteThanks for updated.
Looks likely now that Komova will not compete - she is not allowed to train for another month to give her time to recover from her illness, says her personal vk.com site. Her health is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteThis is not official until Vika or her coaches announce it. They will probably not rush to do so, as this leaves the team we, so they might decide to add another gymnastics to the roster. So hold your horses everyone, we might not be seeing the full picture yet.
... leaves the team without*one gymnast short*... So they might add another *gymnast*.
ReplyDeleteSorry - posting on my smart phone ... Predictive text ...
they need to add Grishina back instead of Rodionova!! Nastia has the capability to medal on aa and bars. Rodionova's beam is mediocre at best (if only Demy hasnt retired). If they're reasoning is that because Nastia has not participated enough in all the preparation meets leading up to words, they should consider her success at euros (3 medals! people) and her participation at Anadia and other international meets earlier this year. I would trust Nastia to do AA any day over Nabieva.
ReplyDeleteR's ruin russian WAG for personal benefit, they are the traitors! When it's gonna finally change?
ReplyDelete