Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

This video was made by VTB, Russian bank and sponsors of Russian gymnastics.  Aliya sings part of a happy song to wish all their friends a good new year :-). http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-S4cpaPR4Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dt-S4cpaPR4Y

Alan Owen has confirmed via Tatiana herself, as per the Facebook page of Tatiana Nabieva Online, that Tatiana is retiring from competitive gymnastics. As one door closes, another opens and I feel sure that Tatiana will continue her involvement in the sport as a coach, first of all at home in her home city of St Petersburg where she is studying at he Lesgaft Institute, but then, who knows where. Tatiana has competed internationally at all levels from friendship to World Championships, from a very early age.  She has made friends everywhere she has travelled in the world, and is well known for her spontaneous and emotional character, a very likeable gymnast who seems to love people as much as she loves her sport.  Her feisty competitive spirit and fierce support for her friends and team mates were a missing ingredient on the Russian Olympic team in 2012, but she made a believable comeback in 2013, contributing to the Russian team's domination of the Universiade in Kazan. ...

Tatiana Nabiyeva has fuelled rumours this weekend of her retirement with a number of indirect postings on social media sites.   But nothing she has said at present is clearcut or official, and for me to say more would be mere speculation. Wait and see is the best policy.  Russia might still need Tanya - I hope so. If and when I hear anything more certain, I will post the information here.  In the meantime, Happy Christmas to one of Russia's best competitors of the last four years, a stalwart team mate, great friend and entertaining gymnast.

Olympic legend Larissa Latynina has been reflecting on Russian gymnastics in an interview with Pravda, and I am summarising below a paraphrased version of what she has said. Interesting that Russia is now beginning to reflect on the brain drain and loss of investment dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s and that is now affecting their competitive results.  There is also a fascinating article  on the mass exodus of coaches, including interviews with Valery Belenkyi, Vladimir Vatkin, Andrei Popov and Alexander Alexandrov.   I am hoping to have it translated for you in the coming weeks.   In the meantime, Larissa's words reflect so much of what has been covered in this blog over the last year.  Someone of her profile and significance speaking openly on this subject in the Russian press must show that her country is beginning to consider the loss, and perhaps the measures necessary for a recovery - if desired. "You know, I want to tell you that we ...

2013 European and Universiade All Around Champion, World beam champion Aliya Mustafina has been awarded a Silver Doe Award in a poll of the best Russian athletes of the year conducted by the Federation of a Russian Sports Journalists. Pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva won the overall title of athlete of the year. Congratulations, Aliya!!! http://www.itar-tass.com/sport/842376

I think Nikita Ignatyev has some hidden talents ... He's much more than just a gymnast, you know ... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mIIslqn5KSU&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmIIslqn5KSU%26feature%3Dyoutu.be From Nikita's personal VK site, via YouTube :-)

Anna with her team mate Maria Nekrasova today.   Maria competed in this spring's Russia Cup and will join Anna on the Azerbaijan national gymnastics team.  Picture courtesy of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation on Facebook. As Anna prepares to compete at this week's Voronin Cup, representing Azerbaijan for the first time, RRG, in collaboration with Anna's authorised website Anna Pavlova Online, would like to invite readers to submit their questions for an interview with Anna.  What have you always wanted to ask one of Russia's best gymnasts of the last decade? Each reader may submit up to three questions.  We will collate and if necessary edit the questions and Anna will answer the ones she finds most interesting.  Please add your questions as comments to this blog, or you may email them to me at rewriterussiagym@btinternet.com.  We hope to publish the final interview on both websites by Christmas. Many of you must dream of having a conversation with Anna...