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.
Gymnastics has lost some of its appeal over the past few years, whilst Russian athletes have been out of competition. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it reflects the reality of international gymnastics without around a quarter of its leading protagonists. The international competitive field has not raised its performance in the absence of Russia's leadership; gymnasts from the top ten or fifteen have floated upwards in the ranks to fill gaps in the medal placements, and we see mediocre performances gaining gold, silver and bronze medals. Gymnastics has lost some of its imagination and vision without Russian athletes. This doesn't detract from the efforts of the world's best gymnasts. Gymnastics quite simply needs the special abilities of Russian athletes to provide competition for our international contenders and drive the sport to ever greater things. In particular, artistry has been almost entirely lost without Russian athletes to provide a good e...
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ReplyDeleteI thought her name was Yelena Isinbayeva. And I didn't know she was still pole vaulting I thought she retired. Love her though she's incredible to watch. Aliya reminds me of her and they have a lot in common too.
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