Skip to main content

Russian gymnastics competitors at the Cottbus Turnier der Meister, 13th to 16th March 2014

First year senior Maria Kharenkova is being considered for this year's European Championships


The provisional roster for March's Cottbus Turnier der Meister has now been published, including significant teams for both MAG and WAG from the Russian Federation.

For the women, it is an opportunity to give the developing gymnasts some competition practice before the big events of the year - Europeans, and World Championships.  Of particular interest is the inclusion of first year senior Maria Kharenkova, who is expected to fight for a place on the European Championships team.  Kharenkova has particular talents on beam and on floor and is considered by many to be an exciting prospect.  This year will prove whether she has the potential to become an 'A' lister for the Russian national team.

The Russians have slated teams 'in force' for this competition, including some of the top tried and tested gymnasts on the men's side.  As ever, it remains to be seen who will finally compete.  The names of the contingents from Romania, Germany and the USA have yet to be confirmed, but of further interest is the selection of former Russian national Yulia Inshina, now competing for Azerbaijan.

This competition takes place just prior to the Russian national championships, which are scheduled from the 31st March..  These early small competitions will provide part of the pathway for qualification for the first major competition of this year, the European Championships, which begin in early May.

The provisional listings of the Russian team are as follows:

WAG

Anna Rodionova
Daria Spiridinova
Maria Kharenkova
Polina Fyodorova

MAG

Alexander Balandin
Denis Ablyazin
Dmitri Stolyarov
Matvei Petrov
Nikita Ignatyev
Nikolai Kuksenkov

Comments

  1. Are all those girls seniors now? Is Bondareva still a Junior? Looking forward to see how they perform on floor with all the new rules. Is Shelgunova a contender for euros?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bondareva will turn senior in 2015 (b. 1999). Shelgunova's chances for Euros, as ever, depend on the health and preparedness of pretty much everyone else. I can't see her making the team over any of the following: Mustafina, Komova, Afanasyeva, Grishina, Kharenkova, Paseka, Kuzmina, Kramarenko, Rodionova. I would probably even send Spiridonova before Shelgunova. But if the team is having serious health problems like last year, who knows?

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Svetlana Boginskaya: I was always a bitch* in gymnastics

Svetlana Boginskaya, 15 years old, with her medals from the Seoul Olympics Nico translates the latest interview with gymnastics legend Svetlana Boginskaya, during a recent visit to her home country of Belarus. Svetlana Boginskaya: I was always a bitch* in gymnastics, so now I ask for forgiveness from everyone who came in contact with me. The National Olympic Committee of Belarus held a press conference with three-time Olympic Champion in artistic gymnastics, Svetlana Boginskaya. The meeting was devoted to the 25th anniversary of the Olympic Games in Seoul. In South Korea the Belarussian won two gold medals in the team competition and vault. As a gift to the Olympic Hall of fame, the famous gymnast, now living in the United States, donated one of her trophies that she won at the 1990 European Championships and a pennant for Best Female Athlete of the USSR in 1989. How happy we were when we could share with such stars as Boginskaya, Scherbo, and Ivankov,...

Mustafina Interview 2 of 2 : 'I will only perform under the Russian flag'

Argumentyi i Fakti interview with Aliya Mustafina Translated by Marina Vulis ‘I have no fear’, says Aliya Mustafina.   ‘My father [Farhat Mustafin, the bronze medallist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1976 Olympics] took me to my first gymnastics class.   In his opinion children need to do sports, and he saw gymnastics as useful for my general development.   He had no goals – just to let us practice.’ It did not end with ‘just practice’ – she became the World Champion at 16, but then had an ACL injury the next year (2011) at the Europeans.   Even just returning to gymnastics is a feat; then she came back to win four medals at the 2012 Olympics. Aliya Mustafina – That injury.   I do not know why I was ashamed – so many people were watching me and I could not even walk.   My parents!   They saw everything on TV (the coach had to carry her from the podium).   Of course I was aware that anything could happen in gymnastics, but I di...

I am looking forward with inspiration - Melnikova returns to international competition

Angelina Melnikova will be the first Russian WAG to compete internationally since the IOC ban in 2022 when she appears at the World Challenge Cup in Paris on September 13 and 14 this year. Travelling with her will be coach Konstantin Pluzhnikov and judge Elena Redyanova.   Angelina says she will compete AA with a relatively simple programme. I’m glad Angelina is making this start for Russia.  It’s a real tribute to this young woman that she is trusted with the first effort at coming back after such a long time, and I hope people welcome her back warmly.  Angelina will be competing as a neutral athlete, of course.  She was awarded this status after a fair and rigorous process of evaluation by the FIG.   Here is what Angelina said today to Match TV: Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Angelina Melnikova told Match TV how she reacted to being admitted to the FIG World Challenge Cup tournament in France. ❓What emotions did you experience from the fact that you w...

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more