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Central are national team champions 2014

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Today's winning Central team - Back row - Gannochenko, Elizarova, Kharenkova.  Front row - Afanasyeva, Kruglikova, Komova

The Central Federal District won today's team competition, only narrowly over the powerful Moscow who had to take a score of 3.2 for Grishina's fateful floor exercise (for those of you who have missed the loop, Anastasia has suffered a possibly serious knee injury, landing a triple twist).  The Central team benefitted from standout performances from Komova on bars (15.333) and Kharenkova on beam (15.6), but of course all team members contributed including Afanasyeva who looks to be recovering well from her injury.  Kharenkova's score was higher than that of the World Beam Champion, Mustafina, who also managed an impressive 15.333 there.  Mustafina was the single best competitor overall, almost matching Komova on bars (15.033), taking the top score on vault (15.067) and only faltering on floor after Grishina's crushing fall, which had visibly upset the great champion (13.7).  If Mustafina decides to compete in tomorrow's event finals, she has a legitimate shot at a medal in every piece, perhaps even gold given her feisty character.  Russia relies on her even more so now that Grishina appears to be out of the running.

Central.  165.8
Moscow. 165.27
St Petersburg. 162.833

The full results are available here - http://www.sportgymrus.ru/Admin/GetFile.ashx?get=1&id=43946

It was more than a little upsetting to see Grishina's injury, and I know the entire gymternet community will want to send her our love, and positive thoughts for a good recovery.  

There are some wonderful pictures of the awards ceremony on the RGF website.  I will share a few of them here.

Nabiyeva and a judge 

Arguing scores for her St Petersburg team with coach Vera Kiryashova (judging here) and another judge

St Petersburg is the only medal winning team not to count a top current international gymnast in its ranks, and they look very happy with their bronze medal.  Pictured here with Central's Maria Kharenkova

Beautiful smiles from Rodionova, Sosnitskaya and Spiridinova ...

Photo bombed by 2007 World Bars Champion and 2008 Olympian Ksenia Semyonova!

St Petersburg again, with their Candidate Master of Sport champion Elena Eremina, and coach Alexander Kiryashov.

A rather formal shot, unless you are from St Petersburg.  Mustafina stands proud, almost symbolically alone in raising her arm.  The whole Moscow team must feel exhausted, having led the competition convincingly only to be robbed of gold in such upsetting circumstances.  Paseka looks resigned.   Kharenkova looks pleased.

The best shot of the Moscow team.

I think it was best to win bronze this year :-)







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Comments

  1. Unknown5 April 2014 at 14:51

    I uploaded the competition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O12jWFFl6eY&list=UUqLu7r3JfMnudBfG3pZkaTg

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous5 April 2014 at 16:59

    Thank you for uploading the competition. I will enjoy watching it!
    On another note, I thought Elizarova (second girl at the back in the first picture) had been competing for Azerbaijan? Or was that her sister?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5 April 2014 at 18:52

    Yelizarova previously competed for Uzbekistan, but she is no longer there. She returned to Russia at the end of 2012 because she lost Uzbekistan's lone Olympic spot. However, she doesn't plan to compete internationally anymore. She's just competing for fun at home now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous5 April 2014 at 20:29

    I wonder (except for Kharenkova) where is the Russian Junior team who competed in Brussels 2012, I mean BATURINA Ekaterina, KUZMINA Victoria, SHELGUNOVA Evgeniya, TIPAEVA Yulia ?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous5 April 2014 at 22:44

    Baturina stopped competing internationally after a disappointing 2013 season. Shelgunova has been doing minor international meets, but hasn't reached her full potential due to injury. Vika Kuzmina's senior debut was this competition. I have no clue about Yulia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5 April 2014 at 23:56

      Are you sure that KUZMINA competed ? I didn't notice her name !!

      Delete
  6. Anonymous6 April 2014 at 01:30

    I believe the Russian team for Euros will be - Mustafina, Komova, Afan, Sosnitskaya, Kharenkova/ Rodinova.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6 April 2014 at 04:14

      I highly doubt Sos will go. She is a decent AAer but Russia needs specialists not AAers. Her individual routines are mediocre at best, Rodionova who has GREATLY improved bars and Kharenkova with her insane beam are pretty much locks baring any injuries of course, even though they both struggle with consistency. Maybe is Afan is not ready, but I'd still put Paseka, Fedorova and Spiridonova over Sos.

      Delete
    2. R.6 April 2014 at 16:30

      I think Sosnitskaya will go, unless both Komova and Afan can do VT with at least DTYs AND Afan can do floor. In particular I think the latter is unlikely. The problem is that without Afan, you'd be short on person on VT and FX and neither of the three are usable on both - apart from Paseka who is usable on vault, the other two are hopeless for the FX/VT spot, wheres Sosnitskaya fits very well.

      I think the following is much more likely - and this still relies on Komova being able to regain a DTY by Euros.

      VT: Mustafina, Komova, Afan/Sosnitskaya
      FX: Mustafina, Afan/Sosnitskaya, Kharenkova
      UB: Mustafina, Komova, Rodionova/Spiridonova
      BB: Mustafina, Komova, Kharenkova

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6 April 2014 at 22:45

      The team has been decided, perhaps they will add Afan is she improves? I still think Sos is a waste of a spot. I would much rather send Fedorova, put her on beam and floor and not risk Komova on beam. Regardless, Russia shouldn't have a problem at world's. GB is looking good but they are still mediocre compared to the Russians. Romania is lacking on bars and even vault. I know Bulimar competed recently but I doubt she will be 100% come euros. Italy has improved but they are still meh. I suspect we shall see a repeat Russia-GB-Romania podium.

      Delete

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