Skip to main content

Rostov claims Kharenkova as its own

By
Maria enjoys a quiet moment at the Banquet following last week's European Championships.  Courtesy RGF

European Beam Champion Maria Kharenkova has been congratulated on her gold medal by officials from the Rostov region of the Russian Ministry of Sport.

'I must say that the victory of our athletes confirmed the validity of the creation of the Rostov regional gymnastic training centre', said Yuri Balakhnin, head of the regional Ministry of Sports.  'We've got a strong tradition and a wonderful coaching school. I remember that at the Olympic Games of 2012 in London our rhythmic gymnast Ulyana Donskova won gold.  Now Maria Kharenkova has made a serious step to get onto the Olympic team.' (Source: http://championat-rostov.ru/news/view/1657/).

Rostov's pedigree is indeed rich : Maria is the latest in a long tradition of fine gymnasts and coaches from the region.  Her coach, Olga Sagina, also counts 2012 European team silver medallist Anastasia Sidorova and 2000 Olympian Elena Produnova amongst her charges, and the Rostov school is also famous for 2011 national team member Yulia Belokobylskaya, 1983 World Champion Natalia Yurchenko, 1980 Olympic Champion Natalia Shaposhnikova, 1972 Olympic Champion Ludmilla Tourisheva and 1976 Olympic Champion Svetlana Grozdova.

I remember that not too long ago - before Rodionenko returned to take over management of the Russian team (2006) and at a time when the national training centre kept a goat to maintain the grass forecourt, and when wallpaper was hanging from the walls - then Head Coach Leonid Arkayev visited the new facilities and praised them, with a fair degree of jealousy.  With characteristic dryness he suggested that the national team was considering moving there, such was the perfection of these facilities compared to the run down state of their main centre.  

It is good to see that the investment in Rostov is paying off.

And while we are discussing Rostov genius, may I suggest you take the time to explore Natalia Yurchenko's personal website?  It is full of gems, including an essay on how she and her coach created the now universal, but once revolutionary, Yurchenko vault.  http://www.nataliayurchenko.com

I am personally very proud that Natalia chose a quote from my blog, as the opening page of her website :-)
Labels:

Comments

  1. Unknown24 May 2014 at 14:36

    Natalia coaches at the gym where I take adult gymnastics classes, I love watching her coaching, she has so much passion!!! I wish I could be coached by her haha.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous24 May 2014 at 16:35

    where is Anastasia Sidorova now?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gláucia Sousa24 May 2014 at 17:28

    Natalia was very lovely chosing a quote from this blog, as the opening page of her website´s. I do like her website and Queen Elizabeth´s quote. Cute. <3

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aliya Mustafina - I competed as best I could

By
Picture credit RGF Aliya speaks in Sports Express http://news.sport-express.ru/2014-05-18/699607 I am very pleased with my performance today, I don't know what the judges didn't like about my bars, but I didn't ask them ... I did my routine fairly well without serious error. On beam I didn't have the start value but I received the highest execution score.  We will try to fix that before the World Championships. Considering the problems I had with my ankle, I think I performed to the optimum at the moment.  I did everything I could. I'm not  the least bit sorry that I performed here -  Very glad that I could help the team. I think my presence made things easier for the girls.   It is very difficult to compete at such serious senior competitions for the first time.  Of course they were very worried.   But I'm sure that with time they will learn to cope easily with their nerves (smiles). 
38 comments
Read more

We are satisfied - Aliya Mustafina

By
Photo credit: RGF An Allsport interview today with Aliya Mustafina : http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=83075 'I think that we are to be congratulated on this bronze medal, we are more satisfied than frustrated', said Aliya Mustafina. 'We were a new team, all the girls are young, and it's their first time in such a serious competition.  I think today we performed to the best of our ability.  Yes, we have had two falls today - on the uneven bars and balance beam.' 'The young girls failed  psychologically, but  the first time you compete on the senior podium - it's not very easy.  No  one is sad.  I  am very pleased with such a performance.  Everything  was fair enough, maybe not everywhere and in all things, but overall it was quite as expected, both our rivals, and the judging.' 'I began to experience more pain in the ankle - continued Aliya Mustafina. - To do the dismounts I had to muster all my strength and clench my teeth.  ...
21 comments
Read more

Aliya Mustafina - 'each medal is very special'

By
'I'm very happy that everything turned out well today  ... Each medal is very special.  The UK team made mistakes, so there was a wide margin [of victory]... But naturally, [what I did] is not enough for the Olympics.  I prepared well for beam and bars but I am not ready for floor, I stepped up to help the team. ... To be honest, I did not look at the scores [when asked how the team reacted to the 6.5 gap before the final apparatus].  Gelya (Melnikova) is a good girl, she did everything and did not falter ... Seda fell on quite a complex element.  There is more work to do, but everything else went well.' [About a protest taken by the coaches on her beam score]. 'I am used to my protests being rejected, everything is normal!' Via vk.com I n other news , the UEG has confirmed that Spiridonova will replace Melnikova in tomorrow's bars final. No reason is given, but it is generally considered that Dasha has a better chance of gold.  This decision also means tha...
63 comments
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more