- My operation was on April 30th in Germany. After returning to Moscow, I immediately came to the gym, began to swing on bars, and to prepare myself for work. Now, my work is well underway. However, I only began work on the beam yesterday - before that, it was impossible. I'm a little bit worried about the ankle, but it's nothing compared to what it was. I am very glad that I can train.
The injury goes back to 2010. The first time I twisted my leg, I pulled a small piece of bone. I twisted it again. I was taken to Germany, and they said that an operation was not necessary. For two years, the leg did not bother me. But then on December 28, 2013 I sprained it again - and again broke this piece of bone. I appeared to have recovered, then even performed at the Cup of Russia. But then three weeks before the European Championships I once again sprained the foot. I took the decision to have an operation, so that the problem didn't keep recurring. The doctors have said that I am now a healthy person - and I can move on in the gym.
- I will participate in the Russia Cup, but only on bars; the other apparatus are not ready - I was only able to begin tumbling yesterday. For Worlds, the rule is that you have to do at least two pieces to qualify to the team. If I can prepare a beam routine, I will go. But if I don't have time I will simply train to recover all four pieces, and won't go to China. I am hoping for the best - I have never been to China.
- I would like to go to Rio and accomplish some more of my goals. I'm pleased with my silver medal from London - what I said at the time came in the heat of a moment of despair and resentment. Not many Russian girls have won medals in the all around. I hope to compete all around in Rio - this is what I have prepared for from childhood.
The original interview is here : http://news.sport-express.ru/2014-08-03/724530/
I am very glad to hear the newfound maturity in her. Hopefully this will be a big psychological barrier that has been torn down so she can achieve more success in the future.
ReplyDeleteHopefully she can stay healthy. It tis good that the rods aren't just going to give a her a spot on the team it sounds. She has to earn it.
I see a bright future for her
I'm happy Vika is looking forward to Rio. She sounds a lot more mature now than in 2012. I hope to see her competing on the world stage soon!
ReplyDeleteSo basically we won't see her at worlds then. If she supposedly gets the two events, unless I see her actually performing at Worlds, I won't say she is going to be there.
ReplyDeleteI don't see what's the point of rushing her back, if she has just started working on beam and at times the ankle bothers her, she might as well just work on having all 4 apparatus back, and compete in 2015.
Right now, I am not sure Russia can make the top 3 for Worlds even if Komova does two events, but they have time to try and do something to be competitive.
Reading this interview actually made me glad about, as someone said earlier, Komova's new found maturity. You can tell that the passion is still deep inside of her, but she is not rushing, she knows she still has time left, there are 2 more years till Rio, and talents to achieve greatness again. She understands that this is not a sprint, but a marathon going forward. This hopefully would translate into a more mentally stable Komova during competition and with that and her incredible talents, and a little bit of luck for an injury free period, she would be unstoppable. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope she competes at worlds, getting back her old olympic routines is going to be incredible hard for her but they will not be enough to challenge biles or key next year, I also don't think her attitude has changed so much, If she has 4 events next year she is undoubtedly going to be one of the two AAers and if she doesn't win gold (which is very likely to happen) she will be just as disappointed as in Tokyo or London and I don't know if she can mentally recover to makt it to Rio. I do hope she wins the gold medal that should've been hers two years ago but it's going to be very very hard.
ReplyDeleteWhy, why, why are the Russian girls injured so much? There is something wrong with a program that cannot keep it's top gymnasts semi-healthy and competing throughout the quad.
ReplyDeleteCompare this to the U.S. girls where Biles, Ross and Dowell are always ready for the big events. You can criticize Martha Karolyi for many things, but she does not run a program that leaves her girls in crutches for most of the year. The U.S. Classic was a wonderful display of healthy gymnasts just getting into shape. Biles and Ross were notable for being in excellent shape.
Russia may produce artistic gymnastics, but it doesn't produce healthy gymnasts right now. It's the sad reality.
To be fair Biles has been injured for most of the year so has Ross to a lesser extent and Maroney to a bigger extent. But, because the US has so much depth it doesn't affect them nearly as much as other teams like Russia and Romania. Look at American Cup this year both Biles and Ross had to pull out because of injuries and right away they were replaced by top gymnasts who could accomplish the same things in their absence. However, when Iordache pulled out there were no other top athletes available to send from her country.
DeleteThere are quite a few new injuries to the USA girls too. However, USA is practically a gymnastics factory nowadays that anyone is easily replaceable. Simply the advantage of depth.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Russia's national team draws heavily on veterans and lacks strength in depth. How many gymnasts on the US team have been competing since 2007, like Afanasyeva? 2010, like Mustafina, Nabiyeva? Or even 2011, like Komova?
DeleteAlot of US girls have been around a while, because practically all the seniors on the national team have been on since the junior national team.The US talent pool is just more developed. Just to name a few, Ross has been on the jr.national team since 2009, Maroney since 2010 at least, and I'll say Weiber since 2009 as well since she's still training elite at UCLA. You don't need to be senior to be a competition veteran and these girls have experience.Also it's easy to say how long someones been competing but all of these girls have been competing since before the time mentioned. These are just the years they became a factor or impressed us enough to get on our radar. You can say Afanasyeva since 2007 but she wasn't A team important until 2011 which is when her gymnastics stood out. Ksenia has not been on every team since then and heavily relied upon. If you can mention her you could say Nastia Liukin since 2005 which is only counting her as a senior since she tried to make her comeback in 2012 and didnt retire until then. The only true difference is depth because the only other difference is training and the way they compete. Yes Russia draws heavily on veterans but the US does to to a different extent. They value consistency of their veterans where as Russia needs its veterans for consistency.This post is not made to be harsh or critical but just so people can see another perspective.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was obvious Queen Elizabeth was talking about the senior careers of the Russian gymnasts she mentioned because counting their junior careers means they have been competing WAY longer than the US girls. Then you count Nastia who didn't even practice gymnastics for 3 whole years and had one "comeback" competition that she crashed and discount Afan because she "hasn't been on every team since 2011". By the way Afan has been A team important since 2008 where she made beam finals AT THE OLYMPICS. Are you forgetting she was also instrumental in giving Russia their first team gold in 2010? Otherwise I don't know how you can say she wasn't important until 2011 "when her gymnastics stood out" that's just ridiculous.
DeleteThanks Anon. Those are exactly the points I would have made!
DeleteViktoria Komova is one of the most graceful gymnasts of this decade and certainly for me one of the most enjoyable to watch. I would love her to win the gold all round medal in Rio.It doesn't seem very likely at the moment but fingers crossed she can upgrade her routines from 2012 olympics and challenge Biles for gold.
ReplyDeleteesperamos vocĆŖ aqui no Rio. Tua medalha de ouro esta aqui.
ReplyDelete