Speaking directly after the team competition today, Aliya was quoted on the Nanning website :
āI did not expect anything. I put too much of myself into the team competition and there was no stamina left in me for my own thing in the womenās individual final.ā
On failing to make it to a podium place:
āI simply could not make it. Maybe luck was against me today.ā
On her floor routine:
āI had a fall on the floor exercise and I knew that was it for me.ā
On the competition:
āI have to give them credit, they were good and I was not at my best today.āā
CONGRATULATIONS Aliya; you won 4th place in the World. It may feel bad today, but we support you and there will always be a tomorrow.
UPDATE :
Mustafina unwell, had temperature. 'this morning I woke up, felt really bad ... On floor, I do not remember how I performed'. She says she hopes to retrieve something over the next two days.
http://www.championat.com/other/news-1950419-mustafina-utrom-prosnulas-pochuvstvovala-sebja-sovsem-plokho.html
Valentina has now spoken ... It is the air con at the hotel. Apparently the girls are chilled (Google translate :-) )
She says Aliya can't be blamed, she competed with a temperature ... She said lots more nice things about Aliya, and spoke of Sosnitskaya and the younger girls' inexperience. They have to look at the team's training and see what they need to change.
She can't always be her absolute best and it's not as if she has anything left to prove. Simone and Larisa were huge today and as much as I was hoping for Aliya to medal here, for Larisa and Romanian gymnastics, this result is fantastic
ReplyDeleteWe should all pray for Aliya to get her over her disappointment today, and for her to have enough stamina for the coming days. We need to give her all of our support and prayers so she can come back strong and ready for event finals.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel awful for her but hopefully the Russian camp will give her the rest she deserves. I'm pretty sure this is the first time Aliya has not medalled in an AA competition that she competed in.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't count the European Championships in 2011 where she injured her knee on the first rotation (vault), I think you are right.
DeleteRsport.ru reported she had fever during the AA competition
ReplyDeletePoor Musty! I can't get over how upset I am for her. Every great champion had a bad AA; this was her turn I guess. I hope she feels better for EF. What is most upsetting was how close she came to being on the podium!
ReplyDeleteRussiafan
Poor Aliya, but you know what 4th place isn't horrible. She has been carrying this team for so long, she needs to get her deserved rest right now. She is the only gymnast from Russia who has been competing non-stop since the Olympics. I would even be fine with her missing Europeans next year....just to get some rest.
ReplyDeleteStill congrats to her
Funny that Valentina is the one saying this, not Aliya. Shawn Johnson competed with the flu in Beijing, but was that any excuse for her not to bring home four medals? Obviously Aliya was not at her best today, but sometimes that happens - it is better to accept that and try harder next time. There doesn't always have to be an explanation. I appreciate that Aliya credits her competitors and doesn't make excuses like Valentina. I hope she nails her routines in EF!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Every time Russia misses they have an excuse. They don't use this excuse before hand but only after their gymnasts miss. Even if she was sick, she just didn't get sick today. She had to have gotten sick progressively and thus should have reported it.
DeleteAs on Aliya, I am so glad she accepts it and doesn't try to make up excuses. It gives her credibility for when she is actually sick or not feeling it.
I also hope she nails her EF but lets face it; it's not going to happen. Although she is one of the greatest gymnasts since 2010, she is inconsistent. I wouldn't be surprised if she missed bars tomorrow simply because of the huge amount of Fatigue she must be feeling. Even if she hits, her D-score will be her undoing; her routine is too simple and at this point I have completely given up hope that she will compete her olympic routine. She hasn't even added the Mustafina, and I'd rather not see her do it because if she is not careful that could be a serious injury and at her age; another major injury and she is done for good. Hope she still hits though. I would like for her to medal on BB; I think if she hits flawless that's her best bet since she has good difficulty. For UB and FX that will be a very long shot but who know's she may surprise
Khorkina is right, this Russian team is always full of excuses. Never complain, never explain.
ReplyDeleteQueen Liz, do you know how credible was the rumor that Aliya considered retiring after worlds last year? I'm worried that if she considered it last year, she might do it this year. I hope not because I really love watching her gymnastics and want to see her in Rio. But at the same time, it's probably a smart decision to retire now since she has already accomplished everything in the sport and should be looking to protect her body for the future. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI don't know - but Vaitsekhovskaya implies she is still undecided - see the latest post on insomnia!
DeleteWhen I said a couple of months ago that Aliya needed to rest, some of you told me that she didn't need to rest that she was fine. If Aliya had taken that long holiday like she planned, from January till these Worlds, she would have been a lot better. I hope Aliya will take a long rest and won't participate at the European Championship next year. I want her to participate at the Worlds next year and win the AA title. And maybe, she will go to Rio and win a medal on beam.....but all these could be possible if she takes a long rest.
ReplyDelete