Skip to main content

Where in the world are our Russians?

By
Well, they seem to be all over the place ...

First of all, at Lake Krugloye, in the deep winter snow


Sosnitskaya, Spiridinova, Shelgunova, Fyodorova, Kharenkova, Bondareva, Tutkhalyan and Kramarenko get some much needed daylight in this picture shared by Ekaterina Kramarenko.  Incidentally, you will be pleased to hear that Aliya Mustafina is also there.  Aliya will travel to Munich later this month for a check up on her back, after which coach Sergei Starkin will take some decisions about when she can resume full training.

But where is Tatiana Nabiyeva?



In this Instagram from her Pushkin (St Petersburg) home, Tatiana says that, 'better late than never', she is beginning her personalised 'Nabyiki' training programme for the upcoming (February) Russian Championships. She will compete there for her home team alongside such gymnasts as Nastia Cheong.

Finally, Pottsville Gymnastics have posted a lovely, short video of a happy Nastia Grishina to their Facebook page.  Let us keep our fingers crossed that we see Nastia back in competition soon :-)


And doing some sightseeing in Washington, D.C., with coach Razumovsky and (right) training partner Daria Mikhailova ...


Labels:

Comments

  1. Anonymous12 January 2015 at 20:27

    Is komova currently training for participation in the Russian championships?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous13 January 2015 at 14:24

    Queen Elizabeth, do you think there's any chance that Anastasia Grishina will switch nationalities and compete for the U.S.? Also, has there been any recent word on Ksenia Afanasyeva? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13 January 2015 at 17:59

      What use would she be in the USA? There is so much depth in the United States, even in her Olympic form she wouldn't even be the alternate to the American team. I think she should stay in Russia and if she makes a comeback, make it there and if she really can't make the Russian team due to the head coaches dismay with her and she really wants to make another olympic team, then switch to another country other than the USA. Just my opinion and Ksenia has competed twice already. In Stuttgart and in the Voronin Cup towards the end of last year

      Delete
  3. Queen Elizabeth13 January 2015 at 20:59

    Dear all,
    In answer to your questions -

    Viktoria - I don't know what her plans are.

    Nastia Grishina. I doubt she is thinking about changing her nationality but I hope she might want and be allowed to compete internationally again for Russia. I think she has a lot to offer.

    Ksenia - she was looking good in her recent competitive appearances and has said her competition target this year will be the Universiade in the summer. I think she is currently looking at vault and floor only.

    All of these questions are basically a matter of 'wait and see' in the end - there are no certainties. The national teams are usually announced some time in January, and then the Russian Championships take place in February.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gláucia Sousa15 January 2015 at 19:35

    I miss Aliya. I would like to read more good news about her and her coaching in Penza. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Queen Elizabeth15 January 2015 at 19:45

    :\). Be patient. The gymnasts all need calm and quiet time in the gym, and 'official' updates can often involve upsetting news from you know who.
    I would rather hear nothing of Aliya till the high summer, then see her in the best of health at Russia Cup, ready for Glasgow.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering last summer - Nelli Kim, her judges and Viktoria Komova

By
In view of Nelli Kim's recent interview , Lupita and I thought it timely to revisit the performance of some of the WTC President's judges over past competitions ... this article from 27th August 2012 is reposted here, as a reminder. You will find a link to the FIG's newly published book of results at the Olympic Games here .  This year, they have broken down the judge's execution scores so you can see exactly how each judge evaluated the gymnasts' performances.  It makes for interesting reading - if only I had more time to analyse each judge's marking.  A skim reading already highlights multiple inconsistencies in individual judges' marks and makes you wonder why they bother with the jury at all. I have taken the time to look at the reference judges' scores for the top four in the women's all around.  The FIG explains here what their role is, and how they are selected.  I even used my calculator, which is a risky thing in my hands.  M
42 comments
Read more

Andrei Rodionenko explains Russia's performance at Worlds - Lupitatranslates

By
Rodionenko with European Champion David Belyavski  Courtesy RGF/Elena Mikhailova This is the interview that many people on the internet have already commented on, regarding Andrei Rodionenko's alleged racism.  The original, Russian language version, appears on VTB Bank's website (VTB are sponsors of Russian gymnastics).  It takes cleverer people than me to decide what is racism, what is deliberately perjorative, and what is inferred in an interviewer's question.  For now, I will not comment on this, therefore, but I would ask you to read Lupita's translation carefully before you form your own opinion.   I am providing some links below which might help you to decide where you stand. Definition of racism Definition of sexism BBC Sport article by Matthew Syed : Is it wrong to note that 100m winners are always black?            Updated 24/10 CSKA Moscow: UEFA opens racist chants case             http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24654499 Andrei
48 comments
Read more

Review of Russian WAG at the 2014 World Championships

By
The Russians during a team talk in training for the World Championships.  Courtesy RGF Bronze all the way for Russia then.  Beyond the euphoria and surprise of this morning's competition there doesn't really seem to be much to write home about. I am delighted for Aliya personally that the efforts she has made to help the team have provided her with some tangible result, but the principal feeling at the end of the competition is that of relief.  As Vaitsekhovskaya said in her article last week, there were no moments of shock and awe from the Russians, and that's what will be needed if they are to compete for gold medals in Rio (translation available here ). Let's consider a timeline of the competition : before, during and after. BEFORE The promise of a return to the Worlds stage by Viktoria Komova gave Russia a feeling of optimism pre-Russia Cup.  However, Viktoria's performance at this important competition gave little reason for celebration.  Ye
43 comments
Read more