Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

New Viktoria Komova edit. She really was the last of a #gymnastics breed. http://youtu.be/DRRb_r4SP48

It's not what you do, it's the way that you do it ... Former Soviet international, now choreographer at the Leonid Arkayev Gymnastics Centre in Saransk, Natalia Karamushka leads her girls in this perfect floor complex. Attitude, balance, posture ... they all make gymnastics watchable and provide a basis for great form and amplitude in the acrobatic and gymnastic skills. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=469929073171664 The music is wonderful - it is Contrast by Igor Krutoy - you can download it from ITunes.

Sergei Starkin - image from Sports Express Sergei Starkin is part of a formidable father and son pairing for whom coaching gymnastics is a family affair.  His father, Valery Starkin, will be well known to gymnastics fans as the sharp-eyed, white-haired  Head Coach of the Burtasy School of Gymnastics in Penza, frequent home to the Russian National Championships.  The School has grown in importance over recent years: the success of homegrown World Champion, the impressive and powerful Denis Ablyazin, gave the Club its profile; Valeri Starkin's astute management of this facility has gained recognition and support from the Ministry of Sport; the recent alignment of 2012 Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina to personal coach Sergei Starkin has reinforced the club's reputation across WAG as well as MAG.  There are even some who say that Valeri, with his strong ties within the Russian coaching hierarchy, long experience of management and influence, and links to Russia's most li...

Prosport is carrying the following article about Simone Biles, who they tip as a favourite for Olympic gold.  I thought I would share it here (Google translate in italics) as it gives an interesting perspective on where the Russians feel the sport is heading.  Elena Zamolidchikova and Alexander Alexandrov are both extensively quoted. Atypical American. Simon Biles on the way to Olympic gold Simone Biles, American gymnast, turned 18 on March 14, 2015. Shortly before this, the first in US history absolute Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton called Biles perhaps the most gifted athlete in the history of the sport. In 2014, Simon became the first gymnast for 40 years to win four gold at a World Championships. But Biles is not only talent. This is the first gymnast in recent years from the United States, who is not going to earn on its potential Olympic success. Text: Alexander Vladimirov March 15, 2015 9:35 The article on Prosport/Photo: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images / Fotob...

The top seven gymnasts at Penza will compete for the six places on the Russian team for Euros, confirmed head coach Valery Alfosov today to Allsport. On the basis of the results of the national championships, the following gymnasts are in contention:  All Around : David Belyavski and Nikolai Kuksenkov Denis Ablyazin : floor, rings and vault Nikita Nagorny : floor and vault Mattvei Petrov : pommel horse Nikita Ignatyev : rings, p-bars and high bar Mikhail Kudashov : rings (he has a D value of 6.8 but was unable to show his best as he was still recovering from the effects of flu) At present, the reserve is Dmitri Lankin, who has potential on floor and parallel bars. As with the women, other gymnasts will be training for the competition and new names may still be added to the roster according to the results of control competitions. Alfosov stressed that almost the entire team had performed below par in Penza thanks to the effects of a nasty flu bug.  With another four weeks of tr...

Head WAG coach Evgeny Grebyonkin has confirmed further details of the Russian team for April's European Championships, reports Allsport. On the basis of their performance at the Russian Championships, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Maria Kharenkova and Daria Spiridinova have been confirmed for the team.  Fighting for the final place will be Alla Sosnitskaya, Viktoria Komova, Maria Paseka and first year senior Seda Tutkhalyan. The Russian coaches face some tough selection decisions as they attempt to balance a relative paucity of all around talent this year with the diverse specialisms of such gymnasts as Spiridinova, Afanasyeva and Komova.  Both Sosnitskaya and Tutkhalyan (whose D score AA of 23.7 ranks third in the international ranks so far this year, behind Simone Biles and Evgeniya Shelgunova) offer potential at both specialist (respectively vault (Sosnitskaya) and beam (Tutkhakyan)) and AA level.  Much will depend on the nerve of the coaches and the way these gymnasts respond in...

Championat Rostov has a short interview with the new Russian Champion, Maria Kharenkova.  Read a Google translate in italics below.  Maria, 17, is Rostov born and bred, but also trains at the large modern facility in Khimki where Afanasyeva works out.  Maria began gymnastics at a tender age when her mother, Olga, a coach, brought her to the same gym where Olympic Champion Elena Produnova worked out.  Maria will now be working at camp at Lake Krugloye, preparing for European Championships.  We wish Maria and all the team the very best of luck as they work towards their destiny. Maria Harenkova: I dream of becoming an Olympic champion Maria Harenkova Victor of the Russian Championship in gymnastics all-around champion the country's 16-year-old Maria Rostovite Harenkova answered questions "CR". IA "Championship-growth." March 10   - The championship of Russia you have achieved phenomenal success, winning three gold medals. How hard was the competition, whethe...

There is a fabulous picture gallery of Day 1 EF at the Russian Champs on the RGF website.  Scroll down to enjoy a few highlights. Aliya Mustafina was there to support her team mates.  Here she is with coach Sergei Starkin, happy after his gymnast Denis Ablyazin won two golds, on floor (shared with Nikita Nagorny) and rings.  Find the results here - http://sportgymrus.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/finaly-v-otdel-ny-h-vidah-1-den-muzh.pdf Viktoria Komova had a little bit of disappointment when she fell from bars and missed a medal there.  Here she is consoled by head coach Andrei Rodionenko. Daria Spiridinova celebrates a third top scoring routine on the uneven bars.  Here she is with returning Olympian Ksenia Afanasyeva (back on floor tomorrow!), Moscow's Artur Dalolyan and, to the left,Youth Olympics  Champion and first year senior, Seda Tutkhalyan. Nikita Ignatyev signs a calendar for a fan. 'Hello ...'  Gold medallist on floor (shared with ...

An interview with Aliya, who is attending the competition in Penza; some brief coverage of the MAG competition; and a conversation with the Head of Burtasy School of Gymnastics, Valeri Starkin, can be found here -  http://www.penza-press.ru/lenta-novostey/73763/aliya-mustafina-priehala-v-penzu-na-chr-po-sportivnoj-gimnastike 'I really enjoy working with Sergei Valerivich' says Aliya of her new coaching arrangement, adding that it is great to have someone to help.  In an earlier interview she has said she and Sergei Starkin, who also coaches world gold medallist Denis Ablyazin, are working on upgrades to her bars and floor exercises.  She and Ablyazin train at separate times, in separate gyms; it is important to have the one to one attention of a coach, Aliya says. Valeri Starkin, Sergei's father and recently appointed to the national coaching staff, commented on the good atmosphere and competition, here in his home gym.  The Volga Federal District team (Pavlov, Kazac...

A rich and diverse Russian Championships has seen the crowing of a new national champion, European beam champion Maria Kharenkova.  Alongside her on the podium, Alla Sosnitskaya and first year senior, Youth Olympics champion Seda Tutkhalyan.  CONGRATULATIONS to all the girls - and good luck as you progress towards qualification for the European Championships! AA : 1 Maria Kharenkova 58.033 2 Alla Sosnitskaya 56.6 3 Seda Tutkhalyan 56.334 4 Daria Spiridinova 55.867 5 Evgeniya Shelgunova 55.833 6 Ekaterina Kramarenko 55.201 Full results - http://sportgymrus.ru/wp-conte…/uploads/2015/…/c1_mogo_f.pdf Leading VT - Paseka, Sosnitskaya, Tutkhalyan, Afanasyeva UB - Spiridinova, Paseka, Komova, Bondareva BB - Kharenkova, Komova, Sosnitskaya, Tutkhalyan FX - Afanasyeva, Paseka, Dmitrieva, Kramarenko, Kharenkova Full event results : http://sportgymrus.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/c1_pers_f.pdf Team results are available at :  http://sportgymrus.ru/wp...

Novyi Izvestia has an interview with Andrei Rodionenko today, the first day of Russian Championships.  Google translate in italics, below "Unfortunately, injuries are making adjustments in our training" Russia coach gymnastics Andrew Rodionenko Oksana Tonkacheeva Today kicks off in Penza Russian championship in gymnastics. According to its results will form a team to participate in the European Championships, which will be held April 15-19 in Montpellier, France. About the features of the upcoming season, the state leaders of the team, as well as the challenges facing the team a year before the Olympics, "New News" told her the head coach Andrei Rodionenko. - This year the European gymnasts waiting game, continental championship, the World Cup ... This tight competition schedule in the pre-Olympic year - that's a plus or a minus? - No one knows how things will turn out. A very difficult question, and the answer to it you now no one will. Th...

Valery Alfosov: preparing for the new season has not been smooth - the whole team is very seriously ill with influenza 4-8 March will be held in Penza Russian championship in gymnastics. According to the results of the Russian national team will be formed to participate in the European Championships, scheduled for April 15-19 in Montpellier (France). On the state of affairs in the men's team, the special correspondent of the Agency of the sports information "All Sport" said Mary Staroverova head coach of Russian men's team gymnastics Valery Alfosov. - The mood in the team is normal, - said Valery Alfosov. - Cup of Russia, we are opening a new season. While training for the tournament has not been smooth. The whole team is very seriously ill with the flu. And it's decently knocked us out of the desired schedule. In addition, some gymnasts still dolechivatsya sores. Perform at the championship of Russia will be all but Emin Garibov and Alexander Balandin, who are st...

Aliya Mustafina: Do not force preparing to go out to the platform has changed a bit, with something new 4-8 March will be held in Penza Russian championship in gymnastics. According to the results of the Russian national team will be formed to participate in the European Championships, scheduled for April 15-19 in Montpellier (France). Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina will miss the first start of the pre-Olympic season. On his plans Aliya Mustafina told the special correspondent of the Agency of the sports information "All Sport" Mary Staroverova. - I'm just a week exercise in full force - said Aliya Mustafina. - In early February, I removed a cyst of the tooth and the tooth itself. But now all is well, the stitches removed, I train (smiles). Although back more worried. I think that it will now always be felt. But, at least, back does not hurt as much as before. Treatment in Germany went in my favor. In general, while I just get in shape. Back engaged, not really trained,...

Dolly-Z has provided the following news from her blog :  http://dolly-z.tumblr.com/post/112496835068/anastasia-grishina-will-miss-2015-russian -  'Anastasia Grishina will miss 2015 Russian Nationals due to the knee injury. Nastia injured her knee again, right before the Nationals. It happened on practice last week (end of the February) while she was doing vault. She was doing Double twisting Yurchenko, but underrotated the second twist and hurt the same knee she’d hurt last year. Doctors said there is nothing really serious. She luckily didn’t break any bone and didn’t tore anything! But she’ll have to miss Nationals. So sad to hear it. She was in a good shape. It took her a year to recover from her last injury she got in April 2014. And now such a disappointing moment again :( But she will be ok! Let’s wish her a speedy recovery! Stay strong, Nastia! ❤' It is only early in the season, so there is plenty of time for Nastia to recover and perhaps gain eligibility for competitio...

Picture courtesy of Viktoria Komova fan group on VK.com Source:  http://www.team-russia2016.ru/article/4655.html  via Lake Krugloye on Tumblr/Gymfever (http://lakekrugloye.tumblr.com) 'An interview with Valentina Rodionenko. Important information she shares: - The flu has been going around Round Lake. Those who will not compete at Nationals are Aliya Mustafina, Emin Garibov and Alexander Balandin, although is not because of flu but because of recovery from injuries. - Komova really wants to compete all around, but they have decided against it and she and Afanasyeva will just do two events.  - Kharenkova, Spiridonova, Bondareva and Dmitrieva all look very good. Tutkhalyan is increasing her difficulty on bars still.  - Candidates for European Championships will be considered from the top 3 athletes on each event. Even with mistakes at the event, they will look at potential and invite them to the camp. Final decisions will be made then.  - Main contenders for the E...