Viktoria wrote some hasty words last night in the heat of the moment. We all have such times, when hurt feelings lead us to behave uncharacteristically. It is not important what she said; it is important that Vika has reflected and wants us all to read this message which she published on VK.com this morning.
"Dear friends! I want to apologize for my statements about American girls, about drugs, all my words were spoken on emotions. Of course I haven't any proof and didn't really mean it and so on... I am so sorry. I want to apologize for my character to all of you".
Vika, we are still with you every step of the way.
Although, it's not the first time she showed she's a sore loser. And I don't believe she really meant this apology, I think it's just to shut people up.
ReplyDeleteI liked her apology until the "I have no proof" bit. You'll never get any proof Vika because their not on steroids. Just terrible...
ReplyDeleteI loved this blog until I read your last statement. Just wow! Even with her mistakes calling the Americans doping to win you would support her?
ReplyDeleteKomova is coming across as a sore looser. Instead of making accusations she should be in the gym and while she is at it learn how to stay on an apparatus.
ReplyDeleteThey always complain regardless of performance errors in their part. To the Russians as long as they don't get Gold there will always be some sort of cheating with the other teams. It shows a lack of sportsmanship not only with the Russian athletes, but with their coaches who displays the same behavior.
ReplyDeleteWith all their mistakes during the finals they expected to medal and get ahead with people who clearly performed better? Congrats to the British who did a phenomenal job!
She is such a sore loser. Even her apologies sounds like a standard one. Its is unacceptable that she is incapable of realizing that Russia not making the podium was only their fault. I always rooted for her, but not anymore. She is a grown woman. And needs to take responsibility for her actions.
ReplyDeleteShe may have beautiful lines and toe point, but pretty is as pretty does. I am not so sure, given her past behavior when she doesn't win, that her first reaction was all that uncharacteristic. It is high time to take some responsibility and stop behaving like a petulant child. Maybe better results will follow.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to take responsibility for their failures, methinks. And the coaches need to shut up--GB earned their medal.
ReplyDeleteApology accepted Vika, go on and bring that Gold medal on Bars.
ReplyDeleteJohn
I love Komova's gymnastics and am in no position to judge her character. Hope she does better in finals!
ReplyDeleteKomova is one of the most talented gymnast I have ever seen. But it seems that mentally she is not at the level where she needs to be. She really needs to change her attitude otherwise she would bring the team down
ReplyDeleteWell said. We all say stupid things at times, especially times of great disappointment. However, bars is the two Russians to win or lose, no excuses or accusations of cheating regardless of the result..
ReplyDeleteVika has a lot to learn from Aliya..
ReplyDeleteIt's cool Komova!!! I still got your back! Now stay on UB and BB in finals and get a gold medal!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you supporting a gymnast who accuses those who beat her of being on hormones and steroids?
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, but when you say that you are with her "every step of the way," then I lose respect for you as well as for Vika. Why would you support such behavior?
You owe the American girls an apology for wholeheartedly supporting someone who makes such an accusation.
Saying 'American' in gymnastics has become more than just an indication of the USA team. Sadly, it now draws a picture of The Hulk in hot pink.Team USA's diets do include various muscle mass boosters, the kind of supplements that you see used by weight lifters, endurance athletes, mixed martial arts fighters etc. (e.g. Jonathan Horton's instagram). Thing is, I reckon; she was expressing frustration at the change of sport, rather than attacking particular people. Her 'hasty' comment was a REPLY to an expression of frustration at the team's lack of strength. Immense physical strength is now compulsory in order to obtain a decent D score, muscle mass is important. These girls train as hard as anyone, but how would you feel if you were a featherweight trying to lift 110+? Your butt won't hurt as much if you fall on a D-shaped pillow, these girls don't really have one, so no wonder she's in pain.
ReplyDeleteKocian doesn't have huge body mass. But hit her routines when they counted. Four falls is representative of a lack of preparation and mental fortitude.
DeleteKocian doesn't have huge body mass. But hit her routines when they counted. Four falls is representative of a lack of preparation and mental fortitude.
DeleteBy the way, I've heard and read a lot of disparaging comments on Komova (questioning her mental toughness), and they have never apologized for saying so!!
ReplyDeleteJohn
John, questioning someone's mental toughness is not the same as accusing someone of doping. Also, Vika does have issues with lack of mental toughness. That is a fact.
DeleteThe American girls DO. NOT. DOPE. They do not deserve the baseless accusations.
I just... don't understand it. I think I'd be a little more forgiving if it weren't for the fact that Russia in general has been extremely poor sports this past quad, not just Vika. Heck, even Aliya says questionable things a times albeit with more grace. We can't say it was just hasty words and we can't excuse it with cultural differences. Vika is a grown woman and an experienced competitor and the language of sportsmanship is universal, and while her previous over emotional behavior could be chalked up to youth, it can't now. Personally, I am done defending her. I still wish her the best but I'm not going to bat for her either.
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that the Russian establishment encourages sore attitudes. Maybe the reason Russia loses so much is because they can't stop complaining? If this were an American saying the same thing, people would be much more unforgiving. But they don't say such things. They're too busy winning...
Not so sure.
DeleteAmericans are not always the perfect example of sportsmanship . Just remember when Maroney was so rude to Paseka in London vault final , and had such a stupid face when receiving silver medal.
She was not even critisized. People found that just funny.
Not so sure.
DeleteAmericans are not always the perfect example of sportsmanship . Just remember when Maroney was so rude to Paseka in London vault final , and had such a stupid face when receiving silver medal.
She was not even critisized. People found that just funny.
Oh, I so agree. Some of the American girls just are not open. But their faces say it all if the camera catches it. When things don't go their way.
DeleteEveryone makes mistakes and says things in the heat of the moment, let alone someone as young as she is. The American's themselves have said some questionable things in the past. I'm not justifying or condoning her actions, but she has already apologised. Why can't we just concentrate on her getting better for Rio?
ReplyDeleteVika lives a life of blameless excellence and support her 100%. She is beautiful and talented and everything you want in a modern gymnast.
ReplyDeleteRussia has to see that they have to improve on their team's psycological capacities in order to beat America. The main thing that sets America apart is that they hit their routines -yesterday, they hit all 12 routines- and Russia allows themselves a mistake here and there. Vika, as her team leader, fell on two apparatus and blames stereoids for her fail?
ReplyDeleteI am American and also a big fan of the Russian Team..It made me sad to see Vika fall twice from the beam and bars..However, it really makes me sad to see her complete lack of sportsmanship regarding the other teams...As we know, these gymnasts are drug tested ...I would have been very happy to see Russia receive a medal, just as I was happy for the US,China and GB to make the podium...
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to know that she has such rotten ideas in mind. Even if coaches around her make such ridiculous statements, she is an adult and should be able to think by herself, or at least have good sense and doesn't express these thoughts on social media.
ReplyDeleteEven the people on that VK group were calling her out on it. For example, they complimented Larisa Iordache for taking responsibility for Romania's bad performance (not putting the blame elsewhere like the Russians), were pleased that Raisman said such nice things about Vika's bars and pointed out the obvious things that are lacking in this year's Russian team and their routines.
ReplyDeleteI also support you , Vika.
ReplyDeleteNow focus on the finals .
The bars gold medal has your name
I agree with the apoligy 100%. I love Vika and I support her through it all
ReplyDeleteAmericans are on top of the gymnastic world at the moment, certainly with much help from coaches purloined from around the world. Sure, they are offered more money, better conditions and of course the coaches leave in droves, regardless of how patriotic they might be inside.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly frustrating for the Russian and Romanian kids who are training in much different conditions.
I would suggest that those on top be a bit more compassionate when a competitor gripes. The whole world can go topsy turvy in a blink of an eye.
Queen E,
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should do a post on physiques in gymnastics, and how they relate to movement and artistry. I do not believe that a certain type of physique is necessary to do well in gymnastics. (I believe Vika's frustration at the Russian team's small physical size compared to the US is misplaced.) The American girls have Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, and Madison Kocian. All three have very different physiques, and they are all excellent gymnasts.
Let's not forget, the Chinese finished with the silver medal. I would guess that the American and British gymnasts each outweighs the Chinese gymnasts by an average of 20 pounds per gymnast. However, China can still do hard tricks. They vault double twisting Yurchenko's. Their floor is looking a lot better this year.
And the Netherlands have used the Code masterfully. Sky-high pyrotechnics are not required to do well in gymnastics. And even if one argues that such pyrotechnics are required, many different body types can achieve it. Example: Kenzo Shirai and Denis Abliazin are the two best floor workers in the world. However, they have very different body types.
I would be interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions on this matter. Vika's careless (and ill-considered) comments could open the door to some thoughtful insights on this matter.
I can't believe Komova is such a sore loser. Like seriously? She is 20 now! No excuse for her behavior and for the words she said. I was hoping for a gold medal on finals night (In fact, I got sad after I saw they didn't make the podium), but with this, I can no longer support her like before.
ReplyDeleteI also, can't believe RRG condones such statements. To say they are on steroids... Really? Especially when some of these American girls (Like Aly for example) have the out most respect for not only her but her other teammates (like Aliya) as well.
OK folks - enough is enough - we can read a variety of views expressed in these comments. Can we leave Viktoria alone now?
ReplyDeleteI have quite a lot to say about the context in which all of this took place. Look out for a post in the coming days.
No one is perfect and Viktoria has said that she was wrong and has apologised. Not much more she can do - if you think that's not enough, think back to the last time you said a stupid thing to the wrong person - did you apologise? How would you feel?
I would, by the way, like to thank the American team for the graceful way they have behaved at these Worlds.
I support Vika wholeheartedly. She has been strong enough to admit her mistake and apologise.
No one on this blog is perfect -- we have all said bad things in the heat of frustration. The most important thing is that Vika apologized -- when one apologies, we should forgive.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Vika also needs to learn from this experience. In my opinion, what has held her back from true greatness is her attitude, which will now, once again -- mark my words -- hurt her performance. To grow as a gymnast, as well as a person, Vika has to learn that she and only she controls the outcome of her actions. Whether she falls from the beam, or falls from grace, she is responsible. The good news is: she can also be responsible for her excellence. She can also be great and grateful. The choice is hers -- not her fellow competitors, not her coaches. HERS!
I, as an American, truly wish you the best of luck during the Bars and Beam Finals, Vika!
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ReplyDeleteRose - I cannot contact you - please see post on Facebook.
There have been technical issues, meaning that not all comments can be published. I am sorry if this has affected you personally. Please just keep on enjoying gymnastics!