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| Denis Ablyazin - coach Sergei Starkin confirms that his preparations are going well |
Keep your eyes peeled over the coming days and weeks for news of the Russian team. Offical nominative registrations were published by the FIG over a week ago, but it is almost inevitable that there will be some changes to the team line-ups. Sources close to the Russian team hint that this year it may be their men's team, and in particular specialist Denis Ablyazin, who has the best chance of shining on the podium in Glasgow. And personal coach, Sergei Starkin, has indirectly confirmed that Aliya Mustafina may well not participate in this month's World Championships, the latest turn in a long round of statement-and-counter-statements made by the Russian team about their Olympic star.
As usual there remain significant question marks over the readiness of the women's team. Journalist Natalia Kalugina visited Lake Krugloye yesterday and her reports indicate that there is still room - and time - for improvements to be made. The gymnastics expert picked out Daria Spiridonova as Russia's leading all arounder at this moment in time, and praised Ksenia Afanasyeva for her floor work, although she was not training yesterday because of a high fever. Maria Paseka is 'as reliable as a tank'. But there are no miracle improvements - Komova's beam work is still hesitant, the team as a whole remains weak on floor, and is prone to falls. Under the circumstances the Worlds draw, which has the Russians finishing on beam in qualifications, is considered rather unfavourable.
Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina's status for these Worlds still remains uncertain. In an interview published today, coach Sergei Starkin explained that Aliya will resume full training AFTER the World Championships. This strongly suggests that Aliya isn't ready for Worlds, therefore, but Starkin goes on to explain that Rio remains the gymnast's main goal, albeit with some changes. 'Slight adjustments will be made to Aliya's plans and objectives, perhaps with the emphasis on the team', he said, adding that she would train all around. But really, Russia's depth issues mean that much of the strain still rests on the heads of the veterans from London. 'After the Games, Aliya was really unbearably tired', he added.
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| Evgeniya Shelgunova at the recent Sidharulidze tournament |
Certainly the main protagonists are not speaking with one voice. And it continues - to bring things right up to date, Starkin's polite and slightly obtuse discussion of Aliya's future plans adds authority to the idea of a gymnast who isn't really ready to compete despite what the team management have been saying. The idea that she is choosing not to be in Glasgow isn't tragic, worrying or upsetting - after Aliya's long career she should be able to choose her competitions. Uncertainty is the nature of competitive gymnastics. But Russia's rushed attempts to satisfy media demand for information may have painted an unfavourable picture, and this is an unnecessary distraction when the team is preparing for Worlds.
It's all the same in practice though - we still don't know anything but, probably, Mustafina won't be at Worlds. Evgeniya Shelgunova's name did not appear on the official nominative registrations published last month - but she is training with the team in Lake Krugloye and, according to Natalia Kalugina, doing quite well. Perhaps she will travel to Glasgow instead of Mustafina.
Starkin's picture of Ablyazin's training for Glasgow is somewhat more optimistic than Kalugina's reports of the Russian women. He confirms that he is satisfied that Denis has now stabilised his performance of the Yang vault and has overcome the adverse effects of a long-term shoulder injury for which he was treated in Germany shortly after the European Championships. Ablyazin will therefore compete rings in Glasgow.
In Lake Krugloye, and at Starkin's home gym, the Burtasy School of Gymnastics in Penza, a new floor has been installed that is the same make as the one that will be used in Glasgow and Rio. Starkin seems less than happy with this new floor, which he says doesn't give the same flight and rebound as others - he says he 'doesn't know of any gymnast who wouldn't complain about that'. Apparently the floor mat is of a different make to the other apparatus chosen for Rio. Practice on this mat will be vital preparation for the Olympics.
Denis's psychological preparations are going well, and Starkin suggests that he has overcome some of the nerves that gave him problems earlier in his career. Apparently he was unwell during the Russia Cup and his coach even suggesting withdrawing from the second day of event finals. Denis, however, would hear nothing of this (and went on to win vault!).
The team will travel to Glasgow on the 17th October, and the final test to determine who will travel will take place on the 14th October. Watch out over at the Russian Gymnastics Federation's website - they often have a press day at around this time of year, and there may be a photo gallery upcoming.
Russia's nominative registrations for the Glagow World Championships (23rd October - 1st November) are currently
MAG
Denis Ablyazin
David Belyavski
Nikita Ignatyev
Nikolai Kuksenkov
Nikita Nagorny
Ivan Stretovich
Alexei Rostov
WAG
Ksenia Afanasyeva
Viktoria Komova
Maria Paseka
Seda Tutkhalyan
Maria Kharenkova
Daria Spiridonova
Aliya Mustafina
Thank you for sharing this! I hope Mustafina does what is best for her. The young Russians need step up. Russian can't rely on Musty forever.
ReplyDeleteRussiafan
Yes I agree, the Russians should focus on Tutkhalyan, Melnikova and Sokova, is those three can master the Amanar, they will be on the Team
ReplyDeleteStarkin doesn't mention any injury. It's not clear if Mustafina is going to help the team in Glasgow or in Rio. We don't know what happened after Baku. After London she never did what was best for her.
ReplyDeleteYou know they're screwed for the AA when they pick Spiridonova as the strongest.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that Tutkhalyan has more AA potential, but I think her relative lack of experience makes the Rodionenkos nervous.
DeleteWe all know that Biles will win AA in Glasgow and Rio unless she falls under a bus. I think that Starkin's idea of Aliya contributing to the team has significance on a national scale and isn't just about Aliya.
Kalugina's ideas aren't earth shattering and only really say what we could have concluded after Russia Cup anyway. In my opinion Russia is building strength and consistency as a team (yes, even with all those falls). Difficulty and reliability will be vital in Rio and a mix of youth and experience could be powerful there.
Andrei Rodionenko would rather go for a solid silver than a risky gold. In my opinion he is handling a difficult period of Russia's gymnastics history well, but is perhaps a little too conservative and risk averse to reposition Russia as leaders.
I'm perhaps drifting off topic a little bit except for that a great gymnast and competitor like Mustafina needs to be able to see gold glistening in the distance to be motivated to really take things the extra mile necessary for greatness.
Thanks for this. I also don't think Aliya needs to be at Worlds. I doubt she is ready, and she seems to just want to be free at the moment. Rio is the main goal. They need to see how the team can do in a pressure tournament like this without Aliya, she won't be there forever to help them.
ReplyDeleteThey need to work the the youths because the veterans will soon retire.
I think aliya should compete at worlds if she feels ready, there are not reasons to rest her!
ReplyDeleteAny current updates on who will make the women's team? Is Aliya going to compete in the world championships or not or will they send someone else?
ReplyDeleteWell Aliya Mustafina will not be at Glasgow WC like an member of russian team, Dmitrieva will replace her, but according to V.Rod Aliya will attend WC like guest .... well well well opera buffa continuing :-) http://tass.ru/sport/2325851
ReplyDelete