Skip to main content
By
In assessing the state of Russian WAG team prospects for Rio and later, we must look beyond the euphoria and flurry of apparatus medals taken by the girls today and yesterday.  These results might look good, but all of the medals were taken by young women in their twenties, at a reasonably advanced stage of their career.  Russia has promise - young Seda Tutkhalyan clearly relishes competition, and Maria Kharenkova has great potential on beam and floor - but time and again Russia fails to transition its promise to gold, and has to fall back on its 2012 Olympians.

The truth is that Russia is now in the main a team of veterans, relying on recovering heroes.  There is relatively little strength in depth.  After Rio, with the probable retirement of Afanasyeva and Mustafina, who will be left of world-beating class?   With declining participation and uninspired leadership, where are tomorrow's champions?  Who are the up and coming coaches?  

Will a change of leadership help and, if so, who could step in to take things forward?  If so, who could take the reins? Former Soviet and Russian supreme Arkayev, now well into his seventies?  Oleg Ostapenko?  Alexander Alexandrov?

This has been a continuing theme of RRG since Alexandrov's departure from the Russian team in 2013.  The great coach of multiple World and Olympic Champions gave me an interview then that covered many of the key problems and issues at some length.  Now,

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

Russia Cup - the road to Nanning!

By
The Russian MAG and WAG teams take their preparation for World Championships in Nanning one step further this week, as key players compete in the annual Russia Cup in Penza.  There will be team, all around and event finals. The WAG team Last year the gymnasts were rather depleted and suffering the effects of injury; this year the national squad is still short of some of its top members, but has greater diversity and experience up and coming into the ranks, so it will be an interesting time.  Last year saw St Petersburg gymnast and fan favourite Tatiana Nabiyeva lead the all around, ahead of Alla Sosnitskaya, Anna Pavlova, Anna Rodionova, Ekaterina Kramarenko and Polina Fyodorova.  With the individual-only World Championships up coming in Antwerp, I remember writing that Russia might well decide to send a team of only three gymnasts, such was the paucity of available talent.  The final reckoning saw Russia fare a little better than this, although performance lacked depth and re
32 comments
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more