Picture of Aliya Mustafina, courtesy of RGF Valentina Rodionenko has provided some updates on the Russian teams and how their preparation for Worlds (Nanning, China, 3 to 12 October) is progressing, via Allsports (http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=84328) - The teams are now at camp in Italy, in two small towns close to Milan, by the sea, where the girls travelled on 29th June and the men on 1 July. The athletes aren't only training, they can also relax. - Komova is working out at Round Lake, she didn't go to Italy. We will see how she does at the Russia Cup, which will be held late August in Penza. Tatiana Nabiyeva is looking good in training and the other girls are also working. Ksenia Afanasyeva won't have time to prepare for Worlds, and Anastasia Grishina's participation is also in doubt, we just don't know if she will qualify for the team. We have hopes for Aliya Mustafina. As always, she is our number one. It would be great if there were t...
Hmmmm, I think is is great how wonderful of a leader Mustafina is, but at the same time, it seems unhealthy that the gymnasts are having a hard time without her. Sure, the team total isn't as high and it may be a little disheartening without their leader, but should the individual gymnasts' performance and preparation really be affected that much? I can hardly imagine this happening if, say, Simone Biles got injured and was out.
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