Lupita has translated this ITAR-TASS interview with Nelli Kim. It's controversial, to say the least. Ed's note : much of the initial response to this interview - both here and in the wider gymternet - has focussed on the detail of Kim's words and especially her comments about Viktoria Komova, and smiling. But I think these have to be taken in context, and not too literally. Don't forget that just a day ago Andrei Rodionenko complained bitterly about the judging in Antwerp, calling Kim's behaviour 'aggressive'. Kim is responding to this here, and to the wider current context of Russian gymnastics. What she is essentially saying to the Russian coach is 'get your own house in order, produce confident, disciplined, well trained gymnasts - stop complaining, do your job, and I will do mine.' She goes about saying this in a somewhat long winded way and says some things along the way that seem contradictory, unfair, inappropriate even for th...
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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