An interview with the new Russian leader Angelina Melnikova. She sounds like such a nice, level-headed, serious girl. I can't wait to see her compete at Europeans.
Angelina Melnikova from Voronezh has won three top awards in the Russian Championships - in the all-around, exercise, balance beam and floor exercise. After a successful debut at the senior level the 15-year-old gymnast has been included in the national team for the European Championships, which will take place from 26 May to 5 June in Switzerland. In conversation with 'Stadion' correspondent, Alexander Barmina, the athlete shared her impressions from the competition:
- Of course, I am very happy that the competition went so well for me. I was worried - in fact this is my first "adult" Championship. On Sunday, when the event medals were contested on the balance beam and floor, I was drawn to go first. For me, this is always easier, because when there is a wait, it is very scary, and the excitement builds. When you are first, you don't think about the possibility of falling, you just warm up and go and do everything you can do. I had a slight error in one of my connecting elements, but otherwise everything else was done properly.
On the floor exercise it was a little bit hard - there was accumulated fatigue - especially in my legs. One of my turns was not ideal. I had to do it as if on "someone else's" leg. Many of them work in training, but it can be difficult to avoid mistakes.
I am considered an expert in the all-around, so that I don't have a favourite apparatus. I probably don't have a weaker apparatus, either. However, I don't yet have a second vault. It is necessary for me to increase my values there, and improve my performance. On the other apparatus, I have simply to "clean up." On uneven bars, maybe I will add some difficulty, "connect" something. This is when it comes to preparing for the Olympics - of course, competing there is my dream.
My grandmother brought me to the gym ten years ago when I was six years old. Immediately I liked everything. When we were young, we all admired Vika Komova. When she came to us in the gym, we would always have photographs. Today I have no idols in the gym.
Source - http://stadium.ru/news/10-04-2016-angelina-melnikova-schitayus-spetsialistom-po-mnogoboryu-lyubimih-vidov-u-menya-net-otstayuschih-toje
Is she hinting at a vault upgrade ļæ½ļæ½ it seems difficult to do in the remaining 3 months but that would help Russias team performance greatly. And speaking of vault upgrades, any news as to whether or not Afan is bringing back her amanar? Seems like she totally wasted it in 2013, it would be so valuable now. The only solid amanar the US has right now is Biles.
ReplyDeleteThe thing with Afan's Amanar is that she doesn't really *have* an Amanar - she's landed it twice, both times in competition, and that's awesome, but it's not like she has an Amanar that she can do whenever she feels like. In training she barely hits it, which is why she keeps it just for event finals (no point in taking the risk in qualifications or TFs, but in EFs she'll either medal or nothing).
DeleteIt is better to have a gymnast who doesn't hit in training but hits in competition than vice versa. I know Afans amanar hasn't been seen since 2013 which is why I was asking if there was any news at to whether or not she was training it. She would be most valuable with a strong vault and strong floor. At this point it would seem only worth it for her to do it during team finals because a vault medal is highly unlikely with her shaky execution and lesser second vault.
Delete^Afan did her Amanar in 2015.....and it was pretty good
Delete"I know Afans amanar hasn't been seen since 2013"
ReplyDeleteexcuse me? 2015 euros?
That's the one I was thinking of but for some reason thought it was 2013 oops gymnastics occurs too infrequently seems like years has passed! Thanks for the correction.
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