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Afanasyeva to miss Russia Cup, but hopes for Rio

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Twice World Champion Ksenia Afanasyeva will miss Russia Cup later this month to recover from surgery to her ankle, reports TASS this morning.  The vault and floor specialist flew home from Munich on Saturday.  This is the fourth operation that Ksenia has had to a torn ligament in her right ankle, an injury that originally surfaced during preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

'I would not call it an operation [so much as a procedure]', said head coach Valentina Rodionenko, 'It is an old injury that the doctors have cleaned up.  We are really hoping for her to compete in Rio.'

Afanasyeva said that dependent upon her recovery and selection for the national team, she hoped to be able to compete in Rio.

Good luck to Ksenia as she works to recover from her surgery!  


TASS report by Pavel Gurevich

Further reading on RRG:

'They call me crazy for thinking of 2020' - Interview with Ksenia 

Sports Express interview with Afanasyeva from May 2014, where she discusses her injury

Injury update about Mustafina and Afanasyeva, October 2015

The magnificent Afanasyeva - key points of an interview with Ksenia, April 2015

'Strong character and skill will serve as a collateral for your athletic success' - Ksenia is presented with an award by the local Governor - April 2015

A symphony of Ksenia Afanasyeva - April 2014 picture gallery 

'Winning gold gave me the strength to carry on' - Afanasyeva in 2014

Afanasyeva!  - An appreciation of Ksenia after her gold in 2013 Europeans

Afanasyeva - confidence, errors and support.  An interview with the team captain after the 2012 Olympics

Marina Nazarova: none of our girls come from rich families - interview with Ksenia's coach, just before the 2012 Olympics

Ksenia Afanasyeva : we are strong and beautiful.  Pre-2012 Olympics interview

Afanasyeva out of 2012 Europeans

Interview with Ksenia from April 2012
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Comments

  1. Anonymous20 June 2016 at 12:49

    I don't understand why they had to bring Afan to Euros and make her do vault if she was injured :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queen Elizabeth20 June 2016 at 12:55

      I think that Ksenia would say that she wanted to help the team ... but I know, she has suffered such a lot. The Russian team needs more strength in depth so that they do not have to rely on the same gymnasts over and over ...

      But, let's support Ksenia and give her all the love and support we can from a distance.

      Delete
  2. R.20 June 2016 at 13:29

    To be honest, since Afan could only do VT in Bern anyway, she should just not have gone and Russia could've taken Kapitonova or Kharenkova in her place. Either count a FTY or use Aliya's DTY. Rio should've been the target and while I understand the rationale behind giving the gymnasts who are most likely to be part of the team some recent competitive experience before it, there isn't a point if that experience ends up injuring them so badly they can't go to Rio!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown20 June 2016 at 19:30

      My understanding was that she went to compete floor and vault because her name was on the line up, but it was there that they realised she wouldn't be able to compete on her feet.

      Delete
    2. R.21 June 2016 at 15:18

      Yeah, but they should've just swapped her out and flown in their alternate (Kapitonova). They did it last year for Euros when Sosnitskaya was injured in PT.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous21 June 2016 at 08:05

    This is such a bad coaching practice. If the main goal is for her to compete in Rio why brought her in Bern? Knowing that doing anything heavy even if it's just for vaulting can worsen her foot? What about other gymnasts who are capable like Kharenkova, Kapitanova, and Skrypnik? If she makes it to the Olympics what will happen to her health after that? Is Valentina even thinking of the health of these wonderful gymnasts? Although it's very hard to accept that we won't see Komova compete in Rio but I commend her for prioritizing her health more than anything else which is a good decision for her and her future.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous29 June 2016 at 09:07

    Kharenkova is out from Russian Cup roster ;(

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous29 June 2016 at 13:13

    Mustafina in 5th! Seda is second

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2 July 2016 at 10:05

    Queen Elizabeth, from today, some strange news about Afanasyeva from Rodionenko, she says that in middle of july doctor from Munich will came to Moscow to test Afan leg and after that they will tell will or not she make the team in Rio http://tass.ru/sport/3425454 PS thay want Afan to prepare only full fx to Rio :/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous2 July 2016 at 11:23

    news about Kharenkova injury and she will travel to Munich to treatment alongside the Komova in middle of july http://tass.ru/sport/3425499

    ReplyDelete

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