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...
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.

Ok, if IOC will ban whole Russian team from Rio, that means that we will see Mustafina in Tokyo 2020?
ReplyDeleteIf so, her supreme performances in Bern are to be her swan songs, I suppose.
DeleteI doubt we'll see Aliya in 2017, let alone Tokyo! There's now even a chance we'll never see her compete again!
ReplyDeleteSigh. This is all so awful.
All the United States papers are stating the ban went through....WTF?!!! These are reputable papers.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete