The Guardian sets out the timetable for the IOC decision and summarises the different viewpoints
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/23/russia-olympic-judgment-rio-2016-doping?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_b-gdnnews
Such a lot is said about artistry these days - but you don't really see much evidence of it in the gymnastics. There are flashing moments of brilliance that some people enjoy - for example, a gymnast like Brazil's Flavia Saraiva is a favourite for her spirited and expressive floor and beam. Others might prefer the structured work of a gymnast like Kyla Ross. For me, though, the idea of consummate artistry has been lost almost totally - the last time I saw anything like it was in 2012 when Komova performed her floor so brilliantly in the all around final. But without a mechanism to reward artistry - something that is absent from this Code of Points - there really isn't much point even trying any more. Aliya Mustafina was interviewed recently while on holiday in Italy and expressed the opinion that artistry was something that was inborn, rather than trained. She uses a metaphor to describe this - some gymnasts have five gears, not four, and the abilit...
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