Simone Biles is not the only story in Olympic gymnastics, though she may be the easiest and most compelling angle for general sports reporters. Actually, though, a bigger story is that the Russians aren’t at these Games - well, apart from a few judges and officials whose wisdom, technical knowledge and taste distinctions obviously make the sport of gymnastics hang together. At least the FIG must think so and the IOC must agree, as they have given the judges permission to attend and officiate. If some branches of social media are to be believed, even Russian journalists have been declined accreditation at the Games - just in case they are spies. Bercy is haunted by the ghost of Russians past and present who have filled its vertiginous, intimate rangs with passionate, noisy and highly knowledgeable followers for decade after decade of heady gymnastics. Every great Soviet and Russian must at some point have competed here in this grassy clad arena, surr...
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.