Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Burtasy School of Gymnastics, Penza, will be hosting the all important Russian Cup competition, due to begin next Tuesday. Penza local boy Denis Ablyazin has already been confirmed as part of the Olympic team travelling to London on the 21st July alongside his fellow European medallists Emin Garibov and Alexander Balandin.  But the final composition of the team has to include two other gymnasts, plus one travelling reserve.  The Russians have some difficult decisions to make over the coming weeks as they try to find a compromise between the potential of such apparatus specialists as Anton Golotsutskov (floor, vault) and valuable all arounders such as David Belyavski and Nikita Ignatiev.  The team is weak on pommel horse and inconsistent on high bar. Whatever decision they make will be a compromise, and is not likely to please everyone.  Data gathered at the forthcoming Russian Cup will be vital, but I doubt will provide a definitive solution. The varying compe...

Denis Ablyazin in flight, during his vault at yesterday's qualifying.  Picture by Elena Mikhailova, courtesy of the RGF  The Russian team sits in second place in team qualifying behind the British team after a hot and cold performance on the first day of senior competition at the European Championships in Montpelier.     Five gymnasts selected for their event finals potential provided fans with highlights and lowlights, the highlights including Denis Ablyazin’s highly acrobatic floor routine and dynamic vaulting which currently lead the scoring on these two events.   Also qualified in first place on high bar is Emin Garibov, with Alexander Balandin sitting in second place on rings.    Gympower has caught a video of Ablyazin's floor, and of course I am sceptical.  The tumbling is impressive - such a lot of it, and well performed as far as can be seen.  But is this really gymnastics?  What do you think?  Is this th...