"In Rio, we must go and win" In an interview with Oksana Tonkacheeva of Novyi Izvestia, two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina has expressed some outspoken opinions about the Russian team and the forthcoming Olympics. The occasion is her appointment as First Deputy Chief of CSKA (Moscow CSKA is the home club of Aliya Mustafina and Anastasia Grishina). This is a significant development - the appointment was made by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. World champion biathlete Svetlana Ishmuratova has been appointed to a similar position. The overall head of CSKA is Colonel Baryshev. [Ed's note - It is interesting to see the growing profile of CSKA as a national force in implementing training strategy in the Russian Federation.] Svetlana says she is grateful for the confidence the Minister placed in her and that she feels she has always been able to make a difference to Russia's performance in the sporting arena. 'I hope that my knowledge and skills wi...
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.