Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

The UEG's website gives a full set of results for the competition, but I'm sufficiently obsessed to provide images of the key ones to the junior Russian gymnasts here.  There will be a separate post of images of the senior results also. Please note, there was no official team competition at this event - however, the winners of this competition (RUS/ITA/ROM) were presented with medals. A close fight in this final with the mature and powerful Scheder ending up in first position following a .3 upgrade of her SV thanks to an appeal from the Germans  - uplifting her finish from bronze to gold. The first of two gold medals for Kharenkova on the final day.  Here she increased her SV from 5.8 in qualifications to 6.1, the highest of any gymnast on any apparatus in the whole of the junior competition. Kharenkova's floor was the routine of the competition for me, both senior and junior.  Even with a .1 penalty for going out of the area she looked by fa...

The USA Gymnastics federation has done a great job of posting videos from the Pacific Rim competition .  Here are a few of the key Russians. Maria Kharenkova , floor (bronze medal)  SV 5.4, E 8.55 She makes nice eye contact and is expressive for such a young girl.  The music requires more of her than mere poses.  Very energetic and fast in her tumbling.  I could watch this floor routine over and again. Grigory Zyrianov, pommel horse (silver medal) SV 5.2 E 8.8 It's just so good to see a Russian perform pommels without an error.  Zyrianov has good line and looks composed and determined. Ekaterina Baturina , uneven bars (7th place) SV 5.1 E 8.075 Baturina comes off on her Pak here, and has a tic in its performance, splaying her feet outwards like little cats' ears.  Yes, they are flexed, but they are flexed with style .  And just watch how she swings!! Sergei Stepanov , rings (silver) SV 5.4, E 8.75 I love the facial expressi...

The Pacific Rim competition is now well under way, and proving to be interesting.  Russia sent junior and senior teams in both the men's and women's competitions, with the juniors providing a real point of interest in terms of selection for the forthcoming Junior European Championships.  Startlists for today's men's competition can be found here and here .  Quick hit descriptions of routines for the men's and women's competitions can also be found here .  Gymnastics Examiner also has a list of which of the women have qualified for event finals tomorrow. Full results of the women's junior competition show Rostov-on-Don's Maria Kharenkova providing the highlight of the Russian performance across both seniors and juniors, to finish fourth (52.95) with a high note of 14 on her specialist piece, beam.  Ekaterina Baturina finished 5th, only .6 behind Kharenkova. Anastasia Belova ended in 10th place.  In the senior competition newcomer Anastasia Marchuk l...