Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Moscow's Sambo club, a multi sports complex with a strong gymnastics history, is currently being demolished and rebuilt with new, improved facilities.  This is not the only example of ongoing sports development in Moscow as the new Dynamo complex, sponsored by VTB, approaches readiness.   Sambo has produced many world and Olympic champions, i ncluding Maria Paseka, Seda Tutkhalyan Alla Sosnitskaya and Elena Zamolodchikova. I  remember a time when Zamolidchikova could only practice her vault with full run up by beginning it in the corridor beyond the main gym, so this development has to be positive!   The club is also home to Greco-Roman wrestlers, with Seda's father, Gurgen Tutkhalyan, as a coach. Renat Layshev, who is an MP in the local Moscow Duma , and Director General of  the sports club, posted these pictures on his Instagram account. Ooo - I almost forgot to mention - figure skaters Evgeniya Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova also compete for the Sambo club! ...

Prosport is carrying the following article about Simone Biles, who they tip as a favourite for Olympic gold.  I thought I would share it here (Google translate in italics) as it gives an interesting perspective on where the Russians feel the sport is heading.  Elena Zamolidchikova and Alexander Alexandrov are both extensively quoted. Atypical American. Simon Biles on the way to Olympic gold Simone Biles, American gymnast, turned 18 on March 14, 2015. Shortly before this, the first in US history absolute Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton called Biles perhaps the most gifted athlete in the history of the sport. In 2014, Simon became the first gymnast for 40 years to win four gold at a World Championships. But Biles is not only talent. This is the first gymnast in recent years from the United States, who is not going to earn on its potential Olympic success. Text: Alexander Vladimirov March 15, 2015 9:35 The article on Prosport/Photo: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images / Fotob...

Yesterday in Moscow, gymnasts, dignitaries and athletes from all sports celebrated Physical Culture Day.  The Russian Gymnastics Federation has a great selection of pictures on their website, and I will post my favourites for you here. The one that captured my heart though - as I realised it was 30 years ago since the summer of the Oloumoc Alternative Olympics - was this picture of the all around champion at those Games, Olga Mostepanova, who scored a perfect 40 in the all around, the only gymnast ever to do so.  She was the ultimate gymnast, in so many ways. Videos of this competition are rare, the 'Holy Grail' of gymnastics.  But just look at this video of Olga on beam during the individual competition.  You will rarely, if ever, see an example of more ample perfection, technical, artistic and competitive.  I often wonder what would have happened in Pauley Pavilion (the venue for the Los Angeles Olympics) if only politics hadn't taken an ugly turn that summer....

Visit this link to view a charming short documentary (2002) on 1956 and 1960 Olympic All Around Champion, Larissa Latynina.  Latynina retired from competition in 1966 and took up post of Soviet National Coach for the women's team, a title she held until 1977. The documentary includes footage of Ukraine-born Latynina in competition in the 1950s, and more recently relaxing in her rural home in Russia, and attending the Russian Championships.  Towards the end of the documentary she is seen congratulating Elena Zamolodchikova, Anna Pavlova, and their coaches.