Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Russian Championships came to an end on Saturday with event finals in both the senior and junior categories.  As usual, the juniors competed in two separate classifications, Master of Sport and Candidate Master of Sport.  We saw the emergence of a very young new star, Ivan Stretovich, who turns 16 in October and trains in Novosibirsk with coach B Konvissar.  Ivan won either gold or silver on every apparatus except vault, for which he did not present (the first day's results can be found here ).  Stretovich's success further underlines the growing dominance of Siberia as a force in Russian men's gymnastics with strength in depth throughout the ranks. Left : Ivan Stretovich picks up one of his silver awards last week.  Identity of the other two gymnasts to be confirmed as soon as possible!  Picture courtesy of the RGF In the Master of Sport category Grigory Zyrianov took gold on both parallel bars and high bar. Full results are given below. Master of...

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...

Three Russian men emerged at these games - Grigori Zyrianov, Andrei Lagutov (referred to elsewhere as 'Logutov') and Sergei Stepanov.  Here are their biographical details as listed on the Russian Federation's website. Grigori Zyrianov - born 22nd January 1996 (15 years old) trains at the Dynamo club in Kemerova with coaches N A Kotyakhov, L G Kotyakhova and A V Bekov Andrei Lagutov - born 14th October 1995 (15 years old), trains in Leninsk-Kuznetsk with coaches D D Chunasov and T V Popova Sergei Stepanov - born 26th May 1994 (17 years old), trains in Cheboksary with coaches I A Rudyanu, G F Stepanov and A S Vasilyev.