Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

David Belyavski has today won the all around competition at the Russia Cup, Penza, ahead of Sergei Khorokhodin and Igor Pakhomenko. Belyavski, who turns 20 in October, hails from Ekaterinburg where he is trained by V Lomaev and P Kitaiski.  He came to Penza after a disappointing European Championships, where his performance was compromised by a pinched nerve in his neck. In a close competition for second place, veteran  Khorokhodin narrowly pipped Pakhomenko, by only .065.  Russia's other strong all arounder, Emin Garibov, did not compete here at the decision of the coaches. With Anton Golotsutskov sadly reported to be doubtful for the Games (in hospital for three weeks at least),and no evidence of veteran Maxim Devyatovski in the competition, it seems likely that the Russian team in London will be dominated by the new wave of driving, ambitious gymnasts such as Belyavski, Garibov, Denis Ablyazin and Alexander Balandin.  Rings specialist Konstantin Pluzhn...

L to R : Emin Garibov, Nikita Ignatyev, Igor Pakhomenko took the honours at today's Russian Championships Siberia showed their strength at today's Russian Championships as two of their gymnasts finished in the top three in the all around competition.  Nikita Ignatyev, born 21st June 1992, trains at the Dynamo team in Leninsk Kuznetsk alongside training mate and bronze medallist Igor Pakhomenko (10th June 1992).  Both share the same personal coach: Dmitriy Chunosov.  Silver medalist Emin Garibov (8th September 1990) trains at the Dynamo Moscow club. Ignatyev is rarely to be seen without a smile on his face and seems to be the life and soul of the party whenever the cameras are turned on him.  In a recent interview (Antonova, 2011) he commented : I'm a happy person, loving life.  I just have that feeling inside me.  Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, of course, when it's grey outside for example, but overall I have a positive outlook on life.  I c...

Dear readers, I haven't been able to update my blog much recently, but I want you to know about the Voronin Cup which begins tomorrow!  This is looking to be a very exciting competition.  Kristal at Double Front has posted much of the essential information, and I'll hope to comment on the results once they become available. Much work is underway for this blog and beyond ... oh and I managed to secure tickets for two sessions at the Test Event, at which Russians Igor Pakhomenko, Nikita Ignatyev, Anastasia Sidorova and Anastasia Grishina are listed as competing ... It's a new year soon. PS I really love that on this link here  which I copied from Double Front, there is a row of pretty badges which represent each of the republics of the Russian Federation, and when you link on them you go to the websites of the respective national governments.  I love that kind of thing, but wish I had stuck at my Russian classes.

Albert at the All Around Forum has posted a Google translate of an interview with Russian national and World Championships team member, Igor Pakhomenko.  This comes from the Russian Federation's website under their repository of press coverage. The interview is credited to Alexander Sklyarenko Igor, an 18 year old, comes from Siberia, and is one of a significant group of Siberian gymnasts who formed part of the Russian team in Rotterdam.  In this interview he also mentions 14 year old Andrei Logutov, who only last week performed well at the Siberian leg of the Russian Federal Championships (detailed results to follow). Google translate: Igor Pakhomenko: "After the World Cup I felt like an adult" Last year, Igor Pakhomenko of Leninsk-Kuznetsk was one of those young gymnasts who have declared themselves in full voice. After success at the Cup of Russia, where he finished second in the all-around and the competition on the bar, and also won a bronze medal on floor...