Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

2010 may well be looked back on as a revolutionary year for Russian women’s gymnastics, although the turn round is not yet complete. Only outstanding results in 2011 will cement the good beginning of 2010 and provide a basis for the key year of 2012. New and even newer talent will need to establish itself in what is becoming a fearsomely competitive national and international scene. All gymnasts will have to perform at their best if the team is to show its strongest face. The Russian coaches will have to make some difficult selection decisions if they are to strengthen and deepen the team as they approach the Olympic year. Their ultimate goal will of course be to present the best possible team in 2012, in addition to making a strong showing at this year’s major competitions. They have a very young squad, many of whom will need battle hardening before the London outing, and they also need to solidify their team identity and roles, and enhance reputations. I suppose there is o...

Galina at the Russian Federation's message board has now posted results of yesterday's event finals, kindly in English.  Aliya Mustafina gained two golds in the finals she competed, vault and floor.  Nabieva took bars, and Anna Pavlova took beam. In the junior competition Anastasia Sidorova won first in vault, beam and floor, leaving bars to Ukrainian Alina Vasilievna.  Sidorova did not qualify to bars final following a major break during a transition from high to low bar, but this was an otherwise dominant performance by this emerging young gymnast. Top three finishers are provided below.  All gymnasts were competing for Russia, unless otherwise stated. Senior competition Vault 1 Nabieva T         14.8 2 Chusovitina O    14.375 3 Pavlova A           14.25 A Bars 1         Mustafina A         ...

This morning, I wanted to reflect on the present, and the near future. Only 9 days to go till the World Championships in Rotterdam (well, podium training begins in 9 days). Can the Russian women win? What is the significance of this competition to them? Is it possible to predict the outcome of a competition? Does it matter who takes the medals? What is ‘winning’, anyway? We all know that medals will be distributed in team, all-around, and event finals, and that huge emotional significance is attached to world titles. And not just for the competitors - I personally will cry buckets if Russia win any kind of gold. But let’s be pragmatic. Rotterdam is only a step on the way to the London 2012 Olympics, and all the athletes there must tread a precarious psychological pathway between living in the now, and preparing for the future, en route to probably the biggest experience of their lives (which some of them may not make). Rotterdam is merely a battle, not the who...