Coach to Nikolai Andrianov, Founder of the Vladimir School of Gymnastics, Nikolai Tolkachev In the historic city of Vladimir, 200 km east of Moscow, the Nikolai Tolkachev School of Gymnastics has been home to many great Soviet and Russian champions. Local press has provided a portrait of this famous school which is named after its founder. In this piece the author, Viktoria Kononova, looks to the future as well as the past. Gymnastics fans new and old will recognise some of the names and faces. The Tolkachev School of Gymnastics creates champions. The coaches tirelessly prepare athletes. This Olympic Reserve School was established in 1961 and, by 1991, at the request of the team, it was named after Nikolai Tolkachev. The School has developed many great gymnasts who have rocked the whole world: Nikolai Andrianov, Merited Master of Sports, a seven-time Olympic champion, multiple World and European champion, winner of the first World Cup in gymnastics; Vladim...
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.