Mustafina needs more connections without intermediate swing, says coach Zaglada Russian gymnastics is at another one of those turning points ... at the beginning of a new Olympiad, it is time to review and renew. This post examines the state of Russian WAG gymnastics today, in the context of its cultural roots. Coach Vladimir Zaglada also shares his creative vision for the future in a vibrant interview that considers possible future directions for the Russian team. When I first began following gymnastics, over forty years ago, the cultural influence of Soviet Russia on the sport was very, very strong. Not only did the Soviet Union (USSR) win a large proportion of the major events (in particular WAG - see for example this post on the 1974 World Championships ), the form of the sport also mirrored their concept of gymnastics as something close to the cultural origins of dance and ballet. The Soviet authorities used sport to communicate their cultural and political values t...
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.