Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Photograph of Stella Zakharova, courtesy of the Kiev Times Amid rising political and military tensions in Ukraine, former Soviet gymnastics champion Stella Zakharova, now a resident of Kiev, is struggling to find government support for her gymnastics competition, the Stella Zakharova Cup, last year supported by a strong field of competitors including teams from Russia, Japan and Brazil as well as the home team.   The competition is reliant on government support for part of its funding and also for confirmation of the competition dates.  Originally scheduled for March 29th and 30th, the competition was first rescheduled for April but its postponement currently appears indefinite.  Zakharova is complaining that  Minister of Sport and Youth, Dmitri Bulatov, is ignoring her requests for support and information.  She is conducting a fairly vocal campaign, having appeared recently on Ukrainian radio and in a number of local press reports.  The latest story about ...

Stella Zakharova today, courtesy of her Facebook page 1980 gold medal Olympian and 1979 and 1980 World Cup all around champion Stella Zakharova has contributed to a round table of Ukrainian artists and athletes on the Ukraine crisis. Other participants are Nina Matvienko (artist) and Evgen Nischchuk (Ukrainian minister of culture). 'Let us work together to raise Ukraine', says Stella.   Stella says a video of athletes and artists speaking about Ukraine is in preparation. Since retiring from big time gymnastics in 1980, Stella has married and is the mother of two children.  She is an outspoken supporter of Ukrainian gymnastics, and has her own annual international competition, the Stella Zakharova Cup, currently in its thirteenth year.  The competition regularly attracts top gymnasts and is sanctioned by the FIG, but has had to be postponed this year because of the current troubles. Stella Zakharova on beam at the Moscow News competition in 1980 (gold all...

I want to send my love to Ukraine, and Russia, at this difficult time, in the hope that peace and stability can take the upper hand. The rumour is that Ukraine's Oleg Stepko has moved to Baku to train and compete as part of the Azerbaijan national team. Stella Zakharova has also been on TV saying that she hopes to stage the Zakharova Cup this year, but that things are very difficult. Ukraine and Russia are friends and rivals on the gymnastics podium.   I found the banner above on a Russian social media site that is regularly used by both Russians and Ukrainians.  Please post the banner on your social media sites, let's try to make a bigger noise for peace than is being made for war. Updated 15.28 Sunday.  1996 Olympic Champion Lilia Podkopayeva says on Facebook Lilia Podkopayeva Я – Лилия Подкопаева. Мама двоих чудесных малышей. Где бы мы не жили – во Львове, или в моем родном Донецке, мы – женщины, жены, мамы – хотим одного – счастливой жизни и мирно...