Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Olga Mostepanova coaches a youngster a few days ago, at Moscow's historic Dynamo club Russian bank VTB, important sponsors of Russian gymnastics, features a photo opportunity on its website today about Moscow Dynamo, highlighting the skill of its coaches, the accomplishments of its great gymnasts, and the sport's secure future as part of its massive redevelopment of the Dynamo stadium. You will remember that back in July last year, RRG featured a story on Dynamo's great history, highlighting the Club's uncertain future as it made a move out of its traditional home to make way for the massive VTB Park development which will house multiple sporting facilities as part of efforts to build social and economic infrastructure.  The VTB Arena is expected to be the focus venue for the 2018 Football World Cup, so you will become familiar with this facility then, if not before!  Dynamo Gymnastics' future was in some doubt at that time as no promises could be made as to the reh...

This video was made by VTB, Russian bank and sponsors of Russian gymnastics.  Aliya sings part of a happy song to wish all their friends a good new year :-). http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-S4cpaPR4Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dt-S4cpaPR4Y

Olympic legend Larissa Latynina has been reflecting on Russian gymnastics in an interview with Pravda, and I am summarising below a paraphrased version of what she has said. Interesting that Russia is now beginning to reflect on the brain drain and loss of investment dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s and that is now affecting their competitive results.  There is also a fascinating article  on the mass exodus of coaches, including interviews with Valery Belenkyi, Vladimir Vatkin, Andrei Popov and Alexander Alexandrov.   I am hoping to have it translated for you in the coming weeks.   In the meantime, Larissa's words reflect so much of what has been covered in this blog over the last year.  Someone of her profile and significance speaking openly on this subject in the Russian press must show that her country is beginning to consider the loss, and perhaps the measures necessary for a recovery - if desired. "You know, I want to tell you that we ...

It's worth gaining access to a hard or digital copy of this month's (January/February) International Gymnast magazine to read John Crumlish's interview with Mustafina and Alexandrov. Crumlish highlights how Alexandrov and Mustafina have built a strong working relationship in the two years they have been together, with Alexandrov likening aspects of Aliya's personality to his former protege, 1983 and 1987 World Champion Dmitri Bilozerchev. He also comments on how Mustafina's father, an Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling [note: I believe he still coaches the sport] has been figural in her development as a competitor. He attributes the Russian team's recent success to the influx of talented newcomers onto the team and the increased levels of difficulty they bring. He also values the rejuvenation and refocussing of the coaching team. Looking forward, but echoing a similar interview International Gymnast published with Leonid Arkaev back in 1988 or 19...

If revolutions can only be acknowledged and recognised with hindsight, we are still too early to celebrate the Russian women’s team and all around victory at the Rotterdam World Championships 2010 as such. In many ways, Russian gymnastics is only beginning to turn a corner and to build the foundations for future more solid and consistent victories. The women’s team looks strong; over this weekend we have seen an impressive number of medal winning performances all across Europe. The Russians appear to be building strong reserves as well as celebrating the achievements of their medal winners. But we are still some distance away from witnessing a force to compare with the relentless, invincible gymnastics machine that was the Soviet Union. The technical, political, funding, human resources and artistic changes that Russian gymnastics needs to undergo to reach such a position are still very much underway. Media coverage of the world championships, and in particular during and po...