Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

And finally, the anthem of gymnastics has been played in honour of the Russian team at a World Championships. Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Anna Dementieva, Tatiana Nabieva, Ksenia Semenova and Ekaterina Kurbatova fought like titans to win Russia's first ever world team gold medals, at the 2010 World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam today. Detailed results are available at http://www.longinestiming.com/sports/gym/ag_wc2k10w/C73D_ResultsTeam_GA%20Women%20Senior_Concours%20IV.pdf And there is the most gorgeous short video highlights on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ZfaGLIcJQ Have the soundtrack turned up, and handkerchief at the ready. I wanted this significant victory to be recorded on my blog as quickly as possible. The least I can say is that I am very, very pleased. And Happy 18th Birthday to Ksenia Semenova!!! More to follow.

A news feature has appeared at http://rus.ruvr.ru/2010/10/08/24773120.html highlighting the migration of Russian coaches overseas as a major factor in the downturn in Russian gymnastics recently. Not a surprise, but Valentina Rodienenko quantifies this, asserting that around 364 coaches from the former Soviet Union have left the country. So enhancing the skills of coaches through a programme of training is a priority if the Russian resurgence is to be maintained long term. Some lovely pictures of the Russian girls are on the Federation's website at http://www.sportgymrus.ru/press/photo/3677/4070/default.aspx and include shots of the ever beautiful Liubov Burda, her fellow judges Shevchenko and Korolenko and coaches of the team, including, for the record Viktor Gavrichenkov (shown here with Ekaterina Kurbatova) Alexander Alexandrov Andrei Rodienenko Vassily Alexandrovich (acrobatics coach) Vera Kiryashova (coach of Nabieva) Marina Nazarova (coach of Afanasyeva and Semenova) Vladim...

Thought it would be fun to compile a list of ex-Soviet gymnasts and coaches at the Rotterdam World Championships in an official capacity. This, in no particular order, is derived from the list of nominative registrations - please add more as I will doubtless have missed many! Anatoli Yarmovski – MAG coach, Azerbaijan Galina Marinova (Bulgaria) – guest of the BLR team and apparently of USA team! Same person? Elena Davydova with the CAN team as WAG coach Valeri Belenki – MAG coach, German delegation Andrei Rodienenko - Head of Delegation, RUS Alexander Alexandrov - WAG Team Manager, RUS Oksana Chusovitina – gymnast, German delegation (!) Andrei Popov with the GBR delegation as MAG coach Vladimir Chertkov WAG coach with India team Boris Orlov MAG coach NED delegation Elena Zamolodchikova accompanying person RUS delegation Elena Shevchenko WAG judge RUS delegation Oksana Omelianchik WAG judge UKR delegation Igor Korobchinski WAG coach UKR Artur Akopyan – WAG additional coach, USA delega...