Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

The RGF has just published this half hour documentary on its YouTube channel -  http://youtu.be/x9euD-9hLdk Shot in about 2004, it charts the struggles of a young boy - Yuri Ryazanov - as he progresses in his gymnastics career, aspiring to sporting achievements of the highest level, as exemplified in this film by the gymnastics 'God' Alexei Nemov. Black and white film enhances the intense atmosphere of the training and competition hall and there are some stunning close up shots of the haunting face of young Ryazanov.  Set in a background of  social and economic trauma as Russia finds its feet in the post-Soviet years, we understand that Yuri's life is one of order and discipline compared to the somewhat distressed community he sees around him in the centre of his home town, the city of Vladimir.  Pictures of a confident Nemov in training, and on the cover of 'Men's Fitness' magazine, lead us to suppose that sport provides the possibility of a better life. If onl...

We remember Yuri Ryazanov, 2008 Olympian and 2009 World All Around bronze medallist, who so tragically lost his life on 20 October 2009, just a few days after the World Championships which many of us had seen as his 'statement of intent' for the coming years.  Yuri was only 22 years old. Yuri came from the historic city of Vladimir, where he trained at the same School as Nikolai Andrianov, Yuri Korolev, Vladimir Artemov and, today, Nikolai Kuksenkov. RIP, Yuri. See Yuri's parallel bars routine, part of his bronze medal winning performance in the all around at 2009 Worlds, here .