Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

A mature and, mostly, happy Russian collective dominated the Universiade today in Kazan, taking the team title by ten points over their nearest rival, Japan, and leading qualification in each of the remaining competitions, including the top two places in Tuesday's all around (Mustafina and Afanasyeva).  It was a confident, assured and relaxed performance from this experienced team whose only real error was by Afanasyeva on uneven bars (12.55), and much more gold is promised in the coming days. Russia's specialists had an opportunity to shine.  2010 World Team Champion Anna Dementyeva's beam routine was a real highlight, for me the best routine of the entire competition today and promising much for the fan favourite in Wednesday's event finals.  Dementyeva's beautiful line, execution and lightness of touch did justice to her country's heritage of excellence on this piece of apparatus.  Maria Paseka vaulted to promise and ended up in first place on her one ev...

The Gymnastics Centre, Kazan.  It can seat 3,200 spectators. Russia's gymnasts have arrived in Kazan and are ready to begin their competition on Sunday, with the WAG team final.  The teams travelled there by train, a journey of around eleven hours from Moscow, and the big news is that there is a question mark over the participation of Aliya Mustafina, who has been hospitalised for a short while because of a severe bout of flu.  There are mixed reports as to the likelihood of her participation here: head coach Grebyonkin says she has missed some of her training, but has a high chance of appearing on the podium subject to a medical assessment that will take place soon; state coach Valentina Rodionenko seems less optimistic, but says she will be in Kazan to support her team mates.  Let's just wait and see.  The WAG team includes captain Ksenia Afanasyeva, Anna Dementyeva, Tatiana Nabiyeva, Maria Paseka and Ekaterina Kramarenko.  Afanasyeva (two vaults...