Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Aliya Mustafina appears on the cover of a special edition of Sovietski Sport Press coverage of the Universiade is kicking off - you can find some pictures and videos on the RRG Facebook page. I will hope to be back tomorrow, with some details of the start lists or working order for Sunday's WAG team final.  But in the meantime, enjoy this interview with Maria Paseka, which also features shots of the women's team in training.

Aliya Mustafina - in Moscow, spring 2013 Russia's WAG team coach Evgeny Grebyonkin has today confirmed to Allsport that 2012 Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina will compete in Kazan next week as part of the much anticipated Universiade.  Grebyonkin was quick to explain that not much could be predicted - based on Aliya having missed a week's training - but that she was 'spoiling for a fight' and would likely come back into form in time for the WAG team final on the 7th July.  He does not say whether she will be expected to compete all around. Reserve Ekaterina Kramarenko had been expected to take Aliya's place in the team line up but will remain in Kazan and continue training with the team in case her contribution is needed.

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...

High summer has hit and with it an uncharacteristically high load of features to write ... to keep things up to date I will provide some brief links here to all the latest news. The historic Moscow Dynamo club , home to champions past and present including Emin Garibov, Sergei Kharkov, Natalia Ilienko, Olga Mostepanova, Tatiana Groshkova, Maria Goryunova and Nadezhda Ivanova, is being forced to transfer its operations for a minimum of three years to temporary facilities at the Olympiski stadium.  Dynamo's old building is being replaced by a brand new sporting facility funded by Russian sports sponsor, bank VTB, but the status of gymnastics within the new building is unconfirmed to date.  This temporary arrangement is far from ideal.  At present it seems likely that the Club will not be able to stage the annual Voronin Cup which has become such an important part of the international gymnastics calendar.   Removal arrangements seem highly informal, with the club ...

Valeria was sitting right next to me in the Olympiski Arena, Moscow, during the first day of the men's and women's event finals at the European Championships.  Her enthusiasm was infectious, her English excellent, and we soon got talking.   I'm really curious to know what makes gymnastics fans tick, so asked Valeria a few questions.  She has some very interesting and well articulated opinions. Valeria, what would you like to say about yourself? I'm 19 years old, live in Moscow, and study tourism management.   I love, of course, gym, cinema, travel. )) How did you first become interested in gymnastics? I became interested in gymnastics after watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics - in Russia, unfortunately, gymnastics is shown very rarely on the main channels, with poor commentators, so I was lucky to see it on cable TV, and I fell in love with gymnastics. :)) What is it about the sport that most excites you? I like the ...

Tatiana Nabieva will compete on vault and bars Russian teams for the Universiade (gymnastics competitions take place 7th to 10th July) have been announced. Team format is 5-4-3 : MAG : David Belyavski, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Denis Ablyazin, Emin Garibov, Mattei Petrov. Substitute - Nikita Ignatiev. Women: Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Tatiana Nabieva, Anna Dementieva, Maria Paseka Kuksenkov has only just gained eligibility to compete for Russia and this will be his first international appearance for his new team. Mustafina and Afanasyeva will compete all around. Nabieva has recovered from her injury and regained form and will be able to contribute on bars and vault, although she does not at present have a second vault.  If they want to win a medal on vault, they will have to take Maria Paseka.  There is an interview with Valentina Rodionenko about the selection here .  It is clear that there is still some final decision making left to do before the ...

They were brilliant, but did not make it to their final national teams for the World Championships, thanks to the sheer strength in depth of the Soviet team, or because they peaked too young. Enjoy a few of the best gymnasts never seen at World level - perhaps you would like to suggest a few more of your own? Yulia Kut, floor exercise, 1987 Nadezhda Ivanova, beam, 2004 Tatiana Kim, Floor, 1981 Alevtina Pryakhina, beam, 1986 - pity about that dismount Irina Viatinina, floor, 1988 Ekaterina Vandisheva, beam, 1993