Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

I cannot find the words to express my thoughts and feelings about the Nassar tragedy.  We are an international community of people motivated by a love for gymnastics.  In the main, young people are the only ones with the energy, skill and daring to be able to compete.  These young people are completely reliant on elders to train safely, to progress healthily and to be happy.  The betrayal when this all goes wrong is total and inexcusable.  To think that there is even one person exists who sees this reliance as an opportunity to hurt and repress individuals for the sake of their own pleasure - it is evil.  J K Rowling's Death Eaters, the Dementors of Harry Potter, have nothing on Nassar and his depraved, selfish pursuit of power.  The horror is complete.  I have awoken to the scale of this horror terribly slowly, as if incapable of distinguishing life from nightmare.  I am removed from the everyday reality of these awful experiences, yet...

The Guardian yesterday has an interesting article about the FIG's plans to introduce computer judging to gymnastics.  I suggest you give it a read. It won't surprise you to know that I have lots of things to say about this; I think that AI can contribute something to scoring, but not to judgement.  If the implementation of this initiative is not managed with common sense and imagination, we could find ourselves with a sport that is even more devoid of artistry and the aesthetic.   In response to a comment asking for evidence of biased judging, especially in favour of the USA, I commented as follows.  Would be interested in hearing your opinions.   'There is plenty [evidence of bias]. But the judging can be unreliable in all sorts of different directions, not just for the USA. The problem arises at Code level, when the grading of moves and the bonus points are determined. Every country has a say in this, but naturally those countries with the stro...

 Mustafina will return to Round Lake on 3 September to begin preparations for Euros in August 2018, says Valentina Rodionenko.  The Olympic Champion, who gave birth to daughter Alisa in early June, contacted the head coaches to ask for an invitation to camp.   Good luck, Aliya! Tass/Albert Starodubtsev http://tass.ru/sport/4514671

Russian promise Elena Eremina at control competition at Round Lake last week, 27th July.  Courtesy RGF www.sportgymrus.ru Hello friends and readers Just a quick line to say, I have not disappeared and I have not lost my love for Russian and Soviet gymnastics. I'm not writing on this blog at present, largely because I have another, bigger project to concentrate on, and I can't do everything.  Over the years, a great deal of material has accumulated here and the internet has become populated with masses more information, self generated, state generated and media generated, about gymnastics in all the various eras.  I am, therefore, currently undertaking the monster - but not onerous - task of trying to unravel all the strands, create records, and begin to work out a structure for everything that lies behind this blog.  My ambition, over the years, is to produce some more lasting publications based on the amazing things the gymnasts did, and to record their le...

Legendary coach Vladislav Rotstorotsky, genius, innovator, and 'infinitely kind' according to top Russian sports journalist Elena Vaitsekhovskaya, died yesterday aged 85.   Vladislav coached Soviet heroes Lioudmilla Tourischeva, Natalia Shaposhnikova and Natalia Yurchenko amongst others, including 1981 Soviet team member Alla Shishova.  His creative work shaped much of the art of gymnastics on show today.  On vault, bars, beam and floor his gymnasts innovated and amazed.  The names of Yurchenko and Shaposhnikova are engraved in the sport's vocabulary. Rotstorotsky believed in gymnastics as an end to itself.  Gold medals were not the only aim.  A favourite saying of his was 'Do not shame gymnastics'.  He encouraged his athletes to participate in the arts and to enjoy literature, encouraging them to borrow books from his own private library.  'If those with whom I work grow up to be good and truthful people, it has been worth it all', he said. ...

Why did Katya Sokova retire?  Here's why - a sad and shocking story of neglect and a seriously hurt 16 year old 😔http://israeligymnerd.blogspot.co.il/2017/04/sokova-on-ending-her-career.html

Plans for the Olympics, the family cat, how Aliya managed her nerves in 2012 and much more - translation on Liubov's blog http://israeligymnerd.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/aliya-mustafina-radio-interview.html?m=1