Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

World Gymnastics has lifted all restrictions on Russian gymnasts competing in international competitions.  There is an official announcement on their website.  If I have understood, the gymnasts will be able to compete under their flag, and receive their medals to the Russian national anthem.   I can only assume that this means that all athletes without neutral status will be able to compete, as they won’t be neutral any more … so I think ànd hope that this means that Viktoria Listunova will be eligible for Worlds this year!! This is just a quick post to keep all you readers up to date.  As soon as there is more, I will update.  https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=4787896 Updated 08.59 Re Europeans - Match TV reporter, Dima Zanin, says that the UEG hasn’t yet lifted its restrictions, so Russian gymnasts will compete as neutral athletes in Zagreb, at the European Championships this summer. Angelina Melnikova travelled to deliver an addr...

All the latest people news from Russia!  With thanks to the gymnasts and coaches whose social media posts fuel this article. The teams from Russia are enjoying a recovery break in Antalya, Turkey, this week and last. Elizaveta Us took this selfie with Liudmilla Roschina, Milena Kaiumova, Anna Kalmykova, Viktoria Listunova, Alena Glotova ànd Zlata Osokina. Senior coach of the junior team, World and multiple Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina is also with the team, and has her daughter with her. Meanwhile, in his home town of Ekaterinberg, David Belyavski is training every day to prepare for his national championships. He expects to compete on parallel bars and pommel, although he admits he doesn't really know ... it depends how his training goes. David is now 34 years old and a dedicated father to his daughter, Alyssa, 8. Alyssa too trains every day, as a tennis player, and has already taken part in her first tournament. David says that he wants her to understand that if she love...

Dmitri Andreev, Russia’s gymnastics leader now that Andrei Rodionenko has stepped into an advisory capacity, is a long standing national coach and well respected international judge.  Now, as gymnastics in Russia steps forward onto the international arena once more, (via its neutral athletes, coaches and officials), it’s up to Andreev and his team to support and structure the growth and development of gymnastics.   Russia’s first big goal as neutral athletes is to qualify for the Olympics at the October World Championships.  Many of the gymnasts have limited experience on the big stage.  The necessary placements are therefore a big ask - especially emotionally and psychologically.   Here is how Andreev sees things working. 1. Transition Phase: Building Toward Major Goals The Russian team is in a deliberate rebuilding and preparation phase. Early-season competitions like the Russian Cup serve more as evaluation tools than peak performances. The primary obj...

 As Russian state restrictions on the use of social media and the internet take hold in Russia, we are seeing changes in the way that fans all over the world can access information about gymnastics in Russia.   It is no longer easy for gymnasts to post their opinions, training updates and life events on social media because the State is blocking the use of social media, and even entire mobile internet networks, in certain parts of Russia.  You can read about this more broadly on BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg's, channel on Youtube. Russia’s attitude to sports is still very much focussed on elite sport, state involvement, and international competition.  Private gyms where anyone can participate are gradually opening, but gymnastics clubs, in the main, are still focussed on elite sport and training to compete at the top level.  We need to go back a few years, to a time when Russia was part of a larger country, the Soviet Union.    E...