16 year old Anastasia Grishina will make her senior debut at major world level at the Olympics in just two weeks' time.
The powerful yet graceful Grishina stands out as the most Soviet of this Russian team, her gymnastics distinguished for its effortless acrobatics and a quality of movement that is all soft, flowing lines, expressive musicality and fearless amplitude.
Grishina is well recognised for her bars ability, but it is on beam where she shines most brightly. Only there, elevated for all to see, can her qualities be fully appreciated. For Grishina, beam only emphasises the added value of beauty she brings to the sport. A spin is an opportunity to float into infinity; splits leaps fly implausibly along the length of the beam, pausing in time and space just long enough to give you time to catch your breath. Her acrobatics go beyond mere athletic feats and become powerful dynamic sculptures of energy, shape and aesthetic.
Nastia is only human ... and only 16, after all. Errors, small and large, have marred her efforts so far this year. But she possesses that which is invisible - a fearsome determination and intelligence. Grishina's learning curve since the beginning of the year has been prodigious, and she rarely repeats the same error from one competition to the next. One day, surely, she will put together all her points of perfection.
Just wait and see.
This is a rewritten version of an earlier post that disappeared from my blog - with apologies to those of you who had posted comments - if you can be bothered, please rewrite your comments (this is Rewriting Russian Gymnastics, after all). I would of course also extend an invitation to all to make new comments on this amazing gymnast.
Grishina is trully the epitome of the classical russian gymnast. I adore her beam, especially when she connects her onofi, illusion turn, spin and leap, its just awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat i love even more so then her beam is her floor. My fav floor worker from the russians, i love how she shows that she can compliment such a soft floor music. What a wonderful gymnast. Elegant yet so youthful, precise and poised. I wish her the best in Lodon.
I love Grishina and wish her all the best in London.
ReplyDeleteSoviet-like is the best description. Extremely polished and elegant yet powerful and dynamic. Hopefully she will shine at the Olympics in London. The sport needs more gymnasts like Grishina.
ReplyDeleteI have loved Grishina's gymnastics every since I first saw her delightful floor routine at the 2010 European Championships. This year she has really blossomed into a beautiful dancer and performer, especially on the beam and floor. She possesses a special quality in her gymnastics that is unteachable and rare. I look forward to seeing her dazzle the world at the Olympics and in the future!
ReplyDeleteI like this rewrite more. :)I like her beam but I really enjoy how she does on floor. I hope she will be confident in her abilities and show the world her elegance.
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