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Anna Pavlova ... after all these years

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Anna Pavlova, 2004.  Courtesy of Sing Lo

Anna Pavlova, 2004 and 2008 Olympian, is still competing after all these years and put in a grand showing at this weekend's (2nd November) Schiltigheim Tournament in France, placing first ahead of home favourites Amelie Pauffert, Manon Cormoreche and Johanna Cano and established internationals Krystyna Palesova and Marina Kostiuchenko.

Still competing with heavy strapping on her once gravely injured right knee, Pavlova's work has retained its languid and musical presentation but does not have the pace or difficulty of many of today's top performers.  She still manages a whip to triple twist as her first tumble on floor, and her beam shows all of that magical sense of magnetism and balance that has always been characteristic of her work.  

I do not know if Pavlova would be mentally or physically capable of the intensive training and competition undertaken by the Russian team today.  But the nature of her exile from that elite group will always be questioned while so much remains unsaid as to the state of management of the Russian team, and while she can still turn out performances like these: with thanks to Ninalfee.

Full results are available here.


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  1. M7 November 2012 at 21:45

    It's good that she is still competing if she wants to. She is doing what she loves. Does she get prize money for these meets or is it just World Cup?

    Also can she enter into a WC or does the federation get the choice of who goes?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Queen Elizabeth8 November 2012 at 06:02

      Presumably there must be some incentive for Pavlova to compete at these events, even if it is only that the organisers pay her travel and other costs.
      Gymnasts have to be training with the national team to be selected for World Cup events. While she is a sentimental favourite. I do not think there is much strategic progressive advantage for Russia to factor Pavlova onto the team at this stage of her career.
      Though she may prove me wrong :-)

      Delete
    2. M8 November 2012 at 07:50

      Ah I see. I agree, I don't think she can factor into the national team, her difficulty is too low and I am not sure she is what she use to be. She might be sentimental favorite but I wasn't one of those people who thought she should have made the Olympic team.

      I was just wondering, since she has little chance of making the Russian team, if she is able to still be making some money doing these events despite that. I mean, I understand that she loves the sport and isn't ready to leave but life is hard,so I hope she would still be earning some money or something.

      Or they could put her on the team and just send her to a couple WC events so she can make some money :)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11 November 2012 at 19:39

    If I were a national team diving coach I would bring Anna aboard and begin packing for Rio. I am not sure how she would feel about an aquatic life, but her knee would probably be grateful. And who knows, maybe her finances too.

    'Russian Olympian becomes USA Diving Hopeful' is a headline she could take to the bank.

    ReplyDelete

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