Key points of an interview with head coach Andrei Rodionenko yesterday from Allsport http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=82853
- Aliya is at about 50 per cent, but she is needed as the backbone of the team. Not to worry, at Europeans she will perform exactly as she needs to.
- She is feeling pain in her ankle, but 'Aliya is somebody who does what is necessary when it is needed'. Injuries are inherent in gymnastics - Aliya has problems, but they are coping well. 'Knowing her character, I can say that everything will be fine.'
- The team needs her on vault, but not on the floor at the moment - to avoid stressing the ankle. She'll go back to the floor when the ankle is better. He praises her floor work as a balance between acrobatics, and artistry.
- Aliya has changed and matured since the Olympics - they trust her. Late last year, Aliya had said that she wanted to retire; she was tired and couldn't do it any more. He explains that she had competed uninterrupted at Europeans, Universiade and Worlds.
She expressed concern about the team for Europeans and Rodionenko says he replied that they would have to try to cope without her. So in January she went off, did her studies and exams at University. Then she came back to the gym. She is thinking not of herself, but of the team. 'We didn't even need to choose a team captain'. Mustafina feels responsible for the team.
I'm not sure I like the sound of that. I can see that after a time away, Aliya might have realized that she does still want to compete, but considering it's coming from Andrei... The whole "feeling responsible for the team" thing is fishy to me, especially after Andrei's comment that they would have to 'try to cope without her'. I hope she isn't being pressured into anything; sometimes I worry the Rodionenkos are just using her to hold the team together and hide their incompetence.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she is pressured, but I do think that she will retire after these Europeans. She can't be interested in Worlds if she's willing to compete on an ankle that doesn't even allow her to dismount off of beam! I pray that she doesn't get seriously injured on vault. We all remember what happened exactly three years ago...
DeleteWell I'm glad she isn't doing floor. Of course she is team captain, anyone who has watched gymnastics see how she is with her younger teammates, she is kind and helpful.
ReplyDeleteShe must have been tired last year, she was the only top gymnast to do ll the major tournaments. I don't know how she will be this year, she might continue or not. Either way, she has nothing to prove to anyone, just do it for the love of the sport. However, she needs to not push herself to get hurt worse...to help the team.
but as a coach shouldn't you care more about her health? it seems like andrei doesn't care about her health or the future of russian gymnastics, but only about his and his big wife's asses.
ReplyDeleteAndrei is very trim :-)
DeleteWell, I agree with all of you guys. Mr. Incomptenko is all about his image in the media. He doesn't hold himself accountable to anything. It is everyone else responsibility. Aliya is going to Euros on her own (with an injured ankle that doesn't even let her either tumble or dismount) because she wants to help the team and everything will be fine!!!! PLEASE!!!!. Is this guy a coach in the first place? or does he know the basics of coaching? Russia lives competition to competition. No long term strategy, though the claim Rio is their long term. I wouldn't have swallowed that even if i was in Kindergarten. The only credit i will give the Incomptenkos (both Andrei and Villain-tina ) is the destruction of what is left of the Russian Gymnastics Legacy. I think, i am going to have to admit that a new era of gymnastics is coming where gymnastics power is west oriented. The systems being built in the west (US, UK, Canada and Germany) are more sustainable and stable. Romania is working hard but i dont see it sustainable. It all relies on Octavian Bellu and Mariana Bitang but seems like no system or stable funding is really in place. In Russia, the got the funding but the wrong people with obviously political support (i.e CORRUPTION)
ReplyDeleteBefore condemning Russia let's see how their new young team performs here. I don't think we should expect gold, but look for improvements in consistency, focus and preparation. Let's hope these things are right.
DeleteRomania is doing some good work recruiting youngsters for training. They have a lot of spirit ... Russia's funding is good and I think the men's programme has a chance of re-establishing itself, albeit at a medal winning level rather than as the dominant force.
There is still some benefit of the doubt in Andrei R's favour. Participation levels fell and this has made it difficult to establish strength in depth. Injury rates have been high, but this could be bad luck, or the consequence of being forced to overwork key gymnasts. Russia has struggled to transition junior gymnasts to senior level for longer than Rodionenko has been head coach. The only time in the last ten years or so that juniors have thrived at senior level was during the period 2010-2012 when Alexandrov was in charge.
There is something wrong when such talented gymnasts (eg Rodionova) so clearly underachieve for so long, but I don't think we should lay all the blame at the head coaches' feet. Perhaps there are political pressures that make it difficult to take the necessary risks? I don't know. I don't like the tone of this interview much more than the rest of you, but experience tells me that it cannot only be the Rodionenkos ... Some other pressures must be at work.
Please don't use the word corruption here - there is no evidence for that. Yes, the family ties at a high level might make it difficult to oust the Rods. But then again, who on earth would replace them? Alexandrov is far more hands-on than the senior role requires, and is tied to Brazil in any case.
Perhaps Russia's paymasters need to consider a structure where the Head Coach can concentrate on purely gymnastic issues ... And create some new development and marketing roles to fulfill the PR and development jobs Andrei and Valentina seem to have to do between them.
First, Apologies for using the word "corruption". Having a second look at it, it doesn't seem appropriate. Yet, there is no clear explanation for what is going on. The senior team is going into extinction. I doubt that the new seniors will last till Rio given the injury rate. + International participation to gain experience is limited as if they are shying of competition. + Aliya is the only one with golden record. + If she injured and retires + with the rest of the gold medal prospects legs in casts + and the new seniors falling one after the other to injuries = 0 . The equation scenario doesn't seem promising. I keep comparing this mid-cycle to the previous mid-cycle. What I see is a severe drop in team preparation and competitiveness. All the teams participating in Euros performed in smaller competitions around the glob to test their preparations except Russia. Other teams have results where Russia has media statements. I have never seen something like this before and to be honest I don't know what it. All I am hoping now is not to see any disaster in Euros.
DeleteThanks Elizabeth
It's OK :-) and I personally agree with all you say - I too am dismayed and at a loss to explain what is happening. Especially the many virus infections that only the women seem susceptible to.
DeleteI just hope our feelings are misplaced - and that Kharenkova, Rodionona, Sosnitskaya and Spiridinova have a cracking competition. That Mustafina shows her iron again.
I wonder if it has something to do with the increase in difficulty expectations over the last 5-10 years (these girls are doing insane tricks!) that is partnered with a lack of proper strength and muscle training. Take the recent comment on Maria Paseka's "weight gain" by Valentina - she makes many comments like that one. If the focus is on being skinny, and not on being strong, then the girls will get hurt more easily or if they're not eating correctly, they could get sick more easily. Nutrition is incredibly important.
DeleteI'm really optimistic about the Russian junior team in the next Euro and I think they will dominate the field there in Sofia specially Angelina and seda along with Daria ... Good luck to all of them and the senior team as well.
ReplyDeleteHaving read the recent interviews concerning Aliya and seeing the open training vids I am preparing myself for the worst over the coming week whatever that happens to be... I would be so pleased to be wrong and wish everyone a happy and healthy competition!
ReplyDelete