The Russian MAG and WAG teams take their preparation for World Championships in Nanning one step further this week, as key players compete in the annual Russia Cup in Penza. There will be team, all around and event finals. The WAG team Last year the gymnasts were rather depleted and suffering the effects of injury; this year the national squad is still short of some of its top members, but has greater diversity and experience up and coming into the ranks, so it will be an interesting time. Last year saw St Petersburg gymnast and fan favourite Tatiana Nabiyeva lead the all around, ahead of Alla Sosnitskaya, Anna Pavlova, Anna Rodionova, Ekaterina Kramarenko and Polina Fyodorova. With the individual-only World Championships up coming in Antwerp, I remember writing that Russia might well decide to send a team of only three gymnasts, such was the paucity of available talent. The final reckoning saw Russia fare a little better than this, although performance lacked depth and re
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources.
Alya!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! My dreams came true. Medeyets.
ReplyDeleteOMG, she just shut everybody up with her tremendous routines today, especially on floor!
ReplyDeleteAfter she finished, I thought: "If the judges don't give her the bronze over Skinner, they will be decreeing the ultimate decadence of the sport!" So glad she improved her difficulty and proved everyone wrong! Her emotional showing after the score was up was possibly the greatest she has ever shown in all her competitions.
And now she has an 11th!
ReplyDeleteThen 11th!
ReplyDelete