Skip to main content

Sergei Starkin - for the Rio Olympics we will upgrade several routines

Aliya Mustafina and Sergei Starkin - courtesy of the RGF
 The Russian Olympic Committee's Information Service has just released this interview with the coach of European Games champion, Aliya Mustafina.

- How do you work with Aliya Mustafina?

- We just get on. We had predicted her victory here, knowing that Aliya is not only the undisputed leader of the national team, but also the main favourite in European gymnastics. Today, we are right, and very happy.

- Not everything turned out the way Aliya would like.  Are there no plans to increase the complexity of her programmes?

- Yes, for the Olympic Games in Rio, we plan to upgrade vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. In addition, we want to improve the quality of performance. At this competition we have developed new routines on the uneven bars and the floor exercise. This is a big step forward.

- Mustafina wobbled a little on the beam, perhaps the most difficult gymnastic apparatus. How can you avoid this?  After all, the level of her rivals in Rio will be fundamentally different.

- It can not be prevented 100 percent - artists are just real people, like everyone else.  I can not say that this is some kind of fault. You just have to work long and hard to refine performance in training that then becomes habit in competition.

- Prior to the start of the individual all-around everyone predicted: "Mustafina will be the first." Is this a pressure that the athlete carries on a subconscious level?

- She is very stable psyche, she loves to compete!  In her eyes there is no fear, no doubt, therefore, forecasts and expectations don't really amount to pressure.

- What do you feel during the performances of your gymnasts? What do you think?

- I'm always very excited, and sometimes I think that my nerves will never recover!  

The interviewer says that at the beginning of the interview Starkin was very laconic - but by the end he finished his interview with a sincere smile.

Comments

  1. I would like to see her bring back her signature vault. Isnt it the same start value as the amanar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, it doesn't. The Mustafina vault is valued out of 6.0.

      Delete
    2. It has, rather quietly, been suggested that she may try the triple twisting Yurchenko - better for her as the landing is not unsighted.

      Delete
    3. I would love for her to do that, but I fear she cannot get 3 full turns around. When she was doing the 2.5 she barely got the last 1/2 turn around and more times than not her body was still twisting as she was landing. We suspect Biles will be working on an upgraded vault, probably a triple twister, so Aliya will need an upgraded vault to stay competitive, whatever it may be.

      Todd

      Delete
    4. Do you think that she should try Rudi?

      Delete
    5. I think that may be a better vault for her to try

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Denial of visas - some background

Can I remind everyone interested in Russian gymnastics that the restrictions imposed on Russia following its state-sponsored doping scandal were quite separate from the restrictions introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? The Russian doping scandal came to prominence in 2016, while WADA imposed further sanctions in 2019. Although these sanctions restricted Russia’s participation under its national flag, they did not impose a blanket ban on Russian gymnasts. Athletes who met the relevant eligibility requirements were still permitted to compete. Artistic gymnastics has historically recorded relatively few positive doping tests, and Russian gymnasts were not collectively excluded from international competition as a consequence of the doping scandal. Russian gymnasts therefore continued to compete at the Olympic Games and major international championships, including the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The situation changed in February 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukra...

Viktoria Komova - back pain has forced me to step down

I awoke this morning to a very simple statement from Viktoria Komova, on her vk.com site, which Papa Liukin has translated (via the IG forum): 'Dear friends, fans, and gymnastics lovers. Unfortunately back pain isn't allowing me to train to my full potential and get ready for competitions. I've made the very difficult decision to stop training and take care of my health. I want to thank everyone for their support! Without your love and warmth it would've been more difficult to go all the way. Thanks everyone and see you soon! Love and kisses.' Well, first of all, good wishes and best of luck to Viktoria, who has struggled since 2012 to re-establish herself fully as a competitive gymnast, whose talent was so great that she secured gold on bars at two different World Championships, four years apart, whose career was littered with controversy, who must be allowed to live her life as she wishes.   I know that the 'gymternet' will now be overflowing...

WAG Senior start lists are out - Afan does one, Mustafina three

Start lists are now available for tomorrow's senior team and event quals.  At present, the Russian roster  looks like this - Beam - Melnikova, Tutkhalyan, Mustafina Floor - Melnikova, Tutkhalyan, Mustafina  Vault - Melnikova, Tutkhalyan, Afanasyeva  Bars - Melnikova, Spiridonova, Mustafina  Things can still change, dear reader, but this is the most reliable official news we have.    It will be good to see all five members of the team compete - I am relieved that Mustafina isn't doing all four but worried for her legs on floor; delighted to see Melnikova and Tutkhalyan making such a strong contribution; and pleased that Afanasyeva is having a chance to try out her training, despite what might be a small injury.  Spiridonova is also looking good for bars, in fact to me she is underused here.   Good luck!  Udachi!  To all the team.  We are very excited to see you compete and do well! The start lists can be found here - http:/...

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more