As the Russian Championships approach, it seems that almost every leading gymnast is experiencing injury problems or a lack of preparedness for competition - with the exception of David Belyavski, 32, captain of the MAG team - he is always ready, says the head coach.
WAG injury list
Angelina Melnikova is experiencing low energy, blaming poor nutrition; there is very little protein available at the National Training centre, she says. Boiled vegetables are the main offering. She has Achilles pain and is finding it difficult to make her landings and to get through four routines. Angelina is missing her personal coach from Voronezh, Natalia Ishkova, who isn’t allowed to come to camp with Angelina as she can’t coach bars. Angelina says that they are in touch daily, and that her coach is always very supportive and encouraging.
Viktoria Listunova has back pain and won’t compete her full difficulty.
Vladislava Urazova blew her knee last week, and has had surgery on her tendons. She will be out for six months.
Both Diana Kustova and Alena Glotova have had pneumonia, and cannot compete.
Of the ‘others’, head coach Valentina Rodionenko mentioned Ludmilla Roschina and Zlata Osokina as being on form; she points out that they both lack experience.
MAG injury list
Daniil Marinov has experienced severe pain throughout training and is taking treatment to his neck, back and shoulders. He says all he can think of is getting to the competition.
Denis Ablyazin is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will not compete his full difficulty.
Nikita Nagorny says he is unprepared for this Championships but will do his best. He is currently in Sirius and training in the competition arena. Sirius is located in Krasnodar in the south of Russia. The complex was built at Putin’s and the Russian state’s commission, they say to celebrate youth and the environment.
Nagorny has been busy attending first the Future Games in Kazan and now a Festival of Youth in Sirius, both times in close company with President Putin. He spends a lot of time with his family and doesn’t seem to train much. He says he could retire at any time in the next ten years, and will tell us when he has made his decision.
It’s difficult to know how Artur Dalaloyan is faring; he does train but spends most of his quality time with his family. Dalaloyan, like Belyavski, is very private.
David Belyavski is said, as ever, to be ready for competition.
I’ve heard nothing so far of the remaining national team members. It’s hard to know the true extent of injuries and difficulties that the gymnasts are facing but it must be difficult to maintain full focus and concentration when they can’t compete at the Olympic Games. If nutrition is poor at the national training centre, it doesn’t bode well for the health of the gymnasts.
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