Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

According to Sports Express, Ukrainian athletes have been ordered by their Govt not to speak to Russian press.  This includes our friends in the gymnastics hall, and AA silver medalist Oleg Verniaiev is in particular affected.   It is so unpleasant to have politics imposed on athletes in this way and I really feel for everyone affected.  Oleg, Igor and all the team are members of the international gymnastics family and they have always been close to Russia.  Let's support Ukraine, and Oleg in particular, as much as we can during what must be a difficult time.  I'm sure that the gymnasts and coaches only want to continue to be friends. http://www.sport-express.ru/olympics/rio2016/artistic-gymnastics/reviews/ukrainec-vernyaev-vypolnil-prikaz-ignorirovat-russkih-1031804/

I will never forget the first time I saw the new generation of Ukraine gymnasts - Verniaiev, Radivilov and Stepko - compete alongside each other.  They reminded me of the Soviets of old, with their proud bearing and determination to be the best.  With Kuksenkov, they were arguably Europe's best MAG team - stronger, more tight knit as a team than neighbours Russia; more charisma and originality than Britain.  Ukraine's tragic loss of a team medal at the Olympics in London didn't stop Igor Radivilov winning a spirited bronze medal on the vault, and he continues to reaffirm his status here and on the rings each year.   Oleg Verniaiev, a native of Donetsk, is gradually establishing himself as the world's leading rival to Kohei Uchimura, winning gold AA at the American Cup and repeatedly confirming his ranking as the world's best parallel bars worker.  He is also, surely, that rare and elusive thing - a MAG fan favourite.   If you want proof that sport transcend...

Picture courtesy of Igor Radivilov on VK.com As Russia's Ministry of Sport released an interview with Valentina Rodionenko in which the Head Coach requested assistance to develop gymnastics in Crimea (see earlier post), Ukraine's vault and rings ace Igor Radivilov posted this picture of himself with team mate Oleg Verniaiev and Ukraine Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk. Does anyone know what this event was, when it took place, and what the awards are? The Liukin's Nico tells me that this was an award handed out in May ... so it might just be coincidence that Igor chose to post it now.

Does Ukraine have a future in men's gymnastics, or will its athletes move overseas to pursue their talents?  Oleg Stepko's personal photograph as he prepared to travel to Baku Many of the stories to be found on this blog are about a relatively unspoken fact of life of the sport - the migration of gymnasts, coaches and officials from their home countries overseas.  While we discuss the personalities, we do not consider the phenomenon of migration and its influence on the sport particularly deeply.  This is a little surprising, as migration has shaped the sport significantly since 1991.  In particular, coaches from Russia and the states of the former Soviet Union - and their families - have figured as the main protagonists in the worldwide development of the sport.  In America, the phenomenon began earlier - during the 1980s - as Romanian head coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi defected to the States, and went on to build the nascent characteristics of Amer...

It is difficult to say what is the significance of the following communication by the great Ukrainian champion, which is accompanied by the above image of a rather dirty Ukrainian flag.  Posted a few minutes ago on VK.com, it hints at changes to come, especially in the context of his compatriot, Oleg Stepko's, recent migration to Azerbaijan.  I am posting Igor's words here both in Russian and English, in order to give Russian speakers the opportunity to comment, and iron out any possible inaccuracies or loss of nuance in the translation. I would like to say - good luck, Oleg!   'Кого интересует мой переход под другие цвета флага . Да этот вопрос сейчас решается но пока что я защищаю цвета своей страны. Я думаю в скором времени все будет решено ! If you are interested in my transition to other colours of the flag. Yes, this issue is now solved but so far I am defending the colors of his country. I think soon everything will be decided!' Updated 23.50 14th March Nico Jack...