Thanks to Alan who alerted me to this English language radio interview with Head Coach of the Russian team, Andrei Rodionenko. Rodionenko has a lot of thinking to do before the London Olympics. Picture courtesy of the RGF . Rodionenko's key points were as follows : For the Russians the Europeans were a control test for a young inexperienced team rather than the endpoint. Sometimes the Europeans are the most important competition but this time round we have the Olympics in plain view and the main goal was to collect information to help decide what kind of team to take there. He was h appy to see the Romanian team so good and taking gold. This was not the final team that will go to London; Afanasyeva and Dementyeva were both sick, and in London Mustafina will perform on all four pieces of apparatus. The fact that she competed on only three pieces in Brussels significantly affected her psychological preparation. Will the team be ready in tw...
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. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.