Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Valentina Rodionenko has confirmed that Mustafina is back in training.  Tass This year the Ministry of Sport has published the full lists of gymnasts training with the national team - youth, junior, senior reserve and senior.  You can find the full lists, including the coaches, in Russian language here , and there is a transcription of the gymnasts' names in English at JAS's blog, Videos of Russian Gymnasts . As usual, you will find that there is a little delay before the lists catch up with the reality.  For example, Maria Bondareva's name still appears on the listing for the senior reserve team, but sadly, she announced her retirement for medical reasons some months ago.  The senior lists otherwise include all those in training for the Olympics.  You can read what I think of the early announcements of the Olympic teams here .  The full Olympic teams will include only five gymnasts, so competition for places will be fierce and, no doubt, health wil...

Vasily Titov is First Deputy President and Chairman of the Management Board of Russia's VTB Bank Sports Minister Mutko has confirmed the election of Vasily Titov to the position of President of the RGF. Titov is replacing Andrei Kostin. Titov has been Vice President of the FIG for the last four years and, like Kostin, is senior in Russian gymnastics' sponsors VTB Bank. 'He faces huge challenges in the  run up to the Olympics', says Mutko, 'in general, it is OK, and I take it positively ... It was just a logical decision'.  According to Titov, there are no problems with the funding of the RGF and this change merely reflects a new management structure being introduced in the RGF as it moves forward to try to develop the sport in Russia.  'Kostin wanted his successor to use his experience of the sport and to move forward with its development', said Titov. He emphasised that the team will continue to develop for the Olympics as planned under the leadership o...