Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Andrei Rodionenko has confirmed on RSport that Aliya has eligibility to qualify for Worlds even if she doesn't compete at Russia Cup. All that is important is that Aliya remains healthy and happy to make her own choices.  Rushing to qualify for Worlds might not be the best thing if her back is hurting. Let us all say - we support Aliya completely in making her own decisions in her own time and space. Keep Calm and Support Aliya!  Good luck to our team's leader!

EDITORIAL NOTE ADDED 9.9.2015 From Queen Elizabeth There has been much discussion about Aliya in past weeks.  I do not want to create any distress or add to the current storm in a teacup, so the following is all I have to say until more information is officially and reliably in the public domain.   I will not be linking to blog posts or fan sites that attempt to make their version of the story into the true story.   Let's all remember the definition of rumour :  'information, often a mixture of truth and untruth, passed around verbally' Let us not pass around our speculation as an authoritative version of events, or at least let's keep fact strictly separate from fiction, or near-fiction.   Aliya is the only one who matters, and who knows the complete truth about it all.  It is her choice, and the choice of her Federation, whether we are informed of the full circumstances.  She is a professional athlete with a normal life whose privacy we should all re...

Head MAG coach Valery Alfosov has confirmed that the Russian team will be missing two of its key players in Glasgow this winter - Emin Garibov and Alexander Balandin.  As reported on this blog two days ago, Emin will compete at the Russia Cup but will work on three apparatus only.  Alfosov has added that Emin doesn't yet have enough difficulty for Worlds.   Alexander has suffered complications following surgery for a shoulder injury and is only now getting back to training after an absence of more than a year.  Both gymnasts are expected to be ready to contend for the Russian Olympic team for Rio. Source -  http://tass.ru/sport/2244743

Photo - TASS  Writer - Albert Starodubtsev Moscow, 8 September Valentina Rodionenko said, 'she  needs to rest properly after numerous performances in the past years'. 'We have decided to release Aliya from participation in the Russia Cup -  she needs a proper break after numerous appearances in recent years. Moreover, her back hurts. We want to save her for the next Olympic season.   Aliya therefore doesn't have to participate in selection for Worlds. If she is all right, then she will certainly go there.' http://tass.ru/sport/2245137

2012 Olympic Champion Aliya Mustafina took part in an event yesterday to celebrate the successes of various athletes from her home club in Moscow, the Central Army Club.  You can see her here with 1988 Olympic Champion Elena Shevchenko, and amongst the others are Svetlana Ishmouratova, who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and Dmitri Sautin, gold medallist in diving at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.  (Does anyone know who the man on the left is?) Not all of CSKA's gymnastics heroes were present; most notably Dmitri Bilozerchev who now lives and works in the USA.  Other gymnasts who trained at CSKA but never made it to the Olympics (for reasons of depth, timing and world politics) include Elena Mukhina, Olga Bicherova, Olga Chudina, and Valentin Mogilny.  Their coaches and choreographers include Alexander Alexandrov, Viktor and Irina Razumovsky, Boris Orlov, Raisa Ganina and Mikhail Klimenko.   It is nice to see the athletes enjoy a lovely day, even i...

In an interview with  Inessa Rasskazova,  Emin Garibov has confirmed that he is continuing to recover from serious shoulder injury and is preparing to represent Russia at the Rio Olympics. Emin, whose family are from Azerbaijan, said, 'I am proud to represent Russia, but always remember about Azerbaijan.'  His parents raised him in the Azerbaijan tradition, but he never learned to speak Azerbaijani.  'In  my childhood in Moscow, friends at school were Russian and in training we spoke only in Russian. At home, I was brought up in the Azerbaijani tradition ... Deep down I am sorry, even a little embarrassed, that I do not know my native language.' 'In 2008 I was offered the chance to compete for Azerbaijan ... But I grew up in Moscow, had worked with my coaches for years.  I was not mentally ready to change everything and leave, after everything I and my coaches have done.  They made me a world-class gymnast, I have invested so much physical and mental e...

Every picture tells a story - no official results from Batumi yet, but the RGF has pictures of the EF awards ceremonies - V - Paseka. UB - Komova. FX - Ablyazin PH - Kuksenkov R - Davytyan Molodyets!