Lupita reports ... Alexander Alexandrov will stay in Russia

Alexandr Alexandrov, former Russian national gymnastics coach,  stated that, most probably, he�ll stay in Russia and will train Olympic champion ?liya Mustafina further.  The Ministry has asked me to stay, with the same salary I was earning. Some people want me...

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London 2012 ticketing report

The organising committee of the London Olympics (LOCOG) has finally published full details of ticketing at the Olympic Games, including how many were eventually sold to the public rather than given away to sponsors and dignitaries, and how many tickets were available in each...

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2012 Voronin Cup ... picture gallery

The Russian Gymnastics Federation has a gallery of Elena Mikhailova's excellent photographs of the Voronin Cup. You can view a selection of the edited highlights at RRG's Facebook page.  There are some stunning photographs of Anna Dementyeva in particular.All around...

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2012 Voronin Cup MAG results

Junior champion on floor, Artur DalolyanYou will find full results at the Russian Gymnastics Federation's website.  Highlights are reproduced below.Junior MAG All AroundMiscellaneous all around senior results (place 21 onwards; edited highlights) Full team results...

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WAG Voronin Cup results, 2012

Fan favourite Anna Dementyeva took three golds in Moscow this DecemberThe Russian Gymnastics Federation has now published the full results of this competition which I will  reproduce below (WAG first, MAG in a separate post).I think the most significant outcomes are the...

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DTB Cup results and video links

Russian WAG at Stuttgart this weekend : national coach Evgeny Grebenkin, Aliya Mustafina, Yulia Inshina, Anna Rodionova, Kristina Goryunova.  Can anyone identify the coach to the right?  Picture courtesy of Schwaebischer Turnerbund on Facebook.The Russian WAG team...

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Lupita translates : Nelli Kim interview (November 2012)

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1980 Olympics WAG All Around video link

1980 Olympic Champion Elena Davydova at a London display in 1978This French TV transmission of the historic final at the Moscow Olympics is fascinating for the mix of fluff and routines it presents.  Sadly, we see only two fragments of Nadia Comaneci's routines.  I...

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Flashback to 1972 ... Olga Korbut wins the BBC's International Sportswoman of the Year Award

I remember Olga receiving this award back in 1972 ... I was 13 years old. It was before the time of video recorders, personal computers and Youtube, and therefore a rare opportunity to savour those amazing moments from Munich again.I was so thrilled to see Olga Korbut on my...

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Olga Mostepanova - four perfect tens in one competition

Olga Mostepanova in training.  Courtesy of RIA NovostiThe joy of that video of the 1976 Olympics sent me into an Olympic reverie, a recollection of perfect tens of the past. There is no greater unsung hero than 1983 and 1985 World Champion Olga Mostepanova, who competed...

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1976 Montreal Olympic Games - video

It's hard to believe that it is now 36 years since Nadia fought Nelli at the Montreal Olympics, since Maria unveiled that trademark cheeky charm, since Ludmilla broke her heart and Olga broke ours. The sport has come a long way since those heady days. Turn the clock back another 36 years and we pre-date the beginning of the 'new' era of gymnastics...

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Russia today and tomorrow: Dementyeva, Shelgunova and Kharenkova take gold in Europe

Evgeniya Shelgunova, courtesy of the UEGRussia's women gymnasts took gold at two different competitions this weekend, showing an interesting level of development across the generations.  Veteran Anna Dementyeva competed with significantly improved form at the Joaquim Blume...

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Russia's plans for 2013 : target Worlds, Europeans, Universiade; change the rules!

2010 World team champion Tatiana Nabieva should compete in Kazan this summerNational coach Valentina Rodionenko has given two interviews recently about Russia's plans for the future.Here, she explains how next March's Russian Championships will be used as selection for the...

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Olga Bicherova - picture and video gallery

Fishing the internet for black and white pictures of gymnasts, I came across the following images at the RIA Novosti Media Gallery.1981 World Champion Olga Bicherova is very photogenic, and I love these candid shots.  Soviet champions were often highly praised for their...

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The atmosphere of black and white

I have been doing a little research this morning for a book I am planning with Vladimir Zaglada and our translator, Lupita. Long ago I found a wonderful website that I loved for its photographs and a brief essay on the nature of choreography. One day, I realised I couldn't...

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Elena Shevchenko and Viktor Razumovsky

Elena Shevchenko with 1985 World Champion all around, Oksana Omelianchik.  Picture courtesy Tom TheobaldI read somewhere recently that Moscow's Viktor Razumovsky is now coaching 2012 Olympian Anastasia Grishina ... interesting.  Razumovsky was a leading Soviet personal...

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Anna Pavlova ... after all these years

Anna Pavlova, 2004.  Courtesy of Sing LoAnna Pavlova, 2004 and 2008 Olympian, is still competing after all these years and put in a grand showing at this weekend's (2nd November) Schiltigheim Tournament in France, placing first ahead of home favourites Amelie Pauffert,...

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50th anniversary of Vladimir School of Gymnastics - pictures

The Russian Gymnastics Federation has a gallery of pictures of the recent celebrations of 50 years of the officially named Nikolai Tolkachev School of Gymnastics, Vladimir and what would have been the 60th birthday of Nikolai Andrianov.  You can read more details of the...

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