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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2013 European Championships move to Moscow!

Russia is hosting the forthcoming men's and women's European Gymnastics Championships, scheduled to appear in Moscow (not Kazan, as originally announced) between 17th and 21st April 2013.  You can find more information at the UEG website.  It is a bumper year for Russian...

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Coaches of the world! Pay attention!

Vladimir Zaglada drew my attention to a 26th October notice on the RGF website advertising coaching jobs in both the women's and men's divisions of the leading Siberian club in Leninsk-Kuznetsk (named after coach to Maria Filatova, Innokenty Mametiev).  The advertisement...

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Denis Ablyazin is back in the gym

A brief news story on RSport tells us that standout Russian Olympian Denis Ablyazin is back in the gym, practicing new elements and routines ready for the new Code. Denis says he doesn't know when his first competition will be.Picture of Denis Ablyazin, courtesy of ...

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Aliya Mustafina and Viktoria Komova unveil their plans for the new season

Click on the link '?????? ?????' to listen to the interview.Aliya Mustafina and Viktoria Komova unveil their plans for the new seasonTags: Russia, Radio, Sports Malakhova Elena, Roman Kosarev 30.10.2012, 17:14 The President of the International gymnastics federation Bruno...

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Round Lake National Training Centre

Tunegym has a great short story about the National Training Centre at Round Lake (Ozero Krugloye), close to Moscow, which draws on some of the materials posted on the VTB site and a video shot as part of the press day there earlier this year.   A really interesting...

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