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| Viktoria Komova at a press conference yesterday. Courtesy RGF |
WAG and MAG European Championships for individuals begins one week from today at the Olympiski Stadium in Moscow, Russia, and the Russian Gymnastics Federation has been busy arranging press conferences and interviews to promote the competition and the chances of the Russian gymnasts. You will be able to read below details of both the men's and women's team composition, as well as some links to important documents.
A news report today suggests that Grishina's competitive readiness may be in doubt. At the same time, youngster Evgeniya Shelgunova, a favourite of head coaches Rodionenko, has recently been elevated to reserve over the injured Dementyeva, and Valentina Rodionenko has been talking up the veteran Afanasyeva's chances of competing in the all around final. Yet again it is an uncertain situation for the Russians.
You will find the latest version of the nominative registrations here, though these lists are currently out of date: we know for example that Sandra Izsbasa will not be competing for Romania, meaning the country's entire effort will rest on the shoulders of Larissa Iordache and Diana Bulimar. Amongst the Russians, the confirmed team now includes Evgeniya Shelgunova as reserve instead of the unfortunate Anna Dementyeva, who is injured. It is also expected that Ksenia Afanasyeva will compete on all four apparatus in qualifications, alongside Aliya Mustafina and (?) Anastasia Grishina. This creates competition for the two all around spots in finals, and leaves Maria Paseka as the only specialist on the four person team, competing on vault and bars.
Russia are hoping for their artistry to give them the edge at this competition. In the context of changes to the Code of Points which Valentina Rodionenko says has more or less evened out the playing field in world gymnastics, it is certainly true that this mature team (assuming Mustafina, Afanasyeva, Grishina and Paseka) should be able to offer some of the most attractive gymnastics on offer in the world today. It is very early in the season, however, to make any final judgement on the effect of changes to the Code. It remains a truth that the Russian girls will have to work hard to improve their consistency and to develop the floor tumbling which Rodionenko acknowledges is less of a strength than their artistry. Her suggestion that Afanasyeva is practicing an Amanar vault also underlines how important gymnast retention and development is to the Russian team. Afansyeva has surprised the team with how quickly she has adapted to the demands of the new vault, but it remains unsure if she will use the skill in competition.
An update today (thank you Laerke) from Valentina Rodionenko suggests that reserve Shelgunova is on better competitive form than Grishina. Lupita (thank you) summarises here Valentina's key points :
- Grishina is not doing her new elements
- She has recovered her old programme
- Grishina is now on worse form than she was earlier in the year at national championships
- She cannot be replaced due to the sports principle
- Coach Razumovsky says that they are adapting to the new training arrangement
- They are very concerned about her performance at the European Championships
- Grishina is currently training at home - Valentina says she wants her to return to Lake Krugloye
A question is, WHY is Valentina saying all this. It suggests a level of uncertainty that can't be good for the Russian team in general; it would be tragic for the talented Grishina to miss out on such an important home competition, probably a career-threatening psychological injury for her and certainly a significant weakening of a team that already lacks strength in depth.
The draw for the WAG competition is here.
The men's team faces somewhat different challenges with a multi-talented team including David Belyavski, Nikita Ignatyev, Denis Ablyazin, Emin Garibov, Alexander Balandin and Matvey Petrov. The reserve is Dmitri Stolyarov who finished third all around at this spring's Russian Championships. The men's competition format means that four gymnasts can compete on each apparatus out of a total of six nominated. Competing all around will be Belyavski and Ignatyev, with Ablyazin doing floor, rings and vault, Garibov pommels, parallel bars and high bar, Balandin rings, and Petrov pommels. The draw for the MAG competition is here.
The Russian men are on the ascendant but face fierce competition from the British and German men here.
Finally, last night Moscow Echo hosted an interview between top gymnastics journalist Natalia Kalugina, Valentina Rodionenko and returning international Viktoria Komova. Take a look at the video - Valentina does most of the talking. I hope to be able to provide my readers with a summary of the main content in due course. Viktoria is looking well, and tells us here that she intends to support her team by following them round the arena and shouting loudly, presumably using the words we all know well! Davai, Vika!!
The work plan for the competition is here.
The MAG training schedule is here,.and the WAG training schedule here.
Competition schedule (all times are Moscow) :
Wednesday 17th April - MAG qualifications
Three sessions starting at 10.00; 14.00; 17.30
Thursday 18th April - WAG qualifications
Three sessions starting at 10.30; 14.30; 17.15
Friday 19th April - All Around Finals
MAG - 13.00; WAG 17.30
Saturday 20th April - Event Finals
13.30
Sunday 21st April - Event Finals
13.30
Full Twist blog has a directory of TV channels covering Europeans, and online streaming will be available via Eurovision.
Couch Gymnast is there and will be reporting as usual, and I will be attending the competition and will blog daily.
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