Congratulations, Russia!

Another gold medal for Russia's team in artistic gymnastics at the European Championships.  Russia now rules the sport in Europe, both men and women.  15 year old Angelina Melnikova scored the highest of all competitors across four apparatus; exactly as her team captain, Aliya Mustafina, did six years ago in her own major senior competitive debut.

Aliya waved her magic wand here and somehow helped the team to summon up courage to fight the effervescent British team.  Angelina was a strong start off gymnast on every piece, just what the team needs to settle them.  In her own quiet way, 'Gelya' makes as much difference to this team's fighting spirit as Nikita Nagorny does to the men.  

In the end, the working order put paid to a close fight.  Under pressure, Britain showed uncharacteristic errors and finished more than six points behind Russia.  EF tomorrow will tell a different story, I suspect.  Russia's victory was down to solid teamwork as much as individual brilliance.  Strong work on bars and beam gave the girls a cushion on the other apparatus, where there is less of a margin.  It should be noted, however, that the girls are landing their tumbles with far more confidence - this could be to do with the appointment of Sergei Zelikson as tumbling coach at the national training centre.

Congratulations to all the girls - and good luck now, as you prepare for Rio!