Aliya Mustafina videos, Stella Zakharova Cup

Aliya competed this weekend in Ukraine - probably our last chance to see her before Euros in just over two weeks' time.  I haven't seen full results yet but even with a fall on floor, Aliya won the all around, with Russia taking gold in the team competition ahead of Ukraine and Japan.  Competing with her on the Russian team were Anna Dementyeva and Polina Fedyorova.  Ukraine's Oleg Vernaev won the men's competition, leading the winning team ahead of Russia and the Netherlands.

Thanks to Alexandra Kuznetsova for videos, and for the pictures in this press report. 


Aliya Mustafina floor



Aliya Mustafina uneven bars




Aliya Mustafina beam



Aliya looks to be concentrating on developing new combinations for her beam routine and I guess that her competition goals this year are somewhat longer term than Moscow Europeans which are coming earlier in the year than usual. I'm feeling a replay of 1987 Europeans may be on the cards, with the feisty veteran looking vulnerable here while younger gymnasts take centre stage.

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Requena89's videos of the Russian team training in Mallorca

A few days ago I posted a link to a video of Maria Paseka training tumbling and bars, crediting the video to the Maria Paseka fan page on Facebook.  In fact the video was produced by Esther, or Requena89 on Youtube, who has since posted a whole collection of wonderful videos of the Russian team, including Dementyeva, Nabieva, Komova and Mustafina. 

Do take the time to visit Esther's Youtube channel to view these videos, which are giving arise to much speculation as to the possible content of the gymnasts' routines in the coming year!  And many thanks Esther, for taking the time to record, edit and post these valuable video records!

The team who travelled to Mallorca included Tatiana Nabiyeva, Alyona Polyan, Maria Paseka, Viktoria Komova, Anna Dementyeva, Yulia Belokobylskaya, Yulia Inshina, Aliya Mustafina and, some sources are saying, Anna Rodionova.  But no Ksenia Afanasyeva who seems currently to be involved in some extra mural political activity, and no Anastasia Grishina, who holidayed privately with her mother following minor leg surgery.  

Anna Dementyeva is scheduled to appear at competition in Mexico in October and Aliya Mustafina has just announced her intention to appear at a Gymnastics Gala in Antwerp in December in addition to the World Cup competition in Stuttgart this autumn. 

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