The Anthem of Gymnastics

And finally, the anthem of gymnastics has been played in honour of the Russian team at a World Championships. Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Anna Dementieva, Tatiana Nabieva, Ksenia Semenova and Ekaterina Kurbatova fought like titans to win Russia's first ever world team gold medals, at the 2010 World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam today.

Detailed results are available at

http://www.longinestiming.com/sports/gym/ag_wc2k10w/C73D_ResultsTeam_GA%20Women%20Senior_Concours%20IV.pdf

And there is the most gorgeous short video highlights on Youtube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ZfaGLIcJQ

Have the soundtrack turned up, and handkerchief at the ready.

I wanted this significant victory to be recorded on my blog as quickly as possible. The least I can say is that I am very, very pleased.

And Happy 18th Birthday to Ksenia Semenova!!!

More to follow.

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A picture link, and media update

A news feature has appeared at http://rus.ruvr.ru/2010/10/08/24773120.html highlighting the migration of Russian coaches overseas as a major factor in the downturn in Russian gymnastics recently. Not a surprise, but Valentina Rodienenko quantifies this, asserting that around 364 coaches from the former Soviet Union have left the country. So enhancing the skills of coaches through a programme of training is a priority if the Russian resurgence is to be maintained long term.

Some lovely pictures of the Russian girls are on the Federation's website at http://www.sportgymrus.ru/press/photo/3677/4070/default.aspx
and include shots of the ever beautiful Liubov Burda, her fellow judges Shevchenko and Korolenko and coaches of the team, including, for the record

Viktor Gavrichenkov (shown here with Ekaterina Kurbatova)
Alexander Alexandrov
Andrei Rodienenko
Vassily Alexandrovich (acrobatics coach)
Vera Kiryashova (coach of Nabieva)
Marina Nazarova (coach of Afanasyeva and Semenova)
Vladimir Kuznetsov (coach of Anna Myzdrikova)
Sergei Ryubakov - don't know if he is a coach or an equipment steward!

Do feel free to add names in a comment if you recognise individuals not listed here.

I love these pictures not only for the gymnastics action but also for the happy, relaxed atmosphere they show in the camp. They were taken a week or two ago during a control competition at Lake Krugloye.

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Coaches, judges and gymnasts of the former Soviet Union at the Rotterdam World Championships

Thought it would be fun to compile a list of ex-Soviet gymnasts and coaches at the Rotterdam World Championships in an official capacity. This, in no particular order, is derived from the list of nominative registrations - please add more as I will doubtless have missed many!

Anatoli Yarmovski � MAG coach, Azerbaijan

Galina Marinova (Bulgaria) � guest of the BLR team and apparently of USA team! Same person?

Elena Davydova with the CAN team as WAG coach

Valeri Belenki � MAG coach, German delegation

Andrei Rodienenko - Head of Delegation, RUS

Alexander Alexandrov - WAG Team Manager, RUS

Oksana Chusovitina � gymnast, German delegation (!)

Andrei Popov with the GBR delegation as MAG coach

Vladimir Chertkov WAG coach with India team

Boris Orlov MAG coach NED delegation

Elena Zamolodchikova accompanying person RUS delegation

Elena Shevchenko WAG judge RUS delegation

Oksana Omelianchik WAG judge UKR delegation

Igor Korobchinski WAG coach UKR

Artur Akopyan � WAG additional coach, USA delegation

Vitaly Marinich � MAG coach USA

Valeri Liukin � WAG coach USA

Tatiana Perskaia � WAG judge USA delegation

Yuri Korolev � MAG judge, RUS delegation

Ludmilla Korolenko � WAG judge, RUS delegation

Bogdan Makuts � MAG judge, UKR delegation

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