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 find it any more.  I thought it had disappeared. It is a sadness to me that much of the history of Soviet gymnastics is disappearing; for example, try searching for pictures of Elena Shevchenko: there are few that really capture the majesty of her floor performances.

So I was very happy this morning, when I found Natasha's website again, in a truncated version, but including some of the old pictures.  I love the atmosphere of black and white and the sense of history they capture.

The site is the resume of now US-based, former Soviet team choreographer, Natasha Matveeva. Well worth a look and a read for the impressive list of gymnasts with whom she once worked.

Natasha Matveeva, her daughter Anya, and 1989 World Champion, three time Olympian Svetlana Boguinskaia, at Lake Krugloye National Training Centre in about 1989

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Elena Shevchenko and Viktor Razumovsky

Elena Shevchenko with 1985 World Champion all around, Oksana Omelianchik.  Picture courtesy Tom Theobald

I read somewhere recently that Moscow's Viktor Razumovsky is now coaching 2012 Olympian Anastasia Grishina ... interesting.  Razumovsky was a leading Soviet personal coach during the 1980s, bringing through such talent as 1988 Olympian Elena Shevchenko, 1987 World Championships team member Elena Gurova, and Soviet international Olga Chudina.  He also had a hand in coaching 1981 World Champion Olga Bicherova.  All renowned for the elegance and spontaneity of their floor work in particular.

It reminded me of the 1988 Olympics, when the Soviet team performed in red, won by a significant margin, and were led off by the placid yet dynamic Shevchenko. I like what Larissa Petrik has to say about her in this interview from GymnForum:

"Elena Shevchenko is my favorite gymnast ... We are similar in spirit, in style and ... in the colour of our hair.  When she goes out onto the floor, Elena very quickly gets the feel of the situation and in her performance she just slightly plays and flirts with the audience.  One senses a femininity in her that is as yet unaware of itself.

"My favorite elements of Shevchenko's program are the floor exercises and the vault.  As we say, Elena uses contrast.  She begins a combination softly, flexibly and then suddenly explodes, unexpectedly transforming the rhythmic pattern.  Elena's feel for rhythm, which very rarely lets her down, helps her achieve tremendous emotional expressiveness."

 Enjoy the video from Olegushko.



And I thought it would be worth linking to this video of Larissa Petrik, on beam at the 1968 Olympics - she is a wonderfully fluid gymnast. I so miss the rhythm and line of a truly balanced and harmonious beam routine.

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Anna Pavlova ... after all these years

Anna Pavlova, 2004.  Courtesy of Sing Lo

Anna 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, Manon Cormoreche and Johanna Cano and established internationals Krystyna Palesova and Marina Kostiuchenko.

Still competing with heavy strapping on her once gravely injured right knee, Pavlova's work has retained its languid and musical presentation but does not have the pace or difficulty of many of today's top performers.  She still manages a whip to triple twist as her first tumble on floor, and her beam shows all of that magical sense of magnetism and balance that has always been characteristic of her work.  

I do not know if Pavlova would be mentally or physically capable of the intensive training and competition undertaken by the Russian team today.  But the nature of her exile from that elite group will always be questioned while so much remains unsaid as to the state of management of the Russian team, and while she can still turn out performances like these: with thanks to Ninalfee.

Full results are available here.

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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 event, and some of the history of the School, here.

Tribute banner to Nikolai Tolkachev (left) who, with his most famous gymnast, 1976 Olympic Champion Nikolai Andrianov (right), looks over as presentations take place.  On stage are (l to r, rear) Russian men's coach Valery Alfosov, 1981 and 1985 World Champion Yuri Korolev, 2008 Olympian Ksenia Semenova (partially concealed); 2011 World Floor Champion, 2008, 2012 Olympian Ksenia Afanasyeva, 2010 World Champion, 2012 Olympic gold medallist Aliya Mustafina, coach Alexander Alexandrov.  Does anybody know who the man at the front is?

Headstone tribute to 1976 Olympic Champion, a pioneer of Soviet gymnastics success, Nikolai Andrianov

Laying flowers at the grave of 2009 world bronze medallist Yuri Ryazanov.  L to R : Aliya Mustafina, Galina Ryazanova, Ksenia Semenova (partially concealed), Ksenia Afanasyeva

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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 international gymnastics competitions, with the Universiade taking place in the ancient city of Kazan (part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site) in July. 

St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, by night

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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 doesn't mention a salary, but the benefits package includes an apartment. 

Any takers?  

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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 RGF

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Click on the link '?????? ?????' to listen to the interview.

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

Tags: Russia, Radio, Sports

Malakhova Elena, Roman Kosarev

30.10.2012, 17:14

The President of the International gymnastics federation Bruno Grandi retained his post that he has been running since 1996. Grandi was re-elected to his fifth term as president of the International Gymnastics Federation during the FIG Congress held in Mexico. The President of the International gymnastics federation Bruno Grandi retained his post that he has been running since 1996. Grandi was re-elected to his fifth term as president of the International Gymnastics Federation during the FIG Congress held in Mexico.Grandi easily outvoted two other challengers Adrian Stoica of Romania and Vasiliy Titov of Russia by picking up 68 out of 106 votes. Vasiliy Titov received 24 votes while Adrian Stoica colleceted just 14. ?????? ????? Source: Voice of Russia.

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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 read that I picked up on via the Gymnastics Coaching blog.

It is a really interesting blog in development there - I recommend you take time to read it.

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