Blog about Russia, Soviet Union, Olympics and artistic gymnastics. News and interviews on gymnastics champions, coaches and competitions.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Daria Spiridonova - I will need to increase my D value and go clean to win in Rio



- To be honest, I have almost forgotten the special feeling that I won the World Championship gold - said Daria Spiridonova. - I am happy, but in general everything is back as it was - and still is.  Only at home, of course, I was greeted and welcomed as a hero (smiles).

- When you flew out to Glasgow, did you expect to return with a gold medal?

- No. And in particular I did not expect that there would be four winners on one apparatus (smiles). This is something incredible, it has happened for the first time in the history of gymnastics.

- What did you talk about with Viktoria Komova when you stood together on the highest step of the podium?

- "How does that even happen?" Surprise and delight at the same time.

- In fact, all four athletes were at the same level?

- In our sport, a lot depends on the judges.  The D scores were all different.  The highest was a Chinese woman, then there was an American, and Vika Komova was a little lower, one-tenth. Probably they were all equal in the purity of execution. I had the feeling that I could have done better than all the others. Well, I have known things to go better; I had a mistake. In general, this year for me has turned out to be very successful on the bars - I was able to finish first at the European Championships and the World Championships.

- How do you feel about fourth place in the team?

- We could do better, but the girls were slightly nervous on the beam - and fell.  We are a little less worried about individual finals - the team is most important.

- What is the mood in the team after the World Championships?

- The journey home was quite fun, our mood was good. However, we were all very tired, and there was a three-hour flight delay and [then we had to wait for a later connection].  As a result, we ended up spending eleven extra hours at airports.

- What are your future plans?

- We still have a few days to stay at home. On November 9th we will go to Israel to work out and relax a bit. The entire World Championships team will go.  It is necessary to keep in shape.   I do not know whether we will have soon a complete vacation.  Apparently, there will be time for a rest after the Olympics (smiles).

- What are your plans for the Rio 2016?

- I do not know whether I will compete anywhere except bars - this is still not known. But to win at the Olympics, it will be necessary to increase my D score and compete cleaner. Therefore, after relaxing somewhat in Israel I will put together a new routine. Maybe add a [?Sin-Bers?] and a new dismount. The warm up for Rio 2016 will be, probably, the European Championships.

http://www.team-russia2016.ru/article/10689.html

Does anyone know what the Sin Bers(!) could be?

Aliya Mustafina - 'everything is OK'

'Everything is OK, the operation went as planned, under general anesthesia. Now I feel good. While I am in hospital, I will walk with crutches.  Doctors have said that the timing of my return to competition will become apparent as I recover.   But in general, no one can make any predictions - it is too early. 

The plan is that I will recover more or less in three months.  But it is not yet clear when I will be able to begin to train fully again.'

http://www.allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=99023&b=10&l=40

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

'It's very hard without Mustafina' - Valentina Rodionenko


Valentina Rodionenko has confirmed that Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina has successfully undergone surgery on the meniscus in her right knee.  "The operation went fine. We'll see when Aliya will be back.  We hope that it will be all right. All the gymnasts really miss Mustafina and it is hard without her."

Picture courtesy of Aliya Mustafina's personal Instagram.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

A gold medal of gold medals - Viktoria Komova


I would make this my gold medal of all gold medals ... What an amazing comeback from Viktoria Komova ... as the BBC commentators said yesterday, her beauty takes gymnastics 'beyond the textbook'.  And so it should be.


Congratulations to the gymnasts!  

A question mark to the judges ... Those four routines were close, but not equal - it was your job to decide!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

World Champions on the uneven bars!


Lovely montage from Maria Kharenkova for World Champions in the uneven bars, Daria Spiridonova and Viktoria Komova.  Molodyets!  You were the champions of beauty! 

Molodyets, Maria!


Molodyets!  Congratulations to Maria Paseka, World Champion on vault!  #glasgow2015



My best wishes to Giulia for a good recovery.

Our judges have yet to reach perfection

'Our judges have yet to reach perfection' Leonid Arkayev, 1989, when asked about the number of ties in gymnastics.  


EF Day 1 start list

Today's start list #glasgow2015 http://www.longinestiming.com/File/Download?id=00000E0001000002FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01

Thursday, October 29, 2015

WAG AA results


Congratulations to all the medalists, including Simone, who wins for the third time winning, Gabrielle, who has completed a comeback after a break since Olympics, and Larissa who overcame a mountain of disappointment after qualifications.
Russia's promise, Seda, had quite a good first AA competition, but fell on beam and lost rather a lot of marks.  But she is still one of the world's top gymnasts and will do better next time!

http://www.longinestiming.com/File/Download?id=00000E0001000101FFFFFFFFFFFFFF03