You will be able to watch Maria Kharenkova and Maria Bondareva compete for the all around title at the European Youth Olympic Festival in slightly less than an hour's time (3.30 pm London time) here.
It has been a great competition for the Russians so far, with the boys taking silver in the team competition against a very strong British team on Tuesday, and a bronze for the graceful Ivan Stretovich in today's all around, again against two British gymnasts. Britain's MAG programme is certainly highly competitive at all levels these days and with Russia as their closest rivals, there looks likely to be a fascinating battle between these two teams over the coming years.
Russia's girls yesterday took gold in the team competition, ahead of Britain, with Maria Kharenkova sitting in second place in all around qualifications behind Britain's Tyesha Mattis. The team of Kharenkova, Bondareva and Kuzmina were OK on vault with FTYs, took two falls on bars, but then excelled on floor and beam. Let's hope the Russian team's technical strength in bars work will enable this junior generation to train well and make up for their current relative weakness on this apparatus once they reach the senior team.
I will update the blog with a more comprehensive review later in the week, but don't forget the live streaming later!
Maria Kharenkova, floor
Maria Kharenkova - beam (15.05!)
Maria Bondareva, beam
Maria Bondareva - floor
It has been a great competition for the Russians so far, with the boys taking silver in the team competition against a very strong British team on Tuesday, and a bronze for the graceful Ivan Stretovich in today's all around, again against two British gymnasts. Britain's MAG programme is certainly highly competitive at all levels these days and with Russia as their closest rivals, there looks likely to be a fascinating battle between these two teams over the coming years.
Russia's girls yesterday took gold in the team competition, ahead of Britain, with Maria Kharenkova sitting in second place in all around qualifications behind Britain's Tyesha Mattis. The team of Kharenkova, Bondareva and Kuzmina were OK on vault with FTYs, took two falls on bars, but then excelled on floor and beam. Let's hope the Russian team's technical strength in bars work will enable this junior generation to train well and make up for their current relative weakness on this apparatus once they reach the senior team.
I will update the blog with a more comprehensive review later in the week, but don't forget the live streaming later!
Maria Kharenkova, floor
Maria Kharenkova - beam (15.05!)
Maria Bondareva, beam
Maria Bondareva - floor