Fan art - from Aliya Mustafina's fan page on VK.com
We first read the news on RSport (thank you Lifje on Gymfever) - Aliya has a new coach, Sergei Starkin. Sergei is already well known - as coach to World Champion Denis Ablyazin and some other senior MAG gymnasts on the national team.
The first question on people's lips - 'can a men's coach train a female gymnast?' will best be answered over the coming two years. But we already have a historical precedent for greatness: Alexander Alexandrov, iconic coach to countless champions, including Aliya herself, found his spurs as coach to 1983 and 1987 World Champion, the Mozart of gymnastics, Dmitri Bilozerchev.
The second question - will Raisa Ganina continue to be involved in Aliya's career? - well, we have to wait and see. I personally hope so - considering Ganina's skillful interpretation of the Code and her outstanding work in enhancing Aliya's beam work to a fine point. Combining some of the most sensitive and creative coaching I've seen (Ganina's) with the potentially fine acrobatic and technical work of Starkin might just be exactly what Aliya needs to fulfill her amazing potential.
Based in Penza, 346 miles from Moscow, Aliya will be surrounded by close friends and still able to visit her family at home regularly. I can hardly say how relieved and pleased I am to hear that Russia's only Olympic gymnastics gold medallist will have some support in her preparation for the Rio Olympics. This has to be the best news for Russian gymnastics in quite some time, and I would like to wish Aliya and Sergei all the best of good luck.
Countless more questions will remain unanswered; the big one : will this news be confirmed? Valentina's statements haven't always been the most reliable. So I was glad when our friend Vladimir Zaglada volunteered to contact his colleagues in Russia - and was able to confirm the news. We still have to wait for the RFG official announcement - but here is what Vladimir has to say - it is fascinating, so please read carefully.
Hi Queen Elizabeth!
Yes, I got news today that Sergey Starkin will be coaching Aliya Mustafina! But we have to wait for an official announcement from RGF. But anyway, this is a good news because I always thought the best Female Coach should be chosen from experienced male coaches.
Don't worry about Aliya's tricks YET! Sergey Starkin is Great Elite Coach!!! It is well known fact that "Double AA" [Alexander Alexandrov] before he get started as a Head Coach for WAG was one of the best Russian Male Coaches! We cannot expect that Aliya should perform soon an Inverted Cross to Maltese on UB, but Sergey Starkin will definitely change some part of her conditioning, particularly legs conditioning for tumbling, VT and both dismounts (UB & BB), Aliya need to improve her tumbling passes in order to be compatible with the best Americans All-Around Gymnasts. Her current UB routine need an improvement as well. For sure, Sergey Starkin knows the way how to improve a difficulty of her routine.
But from my point of view he will be working for a while mostly on technique which will help to improve an amplitude of her routines in general. But, mostly, it is all about Aliya's GENERAL RECOVERY, but not her recovery just after the injuries! As a Great Athlete she need to get back her mind to the time when she was the BEST among the BEST!
Good luck to Aliya and Sergey Starkin on your way to success.
P.S. Hopefully, an environment in Penza will be healthy! Just talking to the "Family": do not interrupt the working process of two focused on very high result professionals: amazing gymnast and her great coach during their work on Round Lake National Center!!!