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Bloggers beware!
Hello everyoneIt has recently come to my attention that someone has been copying my blog - yes, in its entirety. In fact there are a number of blogs out there purporting to be me. This is not only very...
View ArticleCatch up with Russian gymnastics
It has been a long time since I reflected on Russia and its gymnasts, but there have been some significant events recently so here is an update.1 The continuing depletion of the national team...
View ArticleKomova v Douglas 2012
I’m reading a post on Twitter that relates Komova’s second place in the AA to her botched Amanar landing. History often rewrites such stories, forgetting the whole picture - an AA comp is the best of...
View ArticleWeren't we mesmerised by the promise of gold? Abuse in gymnastics I
I’ve questioned myself time and again about gymnastics, ever since the ‘Me Too’ messages began appearing on my Twitter feed. Are we, fans, culpable of supporting a sport which is inherently brutal?...
View ArticleMy Olympic Hero - how will I name my hero in a sport full of heroes, in a...
My Olympic Hero How will I name my hero in a sport full of heroes, in a Games full of heroes – in a world full of heroes? The whole pretext of the 2020 Olympic Games is unique. Globally, the Covid...
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Free Russia on the internet
This is a time when sport and politics are inextricably interwoven. It's a sad day when I have to say that I can't support Russia's participation in the Olympic Games, but Russian gymnasts are paid by...
View ArticleWhy should the IOC have to make a decision?
With the European Championships taking place this week, there is one thing on my mind - gymnastics. And the big question for me is - will Russia be able to take part in the Olympics? It's looking...
View ArticleThe West takes the lead in European gymnastics
Travelling back in time to 1985, all 15 of the top spots in the women's all around competition at the European Championships were taken up by Eastern European countries who were part of what was then...
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European Gymnastics Championships v the Belarus Cup - relative scores
In view of the Russians' absence from Europeans, I thought it might be interesting to look at the top three scores at 'their' competition, the Belarus Cup, and make some comparisons to Europeans....
View ArticleUkraine blacklists Russian athletes
The fundamental premise of this blog is as a monitor and observer of all that happens in Russian gymnastics. In as far as you can like a whole nationality, I like Russians and Russian culture. I do...
View ArticleNadia Comaneci and the Secret Police: A Cold War Escape by Stejarel Olaru,...
There is that little face: the face of a child. Brown eyes, contemplative eyes, eyes that stare at you emotionlessly, a little defiantly. Dark rings; she is tired, she could sleep for hours. Young...
View ArticleYuri Korolev, great Soviet champion, has died age 60
Sad news - the great Soviet champion Yuri Korolev has died, aged 60. Korolev was a great coach, very loved by his gymnasts and hugely respected in Russia. Korolev was World AA champion in both 1981...
View ArticleAliya Mustafina - national coach. Interview with Elena Vaitsekhovskaya
Source: Russia Today/Google Translate Alia, come on. You can": Mustafina - about "nightmares" dreams, coaching career and muscle massJuly 4, 2023, 15:32 Elena VaitsekhovskayaIt is better for a gymnast...
View ArticlePost Putin Gymnastics
That’s a bit premature, I hear you say!!Gymnastics evolves by practice, informing ideas that develop into more practice. Leadership of the sport takes place in competitions large and small,...
View ArticleWhat is ‘proWar’?
Today, I got a nasty shock when someone commented on a Facebook post of mine about a Russian woman gymnast. ‘She’s pro War’, she declared, perfectly confident in her assumption, well up in her...
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Tribute to Russian gymnast and gold medallist Angelina Melnikova
Angelina Melnikova, now 23, is 2021 World AA champion in artistic gymnastics. She holds a gold medal with her team from the 2020 (2021) Olympics, her second Games. Visit her home, and no doubt there...
View ArticleIs Nagorny guilty? A story of nuance and context
I never really know whether to cover news about Nikita Nagorny. He and his wife Daria Spiridonova are internet influencers; high profile vloggers who live a particular lifestyle. Nikita is friends...
View ArticleDavid Belyavski interview
I am just recording here some notes on a media interview with Russia’s MAG team captain. David uses quite a lot of rhetorical questions here in his responses, and parries as the interviewer tries to...
View ArticlePrayer for peace
There is a real sadness in the retreating shadow of Russian Olympic sport and especially in the loss of our connection to individual athletes, even if it has been a somewhat distant, virtual...
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