In browsing Blythe’s comprehensive Gymnastics Year in Review on Gymnastics Examiner, one thing was obvious.
It was a GREAT year for Russia. At least for Rhythmic, where they were dominant, and for WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics).
The Russian women overcome three falls on bars in finals to win their first-ever Worlds team title.
Aliya Mustafina is World Champion and early favourite to win the Olympics 2012. The next strongest contender most feel is Viktoria Komova. And there’s Anastasia Grishina coming up behind her. Both were stars at the European Jr. Championships, leading their team to victory.
Russia won the senior European Championships, as well.
Tatiana Nabieva must be the most talked about non-American gymnast in the world. The strongest personality since Khorkina.
On top of all that, fan favourite Anna Pavlova didn’t retire.
Everyone else is chasing Russia right now.
Rewriting Russian Gymnastics posted a theory I’d never heard before … That the current Russian success, and former Soviet success, was not due to stability or consistency, but instead brilliant, innovative, unpredictable and inconsistent innovation.
It’s had to argue. Nabieva could be the poster girl. Check it out for yourself – Success factors of Soviet gymnastics ….
Gymnastics Coaching.com 