A very interesting post by Translating Russian Gymnastics:

Watching the Russian Cup this week, I was struck by the realization that Maria Kharenkova, at all of eighteen years old, was essentially the grandmother of the national team at this competition.

Since the retirements (or at least longterm breaks) of Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Anastasia Grishina, Anna Dementyeva, and so many more this last quad, the Russian program has started to look increasingly young. But juxtapose Russian Cup with the Universiade, and the youth of this Russian team starts looking a lot more artificial.

Here’s the thing: despite what it looks like on the surface, Russia is not in want of successful or dedicated “older” athletes. Most of you probably already know of one or two of these athletes.

Tatiana Nabieva …
Maria Paseka …
Eleonora Afanasyeva, nee Goryunova …
Daria Yelizarova …

Daria trains mostly on her own, without a coach, at her home gym. Despite being a member of the reserve national team, she’s rarely invited to national team training camps, even though her personal coach works at Round Lake, which is the reason she’s forced to train without a coach most of the time in the first place. When she won floor at the 2014 Russian Cup, she couldn’t be sent to Worlds because the national team staff had not even bothered to get her a proper FIG license.

In fact, in many ways the Russian system is set up to encourage athletes to continue training after what is traditionally considered the “correct” age of an international elite gymnast. Russian athletes don’t have to worry about NCAA eligibility. They begin making money as soon as they start winning regional medals. Not only is there prize money attached to those medals, but as they move up through the ranks, they can actually start earning an income just by being members of the national team …

On “Older” Russian Athletes

Kohei Uchimura
Kenzo Shirai,
Kohei Kameyama,
Keisuko Asano,
Water Tanigawa
Hidetaka Miyachi

Asuka Teramoto,
Mai Murakami,
Sae Miyazawa,
Aiko Sugihara

(via wogymnast.com)

Dwight Normile:

“Max and Brinn are two very different characters who come from very different backgrounds.  …

“Adversity I believe has helped Brinn get to where he has. His character is fiery fierce and he enjoys trying things and performing in front of an audience. His forte, like Max, is his ability to compete, but he is more of an animal who will take the event head on.

“Both are remarkable athletes and young men. I am privileged to work with them both and to be a part of their lives.”

IG also asked the humble Hann if he had any coaching role models: “I have had many influences from coaches, mostly what not to do or say. A big role model for me was Paul Hall MBE, coach to Daniel Keatings and Louis Smith MBE), as he had a different mindset and approach to anybody else at that time. But after being inspired by him, I worked hard until my idol became my rival. …

Scott Hann Interview in September IG