Category: Olympics

Leonid Arkayev – Rest in Peace

The legendary — sometimes controversial — Head Gymnastics Coach of the former Soviet Union has died. Age-86.

Karelian Gymnastics:

From 1973 to 1992, Leonid Yakovlevich led the USSR men’s national team.

From 1992 to 2004, he served as head coach for both the Russian men’s and women’s national teams and headed the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia.

Under his guidance, athletes won 77 Olympic medals and more than 200 awards at World and European Championships.

I never met him in person. But he always looked the hard man on the competition Floor. Very serious. Very much in control of the USSR program.

Via Rewriting Russian Gymnastics on Facebook.

Olympic Beam Champion retires in Rotterdam

A great way to finish her amazing career. Inventing a new way to be competitive on Beam, by connecting superb leaps, jumps, & turns.

Olympic balance beam champion 2016 from the Netherlands, Sanne Wevers, officially retired on October 19, 2026, following the qualification round at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam.

Sanne is now 35 years old. Decided in 2025 to comeback just for this World Championships at home. She competed 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, as well.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

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Russia Men are BACK – Gymnastics World Championships

Russia won the team competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

Consistently a podium challenger for decades.

But the nation was sanctioned for systematic sport doping. Then murdering dictator-for-life Putin invaded Ukraine.

If I had a vote, I’d keep Russian athletes out of international competition until Putin quits. BUT the IOC and FIG let them return.

In 2026 we have a new team. Modern routine construction. Superstars in Daniel Marinov & Arsenii Dukhno. Young and only improving.

Russian team head coach Dmitry Andreev: ‘This serves as a real starting point for us’

Ellie Black tries Olympic Lifting

Coach Maude Charron, an Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion in the women’s 64 kg division.

It’s payback. Ellie taught Maude Gymnastics first.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Suni Lee in 2027?

I don’t believe Simone or Suni Lee would make a comeback unless they were looking for Gold medals in the 2028 Olympics.

Obviously, either could contend for medals if and when back and in peak shape.

Simone could easily win Vault, for example.

Suni is astonishingly talented. I’d love to see her go for it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Shawn Johnson back at Chows

They had a terrific relationship.

BUT he made her do Rope Climb. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

In 2028, Stars Align. ✨ Introducing the LA28 slogan.

“Stars Align” is the official slogan for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Unveiled by the LA28 Organizing Committee, the campaign line states: “In 2028, when the triumph of sport meets the city of dreams, Stars Align.”

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Summing-up Apparatus Finals – day 2

For once, a Beam Final was excellent.

Who could have predicted we’d one day have a World Beam & Bars Champion representing Algeria?

Men’s Vault very good. H Bar a bit of a disappointment as so many of the top guys fell.

Worlds 2027 Chengdu, China is already in the minds of the best gymnasts in the world. The OLYMPIC QUALIFYING Worlds. I’ve already booked my accommodation.

September 29 to October 8, 2027, World Championships is held during National Day Golden Week (October 1–7). That’s a big holiday. Transportation and accommodation will be busy.

Results

Click PLAY or watch Twists & Turns on YouTube.

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Pundits

Highlights

The biggest highlight was seeing Kaylia win Beam after clinching Bars the previous day. She credits her coach Nadia Massé.

  • USA went 1-2 with Claire Pease (13.866) and Reese Esponda (13.566) on Floor, an apparatus where nobody really knows what judges are looking for
  • Armenia’s Artur Davtyan made sure he’d win against a strong field by STICKING both his Vaults perfectly. Armenia hosts European Championships 2027. They have some Worlds medalists. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Surprises

  • Norway’s Sebastian Sponevik takes Bronze on Vault. Congratulations.
  • both amazing young H Bar men from Colombia fell. Look out L.A. Olympics. Colombia will qualify a full team and contend for medals.
  • Dukhno is known for his consistency and amazing landings, but had a bad day in Apparatus Finals
  • Daniel Marinov has been better for Putin’s dictatorship. In fact, it looks like a judging error in the AA Final left him in 4th place where he should have been Bronze

Big Story

For me the biggest story at World Rotterdam was the Netherlands government denying visas to eligible gymnasts, including the defending World Champion. That won’t happen in China next year, I’m sure.

But future World Championships hosts need to get some guarantee from their governments it won’t happen again.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Worlds 2027 Chengdu, China

The best gymnasts in the world will refocus for the BIG Olympic qualifying competition hosted in Chengdu, China.

It’s the same venue that was used for Summer World University Games — the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multi-purpose Sports Arena.

September 29 to October 8, 2027, World Championships is held during National Day Golden Week (October 1–7). That’s a big holiday. Transportation and accommodation will be busy.

I booked a hostel already. Looking forward to getting back to Chengdu, the Panda city.

Chengdu is the jumping off point for trips to Tibet.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

P Bars World Champion is …

You know. The G.O.A.T.

Zou Jingyuan

Twitter says Brazil judge gave Zou Jingyuan a 10.0 execution. The first I’ve heard about since Chris Grabowecky gave the last 10 in the old 10.0 code. I’m OK with a perfect 10. It’s the greatest routine on any apparatus in the history of our sport.

This is his 5th World Championship title.

1. Zou Jingyuan, China, 15.733
2. Illia Kovtun, Croatia, 14.900
3. Daniel Marinov, Russia, 14.866
4. Hashimoto Daiki, Japan, 14.600
5. Oka Shinnosuke, Japan, 14.566
6. Arseniy Dukhno, Russia, 14.100
7. David Rumbutis, Sweden, 13.866
8. Noe Seifert, Switzerland, 12.500

I would have had Oka higher, myself.

I’m happy for Daniel, in any case, as it sounds like a judging error denied him 3rd in the All-Around competition.

Full results.