The great Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996 Olympic all-around champion, donated winter gear + medical supplies to the Ukrainian military. In person. #respect
This is the Olympic spirit. Supporting the victims.
Category: Olympics
Russian Rhythmic not eligible for Paris … IMHO
Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Irina Viner has been videoed directing the rehearsal of a military parade for Putin’s big speech celebrating the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tribuna also reports that Russia’s national rhythmic gymnastics team are expected to perform in the “celebratory concert”. …
Viner was married to Uzbek-born Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov for 30 years before their divorce in May last year.
Usmanov agreed to step aside as President of the International Fencing Federation following the European Union’s decision to impose economic sanctions on him over Russia’s military assault on Ukraine.
The 69-year-old businessman has also been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom. …
Inside the Games
I ASSuME this means the RUS Rhythmic team will not be eligible for Olympic qualification under the stupid compromise idea recommended by the IOC.
looming IOC PR disaster Paris
The International Olympic Committee floated the worst possible solution to a real dilemma. Allowing some RUS athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics — but not those who support Putin’s attack on Ukraine.
Allow them all. Or ban them all. Simple.
… the IOC knows it will have a PR disaster on its hands if it allows Russians en masse into the Games. …
Insiders suggest that the IOC will instead place multiple conditions on entry, including banning the Russian flag and anthem and requiring its athletes to wear all-white uniforms.
More significantly, anyone with links to the Russian military is also likely to be barred – which could result in 75% of their team and officials being declared ineligible. …
Guardian – So Mr Bach, will nothing ever be enough to ban Russia from the Olympics?
Putin has been bombing civilian targets including Bakhmut’s stadium which is used as a training facility for Ukraine’s Olympic athletes.
RUS Gymnastics invited to Asian Games
This event does not qualify anyone to the Paris Olympics.
Russia’s gymnastics and wrestling federations said on Tuesday they had been invited to take part in this year’s Asian Games …
Organisers of the Asian Games — scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sep. 23 to Oct. 8 — did not immediately respond to a request for comment. …
reuters
I doubt any of the Asian nations will boycott in protest, but hope they do.
Denelle Pedrick interview
It’s been a long, strange journey for Denelle Pedrick from age-14 little-bit-of-a-train-wreck to Worlds medalist for Canada, qualifying the team to the Paris Olympics.
Listen to part 1 of the interview on Nicole Langevin’s podcast – What Makes DENELLE PEDRICK Think…” pt. 1
Click PLAY or watch a few highlights on YouTube.
She details how she learned the Pedrick by accident when Ellie and her coach were at the Tokyo Olympics. It started by working the Hecht back tuck dismount.
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Sam Oldham on coach Sergey Sizhanov
Sergey coached Olympic medalist Sam Oldham for 15 years. They are now friends for life.
This from The Sam Oldham Podcast.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Lara Mori retired
RUS Maxim Khodykin volunteers to fight in Ukraine
Russian gymnast Maxim Khodykin has travelled to fight in the country’s war on Ukraine, according to the national team doctor Sergei Gulevsky.
Khodykin has trained at the Russian gymnastics Olympic base – the Ozero Krugloye facility outside Moscow – although was not in the national team.
His last competition was at the Mikhail Voronin Cup in December, when he finished second in the men’s rings. …
Paris Olympic pictograms
Just released. … Somewhat boring.
Jessica Hutchinson – Floor
Jessica Hutchinson competing a variation on her mom’s — Silvia Mitova — Olympic Floor routine.
Great forward layout 2/1 twist.
Jessica’s Grandmother was Olympic gymnast Maya Blagoeva.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Here’s the TV version uploaded to Twitter.
Click PLAY or watch Silvia’s 1992 routine on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 