News from: FEB 2001

February 27, 2001
Russians in USA
Khorkina, Nemov, Produnova are participating in the Arnold Gymnastics Challenge together with Blaine Wilson. It's from March 2-4. Zamolodchikova is also considering making an appearance since she's already in US. The other 3 russian gymnasts are leaving for US on 27/2. That's all I heard..=) The link to an article with more information is:  http://www.arnoldclassic.com/release_gymnastics.asp

February 25, 2001
Zamolodchikova, Wilson win Visa American Cup
Blaine Wilson (USA) won his fourth title and Elena Zamolodchikova (Russia) captured her first title at Saturday's Visa American Cup. Wilson was also the pommels and rings champion while Zamolodchikova also won the vault.

Visa American Cup - Results
Men's All - Around Competition
1    Blaine Wilson    USA    56.300
2    Sean Townsend    USA    56.200
3    Erick Lopez    CUB    53.100
4    Alexander Beresch    UKR    53.050
5    Marian Dragulescu    ROM    52.875
6    Yann Cucherat    FRA    52.100
7    Alexei Bondarenko    RUS     50.775
8    Victor Cano    ESP    48.050

Women's All-Around Competition
1    Elena Zamolodchikova    RUS    36.755
2    Laura Martinez    ESP    36.573
3    Kristal Uzelac    USA    35.599
4    Kate Richardson    CAN    35.180
5    Monica Bergamelli    ITA    35.130
6    Ashley Kelly    USA    34.949
7    Camila Comin    BRA    33.518

Men's Event Champions:
Floor Exercise: Townsend
Pommel Horse: Wilson
Rings: Wilson
Vault: Lopez
Parallel Bars: Townsend
High Bar: Beresch

Women's Event Champions:
Vault: Zamolodchikova
Uneven Bars: Martinez
Balance Beam: Richardson
Floor Exercise: Martinez

February 24, 2001
Visa American Cup - Preview
Today's Visa American Cup will feature the international competitive debut of the 2001-2004 Code of Points. The FIG's Code of Points is updated every four years following the Olympic Games, and element values are re-evaluated and new requirements put into place. The Visa American Cup, the first major competition of 2001, will use the new Code.

Yesterday the field of eight men and eight women trained at the TD Waterhouse Centre, site of the Visa American Cup. In the morning training session, Belarusian Alyona Polozkova slightly twisted her ankle on beam but told IG she will be fine to compete on Saturday. Russia's Yelena Zamolodchikova, favored to win the women's competition, looked in good shape and showed solid routines in training.

With new routines and new skills being shown, the competition appears to have many contenders. "It depends on who is prepared," said Dragulescu, on who he thinks will win.

For IG's full coverage of the 2001 Visa American Cup, click here.
(Source: International Gymnast)

February 23, 2001
Produnova Married!!!
Can you believe this? Elena Produnova is getting married!! Seldom do we see young, successful women get married at an early age. Anyway, I'm shocked. The marriage is said to be taking place about early September. Wish you and your fiance all the happiness in the world in your coming marriage.

February 22, 2001
France - Russia Tour (Lille)
Pictures and information of this tour can be found here.

February 20, 2001
Another Title For Nemov
2000 Olympic all-around champion Alexei Nemov was voted "Athlete of the Year" for 2000 by the Russian Olympic Committee. Nemov received his award Friday, February 16 at a banquet held at Moscow's Olimpisky arena.

Nemov, winner of the most medals by any athlete at both the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and 2000 Olympics in Sydney (six medals at each appearance), received the honor over fellow Olympic champions Irina Privalova (track and field), Dmitry Sautin (diving), and Yevgeny Kafelnikov (tennis). In January he was voted "World's Best Athlete" at the World Sports Awards in London.

Other attendees at the banquet, held in honor of all Russian Olympians, included International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, and gymnasts Svetlana Khorkina, Yelena Zamolodchikova, Alina Kabayeva, Yulia Barsukova, and Lidia Ivanova. Ivanova, Olympic team gold medallist at the '56 and '60 Games, took to the microphone on behalf of all the athletes to thank the organizers for hosting the event.
(Source: International Gymnast)

February 17, 2001
Ivankov Engaged???
A rumour is going around that Belarusian gymnast Ivan Ivankov is engaged to a Russian gal. One thing I can confirm, the gal's not Sveta.

Roster for Internationaux France Télécom de Paris: 17-18 March 2001

Women:

Belarus
Alyona Polozkova
Tatiana Zharghanova

China
Sun Xiaojiao
Yang Yun

Czech Republic
Jana Komrskova

Finland
Annulka Almenoska
Maria Skytta

France
Anne-sophie Endeler
Marlene Peron

Germany
Daria Bijark
Lisa Bruggeman

Great Britain
Holly Murdock
Melissa Wilcox

Hungary
Gabriella Onodi

Italy
Adriana Crisci

Romania
Sabina Cojocar
Carmen Ionescu

Russia
Svetlana Khorkina
Ekaterina Lobazunyk
Elena Zamoldochikova

Spain
Maria Cusido
Esther Moya

Switzerland
Alexandra Balz

Ukraine
Viktoria Karpenko
Olga Roschupkina

Uzbekestan
Oksana Chusovitina

Men

Belarus
Ivan Ivankov
Alia. Kruzhysau
Aliakse Sinkevitch

Bulgaria
Jordan Jovthcev
Filip Yanev

Czech Republic
Daniel Rexa
David Spilka

Denmark
Daniel Alwvik
Fardan Kasper
Nillekver Veppe

Finland
Jari Monkkonnen
Jani Tanksanen
Olli Torkkel

France
Eric Casimir
Yann Cucherat
D. Karbanenko
Florent Maree

Germany
Th. Andergassen
Sven Kwiattkowski
Alexander Otto
Thomas Zimmerman

Great Britain
Collie Barry
Ross Brewer
Gerrard Darren

Hungary
Sylvester Csollany
Robert Gal
Zoltan Supola

Latvia
Eriks Revenlish
Ev. Sopranenko

Romania
Marian Dragulescu
Marius Urzica

Russia
Alexiei Bondarenko
Nikolai Kryukov
Alexei Nemov

Slovakia
Almaz Pegan
Mitja Petrovsek

Spain
Victor Cano
Gervasio Deferr

Switzerland
Felipe Andres
Martin FUchs
Andreas Schweizer

February 15, 2001
Elena Produnova's celebrating her birthday today and I sure hope that she celebrates it in style. =) Wishing her a great year ahead and Happy Birthday.

February 13, 2001
Wilson wins Winter Cup
Reigning US national champion Blaine Wilson took first place at the Winter Cup last weekend, a men's national re-ranking competition in Las Vegas, NV. Several gymnasts used the meet to test out the new Code of Points and competed only on one event. Clayton Strother (second), Raj Bhavsar (third), and Todd Thornton (fourth) earned spots on the US national team based on their results.

All-around Finals (top 10)
1.Blaine Wilson (Ohio State)                        52.650
2.Clayton Strother (Minnesota)                   52.075
3.Raj Bhavsar (Ohio State)                           52.050
4.Todd Thornton (Texaco HGA)                   51.675
5.Jason Gatson (Texaco - USOTC)                51.600
6.Kristopher Zimmerman (U Of Michigan)   51.450
7.Jason Furr (Texaco HGA)                           51.400
8.Brett McClure (Texaco - USOTC)               50.900
9.Sean Townsend (Texaco HGA)                 50.250
10.Daniel Furney (Oklahoma)                      50.050
(Source: International Gymnast)

February 12, 2001
Sveta Gets A Computer!
This is one of the best news I've heard in a long time so look out!!!
Sveta has recently bought a computer and is currently sending replies through e-mail to her many fans including ME!!! Imagine coming home from school one day and opening your Inbox to find an e-mail from Svetlana Khorkina. Think I'm fantasizing? Not by a long shot 'cos that's what happened to me today. It was such a pleasant surprise and to make it even more of a surprise, she even apologised to me for not sending replies earlier. Guess that's what I get for making myself too vocal on her official website that she would never come online. So now, I've gotta eat my own words. =) Anyway, I'm too pleased at receiving an e-mail from her to think much about anything else.
So to cut the long story short, do you want her e-mail? To keep you from fainting from high blood pressure, I'd better not keep ya guys in suspense with my rambling. Imagine the tension building in ya as I go on and on without a sniff of what her e-mail is.
Alright, alright, here it is, olimpic_khorochka@fromru.com.

Sveta, if you ever come here, I'm truly sorry for what I said and I'm looking forward to hearing more from you. =)

February 9, 2001
Sveta Rumour!!!
Khorkina is said to be on the participation list for the French International in March. Will confirm it for you guys soon. =)

Last Day of Russian tour of France
Today is the last day of the Defence d'Or. Sveta will be returning to Russia tomorrow.

Elena Produnova Retires!!1
At the WOGA Classic in Texas last month, Maria Zasypkina and other Russian junior gymnasts informed IG that Produnova has officially retired from competition.
(Source: International Gymnast)