- June 4, 2002 -

Six Months Of News
Sorry about my lack of attention to this site for practically the last six months. I hope this makes up for it - six months full of belated news. I'll try to update with news as often as I can. Anyway, for those who don't know, the latest news is from top-down.

Romanian Pair Wins in Brno
Andreea Raducan, who skipped this spring's European Championships, returned to competition this weekend, teaming up with Marian Dragulescu to win the Grand Prix of Gymnastics in Brno, Czech Republic.

At the mixed pair competition Saturday, Raducan and Dragulescu topped the home team of Martin Konecny and Jana Komrskova and the Bulgarian duo of Radoslav Stefanov and Nikolina Tankusheva.

Raducan, citing lack of preparation due to a knee injury, stayed home from the 2002 European Championships, held in Patras in April. Raducan was the only gymnast among the six finalists who did not compete in Patras.

(Source: International Gymnast)

New Rules for FIG Competition
Following discussions at last month's FIG Council meeting in Japan, the International Gymnastics Federation today announced new changes that will affect future gymnastics competitions.

The following is a list of specific changes outlined by the FIG:

- World championships for artistic gymnastics will be held annually, with the exception of the Olympic year. World championships for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline will be held biannually in odd years.

- A minimum timeframe of three weeks is required between any world championships. (In 2001, the artistic world championships in Ghent began only six days after the conclusion of the rhythmic world championships in Madrid).

- In Competition I (qualifying competition), men and women will each perform only one vault. However, gymnasts wishing to qualify to Competition III (event finals) must perform two separate vaults.

- Competition II (all-around final) will feature the top 24 gymnasts with a maximum of two gymnasts per country. All 24 gymnasts will compete in one session.

- A proposal by the USA to lower the minimum age in artistic gymnastics from 16 to 15 was rejected.

- The gymnastics federations of Jamaica and Qatar have joined the FIG as member federations.

- World championships in artistic gymnastics will be held in Ahrus, Denmark, in 2006, and in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2007. The host for the 2005 world championships has yet to be decided.

- World championships in rhythmic gymnastics will be held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2003 and in Duisburg, Germany, in 2005.

Additionally, the FIG expressed its desire to see Olympic participation from countries who have not previously had gymnasts compete at the Olympic Games. "Criteria for qualification for the Olympic Games have been modified with the aim of ensuring the participation of top athletes and, most importantly, of increasing the number of individual gymnasts from federations not previously represented at the Olympic Games," stated the FIG.

Specific changes to qualification criteria to allow more competitors were not announced, but according to the FIG, the International Olympic Committee has allotted more space for competitors in artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline.

(Source: International Gymnast)

My Take On The Europeans Farce...
A lot of people have been asking me about the controversy over Svetlana's floor scores in the all-around finals. I watched it and my answer, she deserved it. With minor errors in the routine, a 9.387 out of a 9.7 start value is not outrageous. After all she scored 9.325 with the same routine in the team competition. Then the next part is the 9.5 one judge awarded her. That is only one judge and since that score is the highest, it'll be scratched before the average is taken. Considering that the other judges gave her relatively similar scores (2 - 9.35 and 3 - 9.40), after taking the highest and lowest score away before averaging it for the final score seems fair to me.

For more, check out my report on the Europeans here!!!

Zamolodchikova, Khorkina Settle for Bronze
2000 Olympic gold medalists Elena Zamolodchikova and Svetlana Khorkina couldn't earn any medals brighter than bronze at last March's Russian Cup for individual events.

Zamolodchikova, the 2000 Olympic vaulting champion, finished third on that event behind Natalia Ziganshina and Anna Pavlova. Khorkina fell from bars and beam but managed a bronze medal on the floor exercise.

The uneven bars event was won by Pavlova, the junior star who earned the Russian senior national title earlier. Pavlova also won a silver medal on balance beam, finishing behind World silver medalist Lyudmila Ezhova. The beam bronze went to up-and-coming Muscovite Ekaterina Orlova.

Yevgeny Podgorny, who on Wednesday captured his second Russian national title, won floor and parallel bars today. Veteran Yuri Kryukov won vault and pommel horse. 2001 World team members Georgy Grebenkov and Yevgeny Krylov won high bar and rings, respectively.

The Russian Cup in the all-around and Russian national championships in individual events will be held this summer.

2002 Russian Cup (for individual events)
Moscow, Russia

Women
Vault
1. Natalia Ziganshina 9.470
2. Anna Pavlova 9.390
3. Elena Zamolodchikova 9.335

Uneven Bars
1. Anna Pavlova 9.437
2. Polina Miller 9.350
3. Natalia Ziganshina 9.200

Balance Beam
1. Lyudmila Ezhova 9.500
2. Anna Pavlova 9.400
3. Ekaterina Orlova 9.300

Floor Exercise
1. Maria Kryuchkova 9.330
2. Natalia Ziganshina 9.080
3. Svetlana Khorkina 9.050

Men
Floor Exercise
1. Yevgeny Podgorny 9.400
2. Yevgeny Krylov 9.300
3. Anton Golotsutskov 9.000

Pommel Horse
1. Yuri Kryukov 9.300
2. Timur Kuzmin 9.050
3. Yevgeny Podgorny 9.050

Still Rings
1. Yevgeny Krylov 9.600
2. Rashid Kasumov 9.500
3. Georgy Grebenkov 9.350

Vault
1. Yuri Kryukov 9.275
2. Yevgeny Podgorny 9.250
3. Anton Golotsutskov 9.150

Parallel Bars
1. Yevgeny Podgorny 9.150
2. Maxim Alyoshin 9.050
3. Dmitry Drevin 9.000

High Bar
1. Georgy Grebenkov 9.500
2. Alexei Bondarenko 9.400
3. Maxim Alyoshin 9.100

(Source: International Gymnast)

Podgorny, Pavlova Win Russian Nationals
Two-time Olympian Yevgeny Podgorny and junior Anna Pavlova earned the all-around titles at the Russian National Championships, held in Moscow last March.

Podgorny made a strong comeback after dislocating his elbow in podium training at last fall's World Championships in Ghent to win his second Russian national championship. Podgorny topped defending champion Alexei Bondarenko for the title, with Yevgeny Krylov earning bronze.

Fourteen-year-old Pavlova, a double gold medalist at the 2000 Junior European Championships, earned the title over sisters Natalia Ziganshina and Gulnara Ziganshina. World champion Svetlana Khorkina was absent from today's all-around competition.

2002 Russian National Championships
Moscow, Russia

Men's All-Around
1. Yevgeny Podgorny (Novosibirsk) 55.250
2. Alexei Bondarenko (Moscow) 55.050
3. Yevgeny Krylov (Yekaterinburg) 54.800

Women's All-Around
1. Anna Pavlova (Orekhovo-Zuevo) 37.325
2. Natalia Ziganshina (St. Petersburg) 36.975
3. Gulnara Ziganshina (St. Petersburg) 36.750

Men's Team
1. Moscow 214.150
2. Privolzhsky Region 214.050
3. Ural Region 213.400

Women's Team
1. Central Region 144.025
2. Moscow 143.175
3. St. Petersburg 141.475

(Source: International Gymnast)

Khorkina Definite About Future
World champion Svetlana Khorkina confirmed in an interview with Sovietski Sport that she is determined to continue in gymnastics despite her acting ambitions. Khorkina is to appear on stage in Moscow in a play directed by Sergei Vinogradov as Brandy Venus, the last love of writer Henry Miller. The Belgorod native stated that she has been taking speech and voice classes while keeping up with her daily regime of work outs with the Russian team at Round Lake.

"I am still training under the guidance of my coach Boris Pilkin", said Khorkina, "at the beginning of March I will show my new floor routine, which I have prepared for the European Championships, to the audience during the traditional "Stars of the World" tournament." According to the 23-year-old, she and her choreographer have called the routine "I close my eyes", it even has something to do with the play: "Like Brandy, who closes her eyes to Miller's age of 84, I am closing my eyes to my age, which is critical in gymnastics."

(Source: GymWorld)

It's Academic For Khorkina
Russian superstar Svetlana Khorkina is branching out into an academic career, reports Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Khorkina, who turned 23 on January 19, has been awarded the title of "candidate of science" (equivalent to a Doctorate) for her dissertation in pedagogics by the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture. Yet another honour for the gymnast who was recently voted European Athlete of the Year 2001!

Speaking on a local TV station in her hometown of Belgorod, Khorkina said she still finds show business an attractive option for a future career when she quits gymnastics. However, she wants to keep her options open. Since winning three gold medals at the 2001 Worlds, Khorkina has been seen in exhibitions only. She is expected to be in Patras to defend her European medals.

(Source: GymWorld)

Raducan Ponders Gymnastics Future
After time spent mulling retirement, Romanian star Andreea Raducan says she will continue with gymnastics for the time being, telling IG today that she is "going to stick around a little longer."

Raducan, who has been dealing with a knee injury since last year, has recently considered retiring. The injury, along with a slight weight gain and a search for continuing motivation, was causing the 18-year-old to ponder her future in the sport. Romanian newspapers seized upon the story, publishing reports that Raducan was retiring. News agency Reuters ran a similar story, reporting that Raducan was "emotionally tired" and was ending her career.

However, Raducan says she has yet to decide for sure. "I plan to train for the Europeans, and then we will see from there," she said Monday.

Romanian coach Mariana Bitang told IG, "I understand her situation completely. She is going through a difficult period. We are all trying to help her get through this time."

Raducan won three gold medals at last fall's World Championships in Belgium, and finished third in the all-around.

(Source: International Gymnast)

French and Russian Gymnasts Unite on Tour
Top gymnasts, acrobats and trampolinists from France and Russia entertained enthusiastic audiences during their January exhibition tour across France.

The Russian lineup includes Natalia Ziganshina, all-around silver medalist at the 2001 World Championships; Lyudmila Ezhova, silver medalist on balance beam at the 2001 Worlds; Anna Pavlova, 2000 Junior European champion on uneven bars; Yevgeny Podgorny, 1996 Olympic team gold medalist; and others, including 2001 Worlds team member Georgy Grebenkov and junior Elena Anoshina.

According to a French spectator who attended the January 27 show in Chalon-sur-Saone, retired 2000 Olympian Elena Produnova served as "captain" of the Russian squad, although she did not perform.

French gymnasts who took part in the January 27 show included two-time Olympian Ludivine Furnon, Elisa Pasquet, Cédric Guille and Benoît Caranobe. (The French roster of performers varies from show to show.)

Highlights of the January 27 show included Furnon's floor exercise, and the Russian dance routine performed by Ziganshina, Pavlova and Anoshina, in which the girls wore white leotards and red scarves.

French trampolinist David Martin surprised the audience at the end of the show when he sang a song from the French musical "Starmania."

2000 Olympian Ekaterina Lobaznyuk, a participant in last year's tour in France, underwent successful surgery in South Africa. During the surgery, which lasted 40 minutes, fourteen pieces of bone were removed from her knee. Lobaznyuk has also been heartened by letters she has received from fans around the world.

(Source: International Gymnast)

Lobaznyuk Set for Monday Surgery
Russian Olympian Ekaterina Lobaznyuk, who was training in South Africa, went through arthroscopic surgery to remove a large piece of bone lodged under her kneecap. "I am neither scared nor sad," she told IG that weekend.

During a training session, Lobaznyuk complained that her knee was painful. (Lobaznyuk injured her knee upon landing a vault at last spring's Russian Championships)

Lobaznyuk was then examined by Dr. Daan du Plessis, one of South Africa's leading orthopedic surgeons. A MRI scan revealed a "loose body" under Lobaznyuk's kneecap.

"It is a condition that occurs after repeated trauma," Dr. du Plessis told IG. "In other words, repeated injury. A piece of bone breaks loose and the liquids make it grow."

Lobaznyuk, who won three medals at the 2000 Olympics, was admitted to the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Pretoria for the 30-minute surgery.

Dr. du Plessis, a former South African national rugby team player who has operated on many of the country's top athletes, said he will provide Lobaznyuk with a complete rehabilitation program. He is confident that she will recover completely.

"One can never say in medicine, but I am sure that the chances are over 90% that Ekaterina will make a full recovery," said Dr. du Plessis.

He also said he is equally impressed with Lobaznyuk's gymnastics and character. "I am a lover of sport and especially of women's gymnastics, and I recognized Katya from the Sydney Olympics," said Dr. du Plessis. "Apart from being a brilliant gymnast, she is a very nice person."

Lobaznyuk said that, if this operation will give her another chance to compete at the highest level, she is looking forward to it.

She said she is humbled by fan support, and enjoys "giving back something" by talking to gymnasts, coaches and parents. "I always make time to sign autographs because I know how important it is to little girls," Lobaznyuk said.

Lobaznyuk also extended via IG a message to admirers who have expressed special concern for her following her injury last spring.

"Thank you, everyone, for your interest in my gymnastics career and your concern about my well-being," she said.

(Source: International Gymnast)

Romanians Recovering
Three members of the 2001 World Champion Romanian women's team - Sabina Cojocar, Carmen Ionescu, and Silvia Stroescu - are beginning their 2002 season recovering from injuries, said a source at the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.

Federation official Anca Grigoras said that Stroescu is suffering from back pain and has been instructed by her doctors to take additional time off after the holidays to rest. Ionescu and Cojocar each underwent arthroscopic surgery recently - Ionescu on her knee and Cojocar on her shoulder.

"[The surgery] ended well," Grigoras told IG Online, "but it is obvious that their preparation will start with a delay."

Additionally, 2000 Olympian Andreea Isarescu has retired, Grigoras confirmed. Isarescu had undergone surgery last spring to repair torn ligaments in her knee.

"After her knee surgery, she had a very long recovery under the specialists' advice," said Grigoras. "Then she tried to come back to train for a few months, but after such a long rest she gave up. Now she works a little bit at her club in Onesti, and is finishing her school."

After a holiday break, the other members of the 2001 Worlds team - Andreea Raducan, Loredana Boboc, and Andreea Ulmeanu - are back training full-time.

(Source: International Gymnast)

Lobaznyuk Embarks on South Africa Sojourn
2000 Russian Olympian Ekaterina Lobaznyuk, was in South Africa for a two-month training stint, says she is pleased with her progress following a knee injury last spring. "I feel very confident," she told IG.

Lobaznyuk dislocated her right knee when landing a vault at the 2001 Russian Championships. Last August, she underwent surgery in Moscow.

"I feel very confident and am already doing my full bars routine, except the landing," the 18-year-old Lobaznyuk said. "I am doing my beam routine, also without landing. I am only doing my dance routine on floor, but I haven't started vaulting yet."

When asked if she will compete as strongly as before her injury, she replied, "I hope."

Lobaznyuk, who at the 2000 Olympics placed fourth all-around, second on beam, and third on vault, is in South Africa with her coaches - her mother, Lyudmila Lobaznyuk, and Valery Dianov. The trio arrived after a four-day journey from their home in Rubtsovsk.

Lobaznyuk said she was in a plaster cast for three weeks after her August operation, and remained in the Moscow area to train until Christmas, when she returned to Rubtsovsk.

"Ekaterina is recovering extremely well, and hopes to be ready to compete in the March/April Russian competitions," Dianov told IG.

"If I am not ready for the Russian competitions," Lobaznyuk added, "I shall compete in a competition in South Africa in June."

Lobaznyuk said she is already enjoying the country. "We went down a disused gold mine at Gold Reef City near Johannesburg, and spent a wonderful day at Sun City, a resort," she reported.

South African sports photographer Wessel Oosthuizen, who helped arrange the visit, said he is impressed by the Russians' industriousness.

"They arrived after travelling for about four days and, after a two-hour nap, the trio went for a two-hour training session," he said. "Before we left for Sun City, they did another two hours; and after we came back, another two hours!"

(Source: International Gymnast)

- May 12, 2002 -

Yahoo! Groups
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