RG Update

Tatiana Gorbunova- former Olympic group champion- entered the Russian Ministry of Sport.

Yulia Bravikova is finally back to training in Novogorsk after more than a year fighting her health problems and injuries (leg, back).

Yana Kudryavtseva might show her new routines as an exhibition at Russian Junior Championships (February 3-9) along with Mamun and Soldatova, but her foot is hurting her again so she's not confirmed. According to the roster, all three are supposed to attend the FIG Espoo (FIN) World Cup on February 26-28. 

The Italian city, Pesaro, applied for candidacy to host the 2017 World Championships. Strangely, it was awarded to Kazan, Russia over a year ago but for unknown reasons the FIG is opening bidding again! I wonder if Kazan was stripped of the Championships or if they resigned of their own volition. Russia has been trying to beef up its tourism industry- and international image- by way of sports tournaments, with Kazan and Sochi becoming the de facto cities for such events. Without knowing the real reason why Kazan is no longer to host Worlds, I do wonder if the FIG is trying to broaden the reach of this very Eastern European sport, seeing as there are some Asian countries on the rise, and Italy, Spain and Israel are also doing particularly well. Or... there is some deeper politics at play? Try as I might, I can't understand why Russia would give up a World Championships in a sport they dominate, and in a city fully equipped to host such a sell-out event. It goes against every agenda the ministry of sport pursues! In time, perhaps some news will come forward and illuminate this mystery.

A few days ago, the Ukraine Federation had to make a statement denying internet rumors that they were skipping this year's Moscow World Cup because of politics (historically, Ukraine never attends). 

Mamun at a photoshoot

Margarita Mamun : "I am ready for the new season"

"In the new season we will, as usual, do the maximum [competitions]. It is expected [to be] a large number of Grand Prix & World Cups. I hope that our team will be bright at the Olympic Games in Brazil. Of course, I want to go there, the fight is gonna be hard, but I want my team to be first, even I can't take part in it.

The main thing is that at the end of the World Championships, Russia received two licenses to the Olympics. Being vice all around world champion is an excellent result, which gives me the motivation to fight for the gold. The Russian national team is always at a very high level. In my career, my main goal for the Olympic season is to avoid injury.

At home, both my parents and Yana's did not want a dog. We bought a puppy anyways, named in honor of LeBron the NBA star, but it turned out it's a girl!"

Senior group gymnasts + Soldatova in Israel for warm weather winter training