Rakesh Dreams for Rio Olympics

Rakesh Patra is eyeing a place at the Rio Olympics, if he performs well in the upcoming World Gymnastics Championships at Glasgow, beginning October 23.

Rakesh qualified for the world meet after securing the top position in the All India trials at New Delhi. Three other gymnasts along with Rakesh have also qualified for Glasgow: Ashis Kumar, Sidharth Verma and Dipa Karmakar. In the men’s competition, Rakesh scored 81.90 points in the all-around during the trials to qualify while Ashis and Sidhartha achieved scores of 80.55 and 80.10 points respectively.

Rakesh Patra hopes to become the first gymnast from India to compete in an Olympic competition  They are training under  coach Ashok Kumar Mishra

Best of Luck Rakesh!

Relax...

68th Romanian National Championship

 Bucharest (ROU) 2015 Sep 26-27
Photo -  Larisa Iordache.

Results - Event Finals.
Vault
1. Denisa Golgota - 14.188
2. Alexandra Mihai - 13.375 
3. Olivia Cimpian - 12.875 
Uneven Bars
1. Larisa Iordache - 14.950 
2. Laura Jurca - 13.425 
3. Olivia Cimpian - 13.375 
Balance Beam
1. Larisa Iordache - 15.625
2. Diana Bulimar - 14.700 
3. Anamaria Ocolisan - 14.250 
Floor Exercise
1. Larisa Iordache - 15.200 
2. Silvia Zarzu - 14.475 
3. Laura Jurca - 14.400 

South American Junior Championships

Rosario (ARG)
2015 1 - 4  October 2015

Thursday Oct 1
16:00-20:00 - Competition I Pre-Infantil MAG & WAG

Friday Oct 2
09:00-12:30 - Competition I Juvenil MAG & WAG
16:00-20:00 - Competition I Infantil MAG & WAG

Saturday Oct 3
16:00-20:00 -Competition III Infantil MAG & WAG

Sunday Oct 4 
 09:00-13:00 - Competition III Juvenil MAG & WAG

7th Hungarian Grand Prix

7th Hungarian Grand Prix Competition
Szombathely (HUN) 2015 Sep 25-27Men

Results - MAG Event Finals
Floor Exercise
1. Dimitros Markousis (GRE) 15,200
2. Botond Karolos (HUN) 14,800
3. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 14,800
4. Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14,800
5. Levente Vagner (HUN) 14,700
6. Kirmes Oskar (FIN) 14,700

Pommel Horse
1. Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14,700
2. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 14,500
3. Alen Dimic (SLO) 14,500
4. Anton Kovacevic (CRO) 14,200
5. Fabian Leimlehner (AUT) 14,200
6. David Vecsemyes (HUN) 14,200

Rings
1. Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) 16,000
2. Ibrahim Colak (TUR) 15,500
3. Vinzenz Hock (AUT) 14,900
4. Ali Ramadan Abouelkasem (EGY) 14,800
5. Attila Vlacsil (HUN) 14,500
6. Javier Balboa (MEX) 14,500

Vault
1. Andrey Medvedev (ISR) 14,650
2. Tomi Tuuha (FIN) 14.450
3. Ivan Vargovsky (SVK) 13,950
4. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 13,900
5. Attila Vlacsil (HUN) 13,800
6. Damien Cachia (CAN) 13,750

Parallel Bars
1. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 15,200
2. Alen Dimic (SLO) 14,800
3. Ferhat Arican (TUR) 14,800
4. Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14,600
5. Norbert Dudas (HUN) 14,500
6. Nikolaos Iliopoulos (GRE) 14,500

High Bar
1. Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14,700
2. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 14,500
3. Alen Dimic (SLO) 14,500
4. Anton Kovacevic (CRO) 14,200
5. Fabian Leimlehner (AUT) 14,200
6. David Vecsemyes (HUN) `4,200

Photo Dimitros Markousis (GRE)

68th Romanian National Championship 2015

68th Romanian National Championship
Bucharest (ROU) 2015 Sep 26-27

Results Team MAG
1 CS Dinamo Bucuresti - 249,450

2 CSM Bistrita 2 - 241,450

3 CSA Steaua Bucuresti - 231,500

Results Team WAG
1. CS Dinamo Bucuresti -169.950

2. CNS Cetate Deva 1-169.750

3. CNS Cetate Deva 2 - 167.850

2015 World Championships, Glasgow, Scotland

2015 World Championships, Glasgow, Scotland
photo - Catalina Ponor and Larisa Iordache

The Romanian WAG delegation for the  2015 World Championships was announced at the National Championships. 
Catalina Ponor will return to her first World Championships since 2011.

The WAG delegation will consist of:

Catalina Ponor
Larisa Iordache
Diana Bulimar
Laura Jurca
Anamaria Ocolisan
Silvia Zarzu
Andreea Iridon serves as the alternate

Fan Gymnastics has confirmed that the RGF have confirmed that this is the nominative list they have submitted to the FIG.

GOOD LUCK!

European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships 2015

2015 European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships
Riesa, Germany
September 25-27, 2015.

Azerbaijan  delegation to take part in 2015 European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships and Age Group Competitions to be held in Riesa (Germany) 

MixP: Aghasif Rahimov, Nurjan Jabbarli (Age group 12-18)
MP: Murad Akparov, Seymur Jafarov (Age group 12-18)
Coach: Leyla Mehdizada, judge: Adigozal Rajabov
Head of Delegation: Azer Novruzov

European Championships: Senior Women group: Narmin Ramazanova, Lala Huseynova, Aynur Huseynova
Coach: Irada Gurbanova

GOOD LUCK!

Aliya Mustafina for Worlds

Coaching Staff of the Russian national team in gymnastics decided on the composition for the World Cup, it included Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina, whose participation in the tournament, until recently, remained in doubt. The final list of athletes of the national team Tass head coach Andrei Rodionenko.

Women - Aliya Mustafina, Victoria Komova, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Maria Paseka, Daria Spiridonova, Seda Toutkhalian and  Mary Harenkova.

Men - Denis Ablyazin David Bielawski, Nikita Ignatyev, Nikolai Kuksenkov Nikita Nagorno Ivan Stretovych, and  Alex Rostov.

Last Friday Mustafina said it would not be able to speak at the World Championships in Glasgow because of back problems, but a day after the conversation with the coach of 20-year-old gymnast decided to prepare for the tournament, despite the pain.

German gymnastics team for worlds 2015

From-London-to- Rio:

WAG:
- Elisabeth Seitz
- Leah Grießer
- Lisa Katharina Hill
- Sophie Scheder
- Pauline Schäfer

MAG:
-Fabian Hambüchen
- Marcel Nguyen- Andreas Toba
- Andreas Bretschneider

(Last spots will be named after the qualification event October 3rd)

photo - Elisabeth Seitz

Some teams already announced for the World!

RUSSIA Male Nikita Ignatyev Nikolai Kuksenkov David Belyavskiy Denis Ablyazin Nikita Nagornyy Ivan Stretovich (probable) Reserve not yet been defined. Female Daria Spiridonova Ksenia Afanasyeva Maria Paseka Maria Kharenkova Viktoria Komova Silk Tutkhalyan Aliya Mustafina can still enter this team. The reserve has not yet been defined but Aliya join the team, probably one of those will be the reserve.

ARGENTINA Male Frederico Molinari Nicolas Cordoba Osvaldo Martinez Female Ayelen Tarabini Ayelen Valente Belen Stoffel 

CHINA Female Shang Chunsong Wang Yan Mao Yi Huang Huidan Fan Yilin Tan Jiaxin Chen Siyi (reserve) Zhu Xiaofang (reserve)

photo  Frederico Molinari

World Gymnastics Championships, Glasgow, Scotland - Team Ireland.

OLYMPIAN Kieran Behan will lead the Irish  team  at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Glasgow.

Irish Team:

MAG
Kieran Behan
Andrew Smith
Jack Neil

Coaches: Barry Winch/Simon Gale
Judge: Denis Donoghue

WAG
Ellis O'Reilly
Nicole Mawhinney
Tara Donnelly

Coaches: Sam James/Sun Jie
Judge: Mary Murray

Good luck to team Ireland.

Spotlight Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS)

European and World Champion Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) is in Germany to get treatment for her leg injury. She's out for the rest of the year. Get well soon Yana!

September Birthday

Happy birthday to Italy's Elisabetta Preziosa!

RUSSIAN CUP-2015

Dates: 16-20 September 2015

Venue: Burtasy Sports Palace

The Russian Cup ended on Sunday.

(photo Ignatiev and Kharenkova )

Denis Ablyazin's  vault 15.333 , his third after  Floor Exercise and Rings he won on Saturday. Nikita Nagorniy 14.867 silver  and Artur Dalaloyan  third with 14.733.

Parallel bars David Belyavskiy - 15.500, Nikita Ignatiev 15.333 placing second and Nikolai Kuksenkov  15.267 bronze. On high bar, Ignatiev and Kuksenkov tied for gold with 15.133, while Belyavskiy took the third with 14.667.

Mariya Kharenkova European champion on beam, won that event with 14.800, Kseniya Afanasyeva 14.333, and Dariya Spiridonova scored 14.133 third.

Floor Exercise saw Afanasyeva finished in first 14.700;  Mariya Paseka was second 14.033 and Kharenkova  bronze with 13.867

Trampoline World Championships 2015, Odense, Denmark

The Danish national team are ready for the trampoline World Cup!

The 2015 Trampoline, Tumbling and Double-Mini Trampoline World Championships will take place in Odense, Denmark from the 26th -29th November in Sparrekassen Fyn Arena in Odense, Denmark. Fyn Arena is Southern Denmark.

The World Championships competition schedule for Nov. 26th-29th. The final schedule is still being finalized, but the first day is traditionally qualification rounds, with finals spread over the last tree days.

The World Age Group Competition, schedule for Dec. 3rd -6th. has qualification rounds and finals every day.

The Championships will showcase the World’s best athletes in trampoline, synchronized trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline and will serve as the first qualification for the Olympics in Rio 2016 for the individual trampoline gymnasts.

Aliya Mustafina will miss the World Championships, Glasgow 2015

Mustafina will not compete at Worlds, says Valentina Rodionenko. The gymnast will concentrate on her preparations for Rio, says the Head Coach.( http://m.rsport.ru/artist_gym/20150918/864271660.html )

We wish Aliya the best of health as she prepares for the Rio,. Good luck, Aliya!!

Denis Ablyazin qualified for final of the Cup of Russia

Gymnastics Russian Cup 2015
Dates: 16-20 September 2015
Venue: Burtasy Sports Palace

Penza gymnast Denis Ablyazin reached the final of the Cup of Russia


Penza gymnastics school pupil Denis Ablyazin qualified  successfully in the qualifying competitions  in the Penza Cup of Russia in gymnastics. After the  preliminary  on Wednesday, September 16, he qualified  to compete for a medal in the final.

There are nine athletes from the Penza region Natalia Kapitonov Denis Ablyazin, Pavel Pavlov, Alex Kane, Sergei Stepanov, Daniil Kazatchkov Nicholas Covino, Ivan Tikhon, and Nikita Simonov.at the  Russian Cup 2015.

Gymnastics Russian Cup 2015

Dates: 16-20 September 2015

Venue: Burtasy Sports Palace

Schedule

Wednesday,16 September

MAG & WAG - CI Qualifying and CIV Team Final

Thursday, 17 September
WAG CII All Around | 19:00-21:00

Friday, 18 September
MAG CII All Around | 13:00-15:00

Saturday, 19 September
CIII Event Finals | 12:00-14:00
MAG | Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings
WAG | Vault, Uneven Bars

Sunday, 20 September
CIII Event Finals | 12:00-14:00
MAG | Vault, Parallel Bars, High Bar
WAG | Beam, Floor

Russia’s Mamun got recognition from Longines

The Longines Prize of Elegance has been awarded since 1997 by FIG’s partner Longines, the Swiss watchmaker and official timekeeper of international artistic and rhythmic gymnastics events.

Only gymnasts competing in the all-around final are eligible for this award. The jury consists of Bruno Grandi, FIG President; Magdalena Brzeska, 26-time German Champion in rhythmic gymnastics; Rainer Eckert, Brand Manager Longines Germany, and Walter von Kaenel, President of Longines. The judges’ panel looked for emotions, beauty and femininity, grace and harmony of movement, and –of course- elegance.

Mamun received a Longines watch, a statue representing a gymnast in movement, and a check of US $ 5000.

Congratulations!

Larisa Iordache and Catalina Ponor are back.

We often wondered if Romania would be in trouble at World Championships this year.

Great news Larisa Iordache and Catalina Ponor are back, and they’re in top shape, taking Romania from a “will they make finals?” Team to a “watch out, Russia and China” . Ponor in her first meet back since competing at the 2012 Olympic Games over three years ago looks about as good as we can expect considering her minor injury setbacks, and Iordache looked fabulous on her return with the team.

Good luck to Team Romania.

34th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2015

The Federation gymnastics of Italy applaud these amazing athletes, back from Stuttgart with the Olympic Qualificatio. in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

FINAL 5 Ribbons
1 Italy 8,900 9,000 17,900
2 Russia 8,750 9,100 17,850
3 Japan 8,700 8,666 17,366
4 Bulgaria 8,600 8,700 17,300
5 Israel 8,500 8,733 17,233
6 Spain 8,550 8,633 17,183
7 China 8,400 8,433 16,833
7 Ukraine 8,400 8,433 16,833

FINAL 2 6 Hoops and Clubs
1 Russia 9,050 9,075 18,125
2 Italy 9,000 9,100 18,100
3 Bulgaria 8,900 8,966 17,866
4 Belarus 8,800 8,833 17,633
5 Japan 8,700 8,800 17,500
6 Israel 8,650 8,700 17,350
7 Germany 8,500 8,500 17,000
8 Azerbaijan 8,400 8,166 16,566

Group All Around Finals
1 RUS 36.266
2 BUL 35.583
3 ESP 34.900
4 ITA 34.782
5 JPN 34.682
6 ISR
7 BLR 34.016
8 CHN 33.199
9 UKR 33.166
10 UZB 32.566
10 GER 32.566
12 AZE 32.532
13 USA 32.299

Israel Cup 2015

Israel Cup All Around Results

1-Oleg סטפקו, Azerbaijan 89.00 points
2-Philip Oda, Croatia 85.950 points
3-Alexander שטילוב, Israel 85.250 points
4-Petro פקחויוק, Azerbaijan 84.7 points
5-Thomas קוזמיקס, Lithuania 82.450 points
6-Artem דולגופיאט, Israel 82.100 points
7-Robert טבורוגל, Lithuania 80.85 points
8-il glazer, Israel-79.750 points

Birthday Profile September

Happy Birthday to Kathy Johnson, USA born September 13, 1959, retired artistic gymnast.One of the first American gymnasts to win a major international medal, and for her longevity and tenacity in remaining in the sport.

Russian Cup 2016

Russian Cup Artistic Gymnastics
Yekaterinburg (RUS)
2015 Sep 16-20
Artistic Gymnastics Men and Women.

The 34th World Championships f Rhythmic Gymnastics

Venue -  Porsche-Arena of Stuttgart (Germany) 
7th September  to 13th September 2015

All the  279 gymnasts representing 56 different nations competing for a place to the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. 

Margarita Mamun and Yana Kudryavtseva won the first gold medals for Russia in the individual finals with hoop and ball on Tuesday, Sep 08. The next two days will  be for the apparatus events clubs and ribbon with the finals on Thursday (Sep 10) evening.

Good Luck to all the participants at this meet.

Happy Birthday to the Gymnasts celebrating birthdays today:

 Ulf Hoffman (DDR); Li Ning (CHN); Daniele Hypolito (BRA); Marcel Nguyen (GER); Emin Garibov (RUS); Ellie Black (CAN )

World Beard Day

September 5 is a special day -World Beard Day.To celebrate some of our favourite beards in the British gymnastics community.

You can view the images in person at the Mens' London Open during the weekend of the 24th-27th September 2015. Who will take the 2015 title in the Westminster Cup?

Good Luck to all the gymnasts.

Kseniya Moustafaeva: preparation for the World Championships in Stuttgart,

An interview with Kseniya Moustafaeva as she prepares for  the World Championships in Stuttgart,

For the moment I'm trying to concentrate on my preparation. I think the stress will begin to appear in a few days when I get to Stuttgart. For now, I try to think in training.

How was your preparation? When did you start ?
My preparation started in the month of January. Throughout the year I have participated in many competitions in order to perfect my routines. One of the latest was that of Kazan. I remained in Russia after the competition for a final training camp before leaving for Stuttgart Thursday, September 3. 

What is your goal in Stuttgart and for the future? 
My first goal is to get into the top 15 during the competition 2 (open competition), in order to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games but also to return to the finals in previous days.

What will be your strongest point in Stuttgart?
This will be my third World Championships. My experience is probably one of my strengths.

What do you expect the fans who follow you? Do you have a message to pass them?
Firstly a big thank you to them for their support. Thank you to them for believing in me and having followed me until now. I'll give the best of myself in this competition and try to best represent the colors of France. 

Kseniya Good luck!

Tournament memory ND Lifirenko Rhythmic Gymnastics

Date - 05 to September 7, 2015 in DC "Burtasy" will be held for the 10th time the All-Russian tournament in memory of our honored coach of Russia - Natalia Lifirenko.

From 1968 to 1991, Natalia worked as a trainer in a regional sports school gymnastics. During this time she produced the deserved master of sports, 6 masters of sports of international class, fifteen masters of sports. For the preparation of high-class athletes in 1991, she was awarded the honorary title "Honored coach of Russia."

The competition in several age groups:
- CCM - gymnasts born in 2000-2001 b
- MMR (Early Childhood) - gymnasts born in 2002/2003
- I category - born in 2004/2005
- II level - born in 2006/2007

Competitions are held in the all-around and individual events.
The gymnasts born in 2000-2001 and b 2002-2003 Carrying out exercises with a hoop, ball, clubs and rope; 1 discharge - without the subject and 3 subjects to choose from; 2 rank athletes - without the subject and the object 2 to choose from.

Participation in the tournament will be a gymnast from Astrakhan, Ulyanovsk, Samara, Penza regions, Krasnodar Territory, and beyond the river and Moscow.

Competition program:
5.6 in September - the all-around finals
September 7 - finals in certain types of all-round

African Games 2015

SCHEDULE - Gymnastics

Friday, 4 September
10:00 | Women’s Team & All Around
16:00 | Men’s Team & All Around

Sunday, 6 September
16:00 | Event Finals
MAG: Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings | WAG: Vault, Uneven Bars

Monday, 7 September
16:00 | Event Finals
MAG: Vault, Parallel Bars, High Bar | WAG: Beam, Floor

PARTICIPANTS
MEN
Algeria
Metidji Hilal
Bourguieg Mohamed
Reghib Mohamed
Mohamed Aouicha
Maoudj Ahmed Anis

Angola
Benin
Congo
Egypt
Nigeria

South Africa
Ryan Patterson
Tiaan Grobler
Siphamandla Ngcobo

Zimbabwe
Kudzaishe Nyazvingo
Priviledge Sande

WOMEN
Algeria
Farah Boufadene
Salem Lahna
Meghroun Nesrine
Mokhtari Ahlam
Ben Ali Khoudja Rania

Angola
Congo
Egypt

Namibia
Annelise Koster
Katja Serrer

Nigeria
Senegal

South Africa
Kirsten Beckett
Claudia Cummins
Bianca Mann
Angela Maguire
Tylah Lotter

New Chief Executive Officer in South Africa.

The South African Gymnastics Federation (SAGF) has announced the appointment of Mr. Tseko MOGOTSI as its new Chief Executive Officer. Elizabeth Cameron Smith who has retired. The past 8 years have seen Mogotsi fulfill the roles of High Performance Manager, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer at the South African Gymnastics Federation..

Mogotsi’s began at a young  age of 10 years in the North West Province, as a tumbling gymnast. His tumbling skills progressed over the years, resulting in Mogotsi being crowned SA National Open Tumbling Champion for 15 consecutive years, from 1990 – 2004.

In this time he achieved a World ranking of number 1 for Tumbling, won bronze at the 1997 and silver at the 2001 World Games; won Team Silver at the 2001 World Championships and Silver at the 1996 World Championships.

Enjoy your Rhythm

34th Rhythmic Gymnastics
World Championships 2015
Stuttgart (GER)
2015 Sep 7-13 

Monday September 7, 2015 -Qualification Individuals (hoop and ball)

Tuesday September 8, 2015-Qualification Individuals (hoop and ball)

Finals Individuals (hoop and ball)

Wednesday September 9, 2015 -Qualification Individuals (clubs and ribbon)

Thursday September 10, 2015 - Qualification Individuals (clubs and ribbon)

Finals Individuals (clubs and ribbon)

Friday September 11, 2015 -All Around Final Individuals (place 13 - 24)

All Around Final Individuals (place 1 - 12)

Saturday September 12, 2015 - All Around Groups

"Enjoy your rhythm" Gala

Sunday September 13, 2015 - Finals Groups

Some Gymnast Retired too Soon

( photo. ( Olga Chudina RUS )

A gymnast’s career is usually too brief for our liking (save some notable exceptions, of course!) While we’re lucky that we get to enjoy a career as it navigates through a quadrennium, sometimes we feel certain gymnasts were gone too soon- whether due to injury, burn out, or simply needing to move on to another chapter in life. As fans, we can savor their performances long after their career is over, but here, The List, takes a look back at the gymnasts we love and miss, and who retired too soon.

Marion Kische (GDR ; Marion Kische (GDR); Kristal Uzelac (USA); Ekaterina Lobaznyuk (RUS); Ana Porgras (ROM); Victoria Moors (CAN); Eugenia Gola; , Olga Chudina (RUS), Olessia Dudnik (RUS), Elodie Lussac, Ana Maria Bican ( ROM ), Nadyezhda Ivanova (RUS); , Mattie Larson ( USA), Ariella Kaeslin ( SWI )

Can you add to the list.