The answers come from the Executive Director of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia Mr. Andrey A. Startsev; the Federation's President, head coach Leonid Yakovlevich Arkayev; or the gymnasts themselves.
Unfortunately, this page will remain unupdated for the unknown period of time due to the lost connection with the Federation
April 2, 1998
SVETLANA KHORKINA REPLIES (to Amy Brown, San Diego, California, USA) "Who is your best friend? I've heard it is Grosheva."
"It's true. Yelena Grosheva was my best teammate. Unfortunately, she is not on the team anymore. In today's team I like everyone equally." (to Cathi Nelson, Minneapolis, MN) "What gives you the most pleasure in gymnastics?"
"My biggest enjoyment in gymnastics is the good performance in competitions." "What else in your career do you hope to accomplish?"
"I don't have an Olympic All-around title yet."
February 5, 1998
GYMNASTS' NEWS (to Jennifer Sutherland, Altamonte Springs, Florida, USA) Elena Mukhina has never recovered from her injury. At the present time she lives in Moscow. Write to the federation to contact her. (to Tyndal Stormcrest, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA) Elena Shevchenko successfully coaches at CSKA gymnastics club; her gymnasts show good results. (to Christopher Scott, Toronto, Canada) Oksana Lyapina studies at St. Petersburg Physical Culture Institute; will possibly participate in the University Games. Yulia Korostilyova continues training in Moscow with her coach Vladimir Kuznetsov; the road to the national team is open for her as well as to Yevgeny Shabaev. To say more definitely will be possible after the Russian Championships in March. (to Ashley Lawson, Bridgeport, WV USA)
"To be a member of the Russian national team, do rules require you to train at Round Lake at least one day a week?"
No. The national team is formed according to the scores at the major competitions. The board of coaches decides who is going to practice at Ozero Krugloye training camp. (to Simon, Dunedin, New Zealand) "Do you think Roza Galieva was scored down in vault finals in Atlanta?"
In gymnastics the appeals are not accepted. "Do any of the Russian gymnasts know they have websites?"
Mr. Startsev says he tries to inform them. (to Amy Brown, San Diego, California, USA) "Is Elena Dolgopolova still competing for the team?" Elena Dolgopolova competes and is on the national team.
January 28, 1998
GYMNASTS' NEWS Yevgeny Zhukov is on the team. At the present time he trains at home in Chelyabinsk. Yevgeny Podgorny - "rumors about [him leaving to] Australia are nonsense. He trains a lot and well with the Russian team." -- L. Arkaev (to Graham Ackerman, Seattle, USA and Simon, Dunedin, New Zealand) Yelena Grosheva has retired. She is at home in Yaroslavl', seriously plans to start aerobics. Alexei Nemov's injured shoulder reminds about itself from time to time. Still, Alexei trains full strength. -- L. Arkayev Alexei Bondarenko has no problems with health now, he is a "real rising star." -- L. Arkayev (to Simone Alexander, Melbourne, Australia) Elena Zamolodchikova and Ludmila Ezhova are considered the strong candidates for the 2000 Olympic team. -- L. Arkayev
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View the photos of Khorkina and Nemov from the front page of the informational bulletin of the European Championships.
~~~~~ (to Ashley Lawson, Bridgeport, West Virginia, USA)
There are many rising stars on the junior team, noteably Yegor Greben'kov, Alla Kovaleva, and Katya (Yekaterina) Lobaznyuk. -- L. Arkaev ~~~~~ (to Graham Ackerman, Seattle, USA)
The Russian team will participate in the Goodwill Games '98, but it is too early to say who is going to be on the team. ~~~~~ (to Katrina Barrios, USA(?))
The members of the teams going to the European Championships will be decided during the Russian Championships (March 14-17). ~~~~~ (to Jeff Ruell, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA) "Both Dina Kochetkova and Svetlana Khorkina were co-credited with the full twisting FF on beam (1994 Worlds in Brisbane). Who started doing it first? Was there a reason why they both included it in their routines in 1994?"
Full twisting FF ("fliak s povorotom na 360" or "vint v ruki") on beam was first executed by Svetlana Khorkina. Dina Kochetkova learnt it later. There were no special reasons, just a nice new "D" element. Many perform it today.
January 23, 1998
GYMNASTS' NEWS
There are more then 100 gymnasts on the Russian team. Name specifically when asking. (to Brian Mulligan, Duxbury, Massachussets, USA) Svetlana Khorkina continues training and plans to participate in Sydney 2000. Dina Kochetkova retired from the team, continues studying at the university, keeps shape to participate in Universiada (World University Games). (to Penguin, California, USA) Roza Galieva retired from the team. Studies, coaches at a sports center near Moscow. Roza cannot be reached immediately. Mr. Startsev hopes to see her in mid-March during the Russian Championships where she will participate as a judge. (to Simone Alexander, Melbourne, Australia) Oksana Bogdanova is the member of the junior team. Last year injured her knee. Rehabilitated and trained in her native city of Penza. At the present time, completely recovered and trains with the junior team. (to Brian Mulligan, Duxbury, MA, USA and Helen Crewe, Johannesburg, South Africa)
As far as Mr. Startsev knows, none of the gymnasts has e-mail. Also, nobody is fluent in English, but most studied it.
FAVORITES IN SYDNEY (to Simone Alexander, Melbourne, Australia)
It is too early to say yet. They could be Khorkina, Kovaleva and many others. Advise - watch precisely the results of this and 1999 years.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ST. PETERSBURG (schedule, prices, contacts) (to Ruth Judson, Washington DC, USA) "Information for the guests of the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships 1998. The official tour-operator of the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships is the "Petrosportobespecheniye" state enterprise. It unites and coordinates work of many incintinery travelling companies and agencies of St. Petersburg within the limits of the programmes, specially drawn up for the European Championships.
The gripping sport contests, acquaintance with the history and rich culture and life of one of the most beautiful cities of the world are here for the guests of St. Petersburg."
Contact person: Olga Dityatkovskaya.
Address: Russia, 191186, St. Petersburg, Millionnaya str., 22;
Tel.: 7 (812) 311-20-89; Fax.: 7 (812) 311-41-76 View the chart with dates, ticket prices and seating chart of "Peterburgsky" Sport and Concert Complex.
FAN MAIL
The Federation passes all fan mail to the gymnasts. They may or may not reply. English is a problem, Russian is preferred.