Ilia Kovtun & Coach Change from Ukraine to Croatia

[rlayt]

I read a few things that may just be gossip. I printed some of it because it’s interesting and thought it would be worth asking what people might know. It seems there has been conflict because of Gorbachev as their coach favoring Kovtun over Chepurnyi so he left her. And with the war a group of gymnasts were training in Croatia. Chepurnyi moved back to Ukraine . Vernaiev’s doping ban was shortened which led to Jockeying to be team leader. Gorbacheva and Kovtun may switch countries to Croatia? Chepurnyi said there was mentall abuse from Gorbacheva. People have expressed surprise at the number of hours Kovtun trains.

Anyone want to weigh in?

 

[MaryClare]

I read a few things that may just be gossip. I printed some of it because it’s interesting and thought it would be worth asking what people might know. It seems there has been conflict because of Gorbachev as their coach favoring Kovtun over Chepurnyi so he left her. And with the war a group of gymnasts were training in Croatia. Chepurnyi moved back to Ukraine . Vernaiev’s doping ban was shortened which led to Jockeying to be team leader. Gorbacheva and Kovtun may switch countries to Croatia? Chepurnyi said there was mentall abuse from Gorbacheva. People have expressed surprise at the number of hours Kovtun trains.

Anyone want to weigh in?

Irina Gorbacheva confirmed the country switch, but as it won’t be an amicable one, he’ll have to sit out competition for a year. No bad thing given he’s been held together with tape for a while. Gorbacheva has been sacked as a national team coach on the basis that she’s never there.

Local media has reacted very badly towards Kovtun, calling him a traitor.

The women’s team is now being led by Igor and Angelina Radivilov. Although I’m not sure how much of a women’s team there actually is

 

[JDB]

I expect no less from Ukrainian media.

Has Illia Kovtun stated why he wants to change countries?

 

[Denn]

This is a big deal. The last time such a high profile gymnast changed countries was maybe Kuksenskov?

Well, also Orozco, but that did not really turn into competitive entries.