Random Russia sh*t

[RAFIKI]

POV: you took a random selfie at Round Lake

Credit: Angelina Melnikova (and Viktoria Listunova)
View attachment 13545

Can’t take my eyes off the floor leap

 

[rlayt]

That has to one of the best leap photos this last year!

 

[MaryClare]

A very successful time at Cottbus for Russia. Especially for Milana Kayumova on senior debut.

Kalmykova: Gold on VT and FX
Kayumova: Silver on UB, bronze on BB
Kartsev: Bronze on FX, Silver on PB, Bronze on HB
Syedin: Bronze on PB

 

[MaryClare]

Alyona Glotova is back. Glotova looked very promising 23/24. Represented Russia at the BRICS games then disappeared. I’m assuming injury although I don’t recall hearing anything officially.

She remained on the national team roster throughout 2025 then at the start of the year was moved to the reserve team. Which is normal as how it works you get a full season salaried as injury pay. Then after that if you are still training to a reasonable level, the national team staff may decide to retain you on the reserve team.

However last week was the federal districts championships across Russia and Glotova posted some big scores to win the Central region title. The central region is usually one of the strongest both in terms of the standard of gymnastics but also the level of coaching and judging. It includes well know gymnastics hubs like Voronezh (Komova, Melnikova), Tula (Afanasyeva, Semenova) and Vladimir (better known for MAG, but Vasilieva is from there). The region’s head judges are Natalia Pavlova and Vera Kolesnikova.

Glotova scored 56.5 day 1 and 54.25 day 2 to take the title ahead of national team members Shukhyurova and Semukhina who both averaged over 52. Glotova already has AIN status, she was in the first batch to be granted. So I would consider her a dark horse for euros and worlds this year. Videos on VK, but an account is required. I’m not sure how to get them onto YouTube.

 

[MaryClare]

Angelina Melnikova is to compete in the Italian Serie A league this year. I am kind of surprised, given what happened in Germany but both Listunova and Dalaloyan have competed in serie A without any issues. And actually having just returned from Italy, I felt that attitudes towards Russian people were less negative than elsewhere in Western Europe*

*spent literally the whole time in ice rinks, may not be typical sample

 

[MaryClare]

Joining Melnikova in competing in Serie A is Arseniy Dukhno in what will be his senior debut.

 

[Denn]

I do think Dukhno is the real deal, too, and will be a player in the long term. I would encourage people to check out the first 3-4 posts of his instagram for a nice summary of what he can do.

https://www.instagram.com/dukhno_arsenii/?hl=en

I think this is one of his best. stock stuff, but a cat-like ability to land well.
short and stock. enough to do AA, but he rarely posts PH training.
not strong. but a triple back dismount helps. weird technique on it though
maybe his best event. He's now doing a Kas 2.5 which is a 3.5 twist and it's a huge D-score. Same as the Kas-double back ("Ri1" vault) and piked Dragulescu vaults! He's got a good Randi also.
he gets archy in the lower back and has some leg deductions to sort out, but a lot of potential here. And a full-in dismount that's quite nice.
He's been working tons of tricks — Liukin, Kolman combos, Pegan — so we'll see where he ends up...

 

[Snowfan]

Would someone be so kind as to explain what these leagues are? I've heard of a league in Spain as well. I heard them mentioned once in a while. Are there other places that have these leagues?

 

[MaryClare]

I do think Dukhno is the real deal, too, and will be a player in the long term. I would encourage people to check out the first 3-4 posts of his instagram for a nice summary of what he can do.

https://www.instagram.com/dukhno_arsenii/?hl=en

I think this is one of his best. stock stuff, but a cat-like ability to land well.
short and stock. enough to do AA, but he rarely posts PH training.
not strong. but a triple back dismount helps. weird technique on it though
maybe his best event. He's now doing a Kas 2.5 which is a 3.5 twist and it's a huge D-score. He's got a good Randi also.
he gets archy in the lower back and leg deductions to sort out, but a lot of potential here. And a full-in dismount that's quite nice.
He's been working tons of tricks — Liukin, Kolman combos, Pegan — so we'll see where he ends up...

Thanks Denn that’s a really great summary. Interestingly, both his parents are men’s national team coaches but I believe he has a different personal coach.

 

[MaryClare]

MASSIVE AA score alert

Polina Dmitrieva at volga region federal championships. 56.1 and 56.25. Fell both days. I haven’t seen videos yet, so we’ll see…

NB: There are 2 Polina Dmitrievas on the junior national team, both born 2012. This one is from Sterlitamak, the other is from Moscow.

 

[QuietColours]

Very interested in seeing those videos

 

[MaryClare]

Very interested in seeing those videos

There are videos on VK from the other regional championships but you need to be logged in

 

[MaryClare]

Cairo World Cup. MAG and WAG seem to be taking different approaches. MAG is sending what would be considered an A team- Dukhno, Marinov, Yakubov. WAG are sending Agafonova and Us. I don’t think either have competed internationally before but Agafonova is definitely a potential contributor for a worlds or euros team

 

[Puffin]

I wonder if the Cairo World cup will go ahead - many countries are already advising against travel to large parts of Egypt

 

[KorbutFan]

Kind of surprised it hasn’t already been canceled

 

[MaryClare]

Some big scores posted today

Serie A:
Angelina Melnikova
UB 14.500
BB 14.050
FX: 14.050

Antalya World Cup:
Milana Kayumova
UB 14.233

 

[MaryClare]

Svetlana Khorkina and Alexei Nemov are in Antalya

 

[Matilda23]

Is that Evgeny Podgorny on the left in the navy blue jacket ?

 

[MaryClare]

Full sweep in Antalya for the Russian women. Roschina wins VT and FX, Kayumova wins UB and BB.

 

[MaryClare]

Russian Youth Championships was last weekend. In the master of sports category it ended up quite close. They are all 2011/2012

Dmitrieva, Polina 54.665
Butorina, Ksenia 53.898
Ivanova, Kira 53.832


Of interest are Arina Dukhno (2011), sister of Arseniy and daughter of National team staff Andrei and Anastasia. She was awarded master of sport.

The girls category (2013/14) was won by Maria Bondarenko, daughter of Alexei, with 50.731. The girls category has a compulsory programme attached