Meanwhile, All Sport posted a few quotes by Russian head coach Andrei Rodionenko on his girls' participation in the upcoming event. (Elena Zamolodchikova is slated to do vault and floor, while Yulia Lozhechko will perform her beam routine.)
Yulia Lozhechko (photo: AFP/Getty Images)
"The World Cup Final will take place from December 12th to 14th in Madrid, and of course this competition is quite significant," said Andrei Rodionenko. "If we look at this in terms of levels, then the most prestigious competition in gymnastics is undoubtedly the Olympic Games, followed by the World Championships, but I would position the World Cup Final somewhere on the third level, on a level with the championships of the leading continents. The World Cup finalists on the various apparatus are determined by the results over two years, unlike, for example, the system in athletics [track & field], where only the last season is taken into account. The World Cup Final in Madrid offers those for whom it did not go well in the Olympic Games in Beijing or those who for whatever reason did not get to go there a chance to show what they can do. In any case that is how it is for our team. I'm glad that Yulia Lozhechko and Lena Zamolodchikova now have the chance to realize that potential, which for various reasons didn't work out at the Olympics in Beijing. And I feel sorry that Anna Pavlova and Ludmilla Grebenkova are unable to compete due to injuries."
What about Ksenia Semyonova, Mr. Rodionenko? Don't you think she deserved a mention too?
Anyhow, we hope that Rodionenko is right and that the World Cup Final will turn out to be like a "good continental championship" in terms of performance level. Good performances by the Russians would be a very nice bonus.
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