Think the whole former-Olympians-returning-to-top-form thing is just happening in the USA? Think again.
As Shawn Johnson and Chellsie Memmel were making their marks at the CoverGirl Classic this weekend, two highly interesting videos popped up on the internet featuring their fellow competitors Catalina Ponor and Ksenia Semyonova.
Ponor's was by far the most impressive. Although she has not competed since 2007, her beamwork appears to still be among the best in the world. Among the goodies: A roundoff, layout to two feet to immediate split jump (new and interesting), as well as a couple of her classic combinations: Front aerial, Kotchetkova (full-twisting back handspring), bhs, layout, and Onodi to bhs, layout, as well as an easy looking roundoff, double pike dismount. (Video)
Though we also get to see Ponor doing a triple twist on floor, it's less enjoyable, since the leg-crunching that was more and more evident throughout her career seems worse than ever.
Also: Diana Chelaru is training an Amanar. (Video)
Don't underestimate the Romanians. Assuming they can rack at least two Amanars on vault (one from Chelaru, and one from Larisa Iordache) they will be very dangerous in Tokyo and in London.
In Russia, Aliya Mustafina's torn ACL, Viktoria Komova's ongoing ankle problems and some fairly unknown injury to Tatiana Nabieva have left the current World champions looking very questionable before Tokyo. Sure, the Russians will place top eight no matter who they put on their team, but they may appear much weakened this time around.
Ksenia Semyonova, arguably the weakest member of the Russian team, is being talked up in the Russian camp. National coach Alexander Alexandrov told the Russian press a couple weeks ago that he hoped Semyonova, the 2009 European all-around champion, would be able to return to the team. Although she did her job for the Russians at the 2010 Worlds, Semyonova looked noticably out of shape and unlike the gymnast she had been.
This new video of her training bars may change that perception. Or not -- although Semyonova looks as though she has lost a bit of weight, this is by no means a full bar routine and is not a great indicator of how she is doing.
Mustafina, meanwhile, was spotted doing a side aerial on beam when the Russians went to Majorca for a camp with the Spanish team. Hope springs eternal...
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