Youtube user Omternovykh has kindly posted a dozen videos from the Moscow Championship event finals that took place two weeks ago. Three routines stood out, for varying reasons:
Violetta Malikova, beam: This is a routine with terrific potential. Too bad she fell three times (once on her roundoff layout to two feet combo, again attempting a super difficult -- and very beautiful -- double turn with leg at head, as well as overrotating her double tuck dismount.)
Given that Sanne Wevers just patented the double turn with leg at horizontal on beam at the Rotterdam Worlds, I'd venture to say this skill is still up for grabs, and Malikova does it wonderfully. This routine has some lovely moments, including the way she just floats into her front aerial. But if she's going to compete this successfully internationally, she needs to compete it successfully in Russia first. Watch it here.
Nailya Mustafina, floor: The reigning World champion's younger sister was once a gymnast with incredible potential. (She showed more talent at 10 than Aliya herself did, I thought after making a video comparison.)
Unfortunately, Nailya broke her femur a couple years ago and has not been the same gymnast since. There is sadly no aggression in this routine -- Nailya tumbles with the tentativeness of someone who has been badly hurt and wishes not to be badly hurt again. Watch it here.
Mariya Chibiskova, floor: The closest a Russian gymnast gets to an NCAA floor routine. Watch it here.
2010 World team alternate Anna Myzdrikova also made it into the videos. Myzdrikova, who competed an overcooked Omelianchik tuck and a Yurchenko full on vault and sat down her whip to double Arabian on floor, looked neither terrible nor really excellent. She did, however, manage to stay on the balance beam.
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