In the end, the Russians went with the gymnasts likely to earn them medals rather than provide leadership or stoke warm feelings from sentimental gymnastics fans.
The 2010 World team will be composed of Aliya Mustafina, Tatiana Nabieva, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Ksenia Semyonova, Anna Dementyeva, Anna Myzdrikova and Yekaterina Kurbatova, International Gymnast Magazine reported this morning. One of those gymnasts -- I'd assume Myzdrikova or Kurbatova -- will be team alternate.
Anna Pavlova, a veteran of two Olympic Games who will be retiring at the end of the year, will stay home.
Despite not having Pavlova, which will sadden her many fans, this is a dream team for Russia. They should be favored to win the women's team title, and every one of those gymnasts has the ability to make at least one event final. Mustafina and Afanasyeva have good shots to win the World all-around title.
Mustafina in particular, who recently added an Amanar vault to her arsenal of tricks, is in excellent position going into Rotterdam. Elsewhere, Kurbatova is the reigning European Champion on vault and very likely to qualify for event finals if not medal. Afanasyeva is good on beam and floor, Nabieva on vault and bars, Dementyeva on beam, Myzdrikova on floor. Semyonova may have more competition from her teammates than the rest of the world when it comes to qualifying for event finals on any event, but she has been put up solid all-around scores in her last several meets.
Mustafina is also threat to qualify for event finals on all events if she displays a second vault and performs well on balance beam, which tends to be her Achilles heel. Bars and floor are very strong.
The Russian men's team is a mixture of youth and experience. Olympians Sergei Khorokhodin, Maxim Devyatovskiy and Anton Golotsutskov will lead a team that also contains youngsters David Belyavsky, Igor Pakhomenko, Andrei Cherkasov and Dmitry Barkalov. This team was prevented from traveling to the European Championships last spring due to the Icelandic volcano fiasco and is likely hungry and strong.
The Belgians also announced their World teams today. Veteran Aagje Vanwellegham, who was injured most of last year, and newcomer Julie Croket are two to watch. They are joined by Floriane Scianguetta, Lin Versonnen, Joline Eggermont and Alice Canart, as well as reseves Gaelle Mys and Eleni Lari-Carillo.
The Belgian men will be represented by pommel horse star Donna-Donny Truyens, Thomas Neuteleers, Jimmy Verbaeys, Tomas Thys, Gilles Gentges and Jonas Toeback. Kristof Schroé, Siemon Volkaert and Steven Liesenborgs are the alternates, according to the Belgian Gymnastics Federation.
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