Event Finals were held Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3rd in Penza, wrapping up the 2016 Russian Cup and the final competitive opportunity before Rio. Titles went to four different gymnasts, complicating an already-tough decision about Olympic selection. Aliya Mustafina did not compete in the finals she qualified to (balance beam and floor exercise), a decision that was made before arriving in Penza. Her intention here was to test herself in the All Around, which she did on Thursday, placing third.
Maria Paseka won vault despite falling on her Cheng (14.067). A good Amanar (good block, direction, plenty of time to crank in the extra half twist–15.667) was enough to clench the title with an average score of 14.867 over teammates Seda Tutkhalyan (14.734) and the “retired/not retired” Tatiana Nabieva (12.234). Following her bittersweet victory, she joked with reporters that the coaches were ready to put her in the corner, that if she performed this way at the Olympics, she would come in eighth. (Presumably she’s referring to the Event Final.) Still, she sounds hopeful that she’ll recover her previous form in time.
On bars, Natalya Kapitonova won an important victory over Angelina Melnikova and World Champion Daria Spiridonova with a beautiful routine including a Komova II, pak salto to Chow 1/2, and in-bar full. She capped off her routine with a stuck full-twisting double dismount for a 15.33. Melnikova posted a 15.033, and Spiridonova posted a 14.933.
On balance beam, Angelina Melnikova easily took the title. She had some slight balance checks on her aerial skills (front aerial and side somi), but her BHS to BHS to layout was solid and delightfully floaty. She finished with a double tuck dismount for a final score of 15.400.
Seda Tutkhalyan followed her at a distant second with a 13.967 after falling again on her layout full. Everything else was solid, however, and she upgraded her dismount after Thursday’s All Around Final back to a full-in.
Evgenia Shelgunova won bronze with a 13.867 after hitting her free cartwheel to LOSO and RO to layout. She had some balance checks but seemed to be in-command of her nerves. She dismounted with a double pike.
On floor, St. Petersburg gymnast Lilia Akhaimova won gold with a 14.367 (DLO< piked full-in, double tuck, tucked full-in), followed by Natalya Kapitonova (13.867–piked full in, 2.5 to full twist, double tuck, double pike), and Angelina Melnikova (13.733–DLO, piked fill-in, whip to whip to BHS to double tuck under-rotated, double pike over-rotated).
Seda Tutkhalyan placed fourth on floor, falling out of her third and fourth passes, seemingly falling victim to the same fatigue that visited Melnikova during the final event after a long week. Endurance, as usual, will be a key ingredient for the Russian Team in these last weeks of Olympic preparation.
Following the conclusion of the meet, Valentina Rodionenko again spoke with the press, naming a provisional Rio-bound team: Aliya Mustafina, Angelina Melnikova, Seda Tutkhalyan, Maria Paseka, and Daria Spiridonova. Lilia Akhaimova was also mentioned as a possible replacement for Ksenia Afanasyeva, should her health continue to sideline her, and Natalya Kapitonova is also still in the mix.
I imagine we’ll be on a roller-coaster of sorts in the following weeks as the final team is named, and then named again, and again, so enjoy the ride!
For videos, head over to Alyssia’s Youtube page.
Article: Sara Dorrien-Christians
Photos: E. Mikailovoi, Russian Gymnastics Federation
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