Valentina Rodionenko talked to TASS about the upcoming Youth Olympic Games. She said the coaches have high hopes for the two gymnasts that are going to the Games – Sergei Naidin and Ksenia Klimenko and they hope that the gymnasts later will transition smoothly to the senior level.
Rodionenko said:
“We hope that Klimenko and Naidin will fight for the medals at the Youth Olympic Games. Our strongest athletes are going to Buenos Aires. But it’s hard to estimate their long-term prospects since the athletes haven’t gone through puberty yet. Klimenko is training with the senior team. She’s going to Argentina with good routines that will allow her to fight for the medals there”.
“Youth Olympic Games are very important because they estimate the level of development of artistic gymnastics in specific countries. Russian gymnasts have always taken the leading roles at the previous competitions which proves that we have decent reserves in our countries. But it’s another issue that some endure the transition to the senior level and some, due to various reasons, stop improving. It’s especially relevant for the girls. At the first Games in 2010, Viktoria Komova competed very successfully, at the second Games Seda Tutkhalian showed great results but she later wasn’t able to fully realize her potential, winning only the team silver in Rio”.
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