Russia became one of the last countries to announce their final teams for Worlds. During the month-long selection camp, both MAG and WAG had three verifications, the last one taking place yesterday, however, the nominative teams didn’t change.
Russian WAG team at Worlds will be: Angelina Melnikova, Angelina Simakova, Aliya Mustafina, Irina Alexeeva, Liliia Akhaimova. Daria Spiridonova will go as alternate.
Russian MAG team at Worlds will be: David Beliavskiy, Artur Dalaloyan, Nikita Nagornyy, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Dmitrii Lankin. Vladislav Poliashov will be the alternate.
While the MAG team is basically the team that went to Euros and wasn’t expected to change, the WAG team selection caused some controversy with naming Daria Spiridonova as the alternate. Spiridonova had difficulties throughout the season and didn’t compete well either at the Russian championships or the Russian Cup. For several months, she hadn’t been invited to national team camps and trained at her home gym. However, she made significant progress since the Russian Cup, including restoring her inbars, and was invited to the last two national camps. Spiridonova would make a lot of sense going to Worlds on the main team as the bars specialist. However, she is going as an alternate and, if someone gets injured, won’t be able to supply team-final worthy routines on her other three events. It is especially worrisome since Mustafina said earlier she isn’t currently training vault. So, as it is, Russia has only three strong vaulters on the team (Melnikova, Simakova, and Akhaimova) while Alexeeva only vaults a FTY. If everyone stays healthy, Russia’s great on vault, but an injury could be disastrous since Spiridonova also does a FTY.
Perebinosova would make more sense as an alternate since she’s a strong all-arounder and could be used on any of the events if needed. Valentina Rodionenko offered no explanation to the media on this team selection and what was going on with Perebinosova (who participated in the verifications).
Interestingly, Ksenia Kamkova also participated at the last verification. Kamkova was at the selection camp but didn’t participate in the first verification. She is strongest on vault and beam but so far never got any major international assignments. Hopefully, she is progressing and we will soon see her compete internationally.
Photo: Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation
Why was Komova sent home? She would have been at least a better alternate choice with a decent dty.