The Russian national team will gather for next national team camp on Monday. The gymnasts who were selected to compete at the European Games will finish their preparation for the competition at Round Lake and will fly to Minsk on June 24th. The qualification will take place on June 27th.
Valentina Rodionenko said that the goal for the team has always been the same – to win:
“Our goal has always been the same – to be the best and to win. David is in good shape, he’s almost completely recovered. Both Lankin and Poliashov will be fighting, of course, but in the all-around, for sure, Belyavskiy has an advantage. After all, Lankin is strong on four event, but he will be fighting in event finals, these are medals, too. There won’t be a team competition there.”
For girls, perhaps, it will be a bit worse [in terms of medals], but we still hope for Shchekoldina, and Iliankova should get her bars [medal]. It won’t be easy for Shchekoldina. It’s been a year since her surgery, she has recovered, she has a very good and difficult floor routine, she’s a beautiful girl. Perhaps, she doesn’t have much experience yet, but what can we do, we need to promote young gymnasts now.”
Angelina Melnikova will be the most experienced gymnast on the women’s team and she will use the competition as a chance to test her new beam and floor routines. Aliya Mustafina, the reigning European Games AA champion, had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury.
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