Without the worldstars Alexei Nemov and Svetlana Khorkina the qualifications of Russian Championships were held at Olimpiisky Complex in Moscow. But both will compete at 'Moscow World Stars' Tournament, which is held together with the Championships this weekend. Coaches said, Nemov and Khorkina are not in the condition to make both Tournaments at one weekend.

2000 Olympian Anastasia Kolesnikova was not present, because she had to undergo a difficult surgery short time ago. A bone splinter of her elbow was drilled through the muscle. Rehabilitation will need a long time and will keep her away from gymnastics for months.

Winner of men's qualification Evgeny Podgorny (54,75). Alexei Bondarenko (54,30) and Yury Tikhanovsky (53,25) finished second and third. Tikhanovsky is a member of Nemov's Samara-Club and was ranked 8th last year. Moscow won this years team event.

Nikolai Kryukov competed two apparatus very well before he had to give up at Parallel Bars because of an hand-injury.

In women's competition Elena Zamolodchikova fell at the Uneven Bars as well as Ekaterina Lobaznyuk did twice on floor. Winner of the qualification was Natalia Ziganshina (36.675) from St. Petersburg. As second, Elena Zamolodchikova (36.075) kept the Moscow flag flying, but when Irina Kryuchkova (35,925 - also from St. Peterburg) has finished her exercises, the sensation was perfect and the Moscow girls were shocked: there was a new winner of women's team event in 2001 - St. Peterburg.

Russian Championships AA-Finals

Winner of men's AA Finals was Alexei Bondarenko (55,10), followed by Evgeny Podgorny (54.25) and Evgeny Krylov (54.05).

Elena Zamolodchikova (36,55) won the women's AA-Finals though she left the apparatus at the bars again. On the other side she made the best exercise on floor with 9.70. Following her was Natalia Ziganshina (36,425) who had been leading after yesterdays qualifications. Irina Kryuchkova (36,025) finished as third.

Russian Federation created a "two-in-one" event, i.e. the "Moscow Worldstars Tournament" is held simultaneously with the Russian Championships this year. At last a very confusing system, not only for the spectators.

Alexei Nemov could only qualify with problems on High Bar. He seemed to be not in a very good condition and even not very motivated. Man of the day was French (and former Russian) Dmitry Karbanenko who made the Pole Position for tomorrows Floor and High Bar finals.

Elena Zamolodchikova (vault and floor) and Lyudmila Ezhova (bars and beam) were the top gymnasts in the women's qualification. The real sensation was, that Russia top gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, who didn't compete at the Russian Championships, couldn't qualify herself for any final.

The "most confusing tournament ever" (like a Russian gymnast said) has come to an end on Sunday. Last days highlights in the 1/3 filled Olimpiisky Complex were:

Elena Zamoldchikova was taken to task by her coach after her beam exercise what made her crying. But oh wonder - after this ticking off she found back to her old strengh and finished the Championships as best Russian woman with a really impressing performance. At the Russian Championships finals she only competed in on vault. "She asked me to reduce her program", Leonid Arkyev said, "and I gave her my ok". Arkayev maybe feared to loose another hope for the 2001 Worlds by an injury.

Svetlana Khorkina was not as bad as it seems. She had some major faults in her exercises, but all in all she showed very difficult routines which could make her, if she will be able to control them until October 2001, a World Champion. Unfortunatly she wasn't one of the best two Russians in all preliminaries, so she didn't qualify for any final.

Leonid Arkayev wasn't very happy these days. Concerning the performance of his men, Arkayev said: "No comment". But - there was one man who did seem to make him happy: "This guy from Greece, Vasily Tsolakidis", he went on, "well, I liked his performance very much..."

In his women team he liked especially what he has seen from his younger girls.

Also impressing was Oksana Choussovitina. She fell at her Varga on vault, but the rest of her routines were 'bussiness as usual'. She worked like a machine and can be expected to be one of the stars at the 2001 Worlds in Ghent.

Bad news came from the Russian gymnast who landed in yesterdays vault competition on his forehead after a double front. He has been injured seriously, broke his 5th and 6th bones of the backbone.

For those who are interested in it, here are the results:

[This article will not be updated any more. Last Update: 05/06/2001 7:27 PM CET ].

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masha