Marina Durunda's Fierce Personality in Pictures

All gymnasts look beautiful, but Marina Durunda is far more than beautiful: she looks fierce and full of very strong energy all the time. She is also one of the few gymnasts who always wear very stylish leotards that really emphasize her best qualities.

You can see a short video of how she prepared and performed during her most recent fashion photo shoot. She is wearing very original dresses and makes for a very convincing and original model:

Fashion and style aside, I have also really enjoyed Marina's four routines this season because they are all very sophisticated.  Marina has clearly matured as a gymnast and that is reflected in the diverse and interesting routine she performs.

Despite a slower season start, she has been showing improvement in her performance and recently did a very exciting ribbon at the World Cup in Guadalajara. As the European Championships are coming up next week, I hope she is in great shape and in her usual fierce, winning mood.

Who Has the Most Exciting Ribbon Routine....

...that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning:

Where the gymnast and the ribbon don't stop moving even for a split second. And with a stunning leotard:

And at the end, you just want to jump to your feet:

Congratulations to Marina Durunda and her coach Mariana Vassileva for a well-deserved silver medal with ribbon at the European Games. May there be many more to come!

I am hoping that now that the judges have "noticed" Durunda's excellence, they will give her fair scores at the World Championship in September. She has time to work on some of the elements in her other routines and avoid any random errors, like the one she had with clubs in Baku.

So, I would really like to see her in all finals at the Worlds, and also see her receive scores over 18.000 every time she performs cleanly. Marina has really shown that you can always improve and she has taken on great challenges. Great challenges bring great rewards!

Let's hope the rewards come soon!

Love Things French....

Here is a routine with a certain "je-ne-sais-quoi" that I have watched with a melting heart:




Actually, I think I know quite clearly which two things move me in this exercise and one is, obviously, the level of technical mastery. Strong work: look the first pirrouette, and look at the risky catches.

Unsurprisingly, what I enjoy even more is the artistic aspect, not fully developped, yet, showing through in a subtle way. In other words, the gymnast is not fully "living" the music, not in every movement, but the parts where she does put more expression are touching and beautiful. I think the opening could use some more "flare," for lack a of a better word.

French music demands a very strong personality, though coupled with an unimposing gracefulness. Many gymnasts, including groups, have excelled at interpreting it, but it takes work, and I also think it takes time for the emotions to weave into the routine smoothly. You can look detached, you can look less dynamic, and you can look, not unelegant, but somehow not harmonious, if you don't really get deeply into it emotionally. Clearly, this gymnast is on her way to "filling" and also "feeling" the music, a marvelous task. Once she does, it should feel both dramatic and bittersweet.

Another routine to watch with French music and a vocal is Sara Staykova's ribbon where, eventually, the goal may become to "flirt" with the audience:



I wonder how Ganna Rizatdinova would flourish in a similar musical choice. She might make a better French lady than she makes a Carmen. A less loud,yet absolutely gripping charm.

Flying Hoops and Hopes: First Day of the European Championship

I watched the European Championship live from Vienna last night and loved the performances of all gymnast, both new stars and some well-established veterans.

A great hope for Greek gymnastics, Varvara Filou may be warming up her shoulders here, but her lines looked clean and strong in her performance at the EC so far.

Meanwhile, Margarita Mamun from Russia showed no nerves and got stellar scores with ball and hoop.


Alexandra Piscupescu, on the other hand, is not just a hopeful but the best Romanian rhythmic gymnast to date. She deserves to make finals and should be proud of herself.



Judges, please, give Alexandra good marks! ;-) And while we are at it, give them to Silvia Miteva, too. She made minor errors in her pivots and missed a risk with ball, but she showed strong routines and choreography as usual. This may be her last European championship!



Halkina from Belarus, a new hope for this gymnastics powerhouse, looks sad after dropping the hoop and with a reason! This error may put Belarus out of the medals, which would be very sad. Meanwhile, Lala Yusifova from Azerbaijan is just short of the 17.00 mark but her hoop and her spirit flew very high. I hope to see her win medals next year!







And, finally, the question remains: who will win more gold, Mamun or Kudryavtseva. I favor Mamun's style but prefer Yana's apparatus technique. Let's see if Yana's nerves will not betray her. This championship may become her first big victory.