Which Ukrainian Stole the Universiade?

Both Ganna Rizatdinova and Alina Maksymenko performed not only cleanly but also with great expression and power at the Universiade in Kazan. So far this season Ganna consistently scored better but I think charming Maksymenko is finally coming closer to top shape!

Ganna, take the flowers and train even harder! You have real competition now!  ;-)

Queens in Kazan, or Summer Universiade 2013

This is a very pretty leotard for Ganna Rizatdinova!

Too bad she hardly ever lets go of the clubs in this routine

Neta Rivkin, on the other hand, held tightly in all routines and beat Staniouta!

That 18 score for Ganna has yet to come. This leo is not a favorite, though.

I like this gymnast more and more every day. Varvara from Greece!

Here she is, with a smile of a queen and the qualities of a Top 8 gymnast!

Remember the cow print leo of Caroline Weber? Leave it to Austria to "delight" us with flowers and ribbons...

Rita Mamun, the 2013 Summer Universiade champions sparkles with grace, though. I like this girl so much! I love seeing her win.

Silviya Miteva, now Mrs. Miteva-Yaneva, didn't make the clubs final but tried to dance to Latin music in red. Talk about cliche.

From now on this gymnast is the only one in the world allowed to wear pink and yellow!

She is rocking it and ribboning it!

If you have no clubs technique, you can still "rock" a chicken dance with the clubs under your arms. Many do.

Deng from China doesn't need funky dance moves to delight us with her elegance. Even as she is waiting patiently for her score. Someone tell her it's OK to move while waiting! ;-)

And, finally, Ganna is clapping. We need to see that more, and we need more smiles.