Prayer for Belarus and Bulgaria

Hello dear fans,

You may have heard that this Wednesday the Bulgarian writer Dimiter Kenarov has been arrested and detained in Belarus without just cause. The media has reported that the reason for his arrest was the fact that he did not have his identification documents with him. I find that hard to believe, frigthening and morally repugnant.

I have nothing left to do or say except that I still hope this situation resolves with responsibility and grace. Here is favorite routine of a gymnast from Belarus in lieu of a protest, or a poem:

The Pink Ribbon May Float Around Provincetown for July 4th

Occasionally, your average Crazy Fan travels to a nice place in nature and pretends to be a distant relative of Kanaeva's. Thank God Zhenya doesn't suspect! ;-)

Moved to Tears by Brazilian Gymnasts

I saw this video today on the Bulgarian forum. It is in honor of Maria Petrova (World All Around Champion - 1993, 1994, 1995, European All Around Champion - 1992, 1994, European Cup Winner -1993, Olympics 5th Place - 1992, 1996)

Maria is my favorite gymnasts of all times. As a child, I wrote to her and she responded to my letter with an autographed picture! I have also met her personally and she has never disappointed me with her beauty and grace. In 1996, after the World Championships, I spent all of my pocket money on a large bouquet of white lilies for Maria. When I rode on the crowded bus number 313 in Sofia, Bulgaria, to get to the gym, where Maria trained at the time, everyone moved to make room for my flowers, I was even offered a seat and even asked who will receive the bouquet! :-)

Here is the routine that inspired the flowers AND this tribute. With this routine Maria won the silver medal in ball at the 1996 World Championship in Budapest. At this particular performance, a true swan song, she is at the opening of the Atlanta Olympics, her last big international competition.

She looks like her feet are not touching the ground, and her red ball is floating on her own, as though drifting into a cloud of melancholy.