Other than the Americans, my favorite gymnastics team internationally is Russia. Though they are often the US's fiercest competition, I am always cheering for them after the United States, and their gymnastics as a whole is just simply elegant, powerful, and beautiful.
This summer's Universiade takes place in Kazan, Russia. Yesterday was the WAG Qualification, Team Final, and All-Around and Event Finals Qualification. The Russian team of Aliya Mustafina, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Maria Paseka, Tatiana Nabiyeva, and Anna Dementyeva took the gold medal by 10 points!
Aliya Mustafina (who is my favorite international gymnast) qualified in first place to the All-Around, with Ksenia Afanasyeva right behind in second place. Aliya was also the top qualifier to the Uneven Bars final, and will also be competing in Beam and Floor finals as well!
Afanasyeva will also be in the Beam and Floor finals.
I hope so much Aliya wins All-Around and all the EFs she's in. Floor is not likely, but she had top scores on Beam and Uneven Bars in qualifications (15.0 and 15.2, which I believe were the highest scores of the day)! Love seeing the Russian team so happy!
