Gymnastics - Artistic Discussion | Qualification to Summer Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 Road to LA 2028

[copravolley 639]

5 minutes ago, Illya said:

Because of athletes obviously, and in artistic gymnastics we have huge problems because we didn't have a great all-arounder anymore and our buggest hope is 1-event specialist or 14-year-old junior, who didn't even start junior career now, so now, our gymnastics is a disaster and toxic place of rivalry and feuds between coaches 

But is this any wonder? In Italy, there are also constant scandals in this sport. Apparently, if you don't use methods from the former USSR or China, you lose and that's why new scandals about the mistreatment of young athletes break out (I mean this sector with Sofia Raffaelli. The second one with d`Amato sisters and Manila Esposito works better, but on the other hand there is a terrible problem with injuries of the top gymnasts).

Edited June 10, 2025 by copravolley

[Illya 590]

1 hour ago, copravolley said:

But is this any wonder? In Italy, there are also constant scandals in this sport. Apparently, if you don't use methods from the former USSR or China, you lose and that's why new scandals about the mistreatment of young athletes break out (I mean this sector with Sofia Raffaelli. The second one with d`Amato sisters and Manila Esposito works better, but on the other hand there is a terrible problem with injuries of the top gymnasts).

Well, situation with Rafaelli is not exactly this topic, but the decision to not bring her to Tokyo Olympics and bring low-standard cheating Agiurgiuculese was a huge mistake 

[copravolley 639]

17 minutes ago, Illya said:

Well, situation with Rafaelli is not exactly this topic, but the decision to not bring her to Tokyo Olympics and bring low-standard cheating Agiurgiuculese was a huge mistake 

Cantaluppi's sudden departure just before the Paris Olympics was also strange - either she received more in Israel or she knew that her terrible training methods would soon be exposed (Rafaelli supposedly had to kneel in front of her and take off clothes if she did something wrong). In your opinion, does Rafaelli still have a chance at an Olympic medal in 2028? The bronze in Paris was OK, but it also left me a little dissatisfied.

Edited June 10, 2025 by copravolley

[BruT06 50]

20 hours ago, copravolley said:

Just relax man, ok? Would you be happy if, for example, Janica Kostelic took Italian citizenship 20 years ago and started skiing for us? Exactly... Point of view always depends on the point of sitting...

Jakov Fak decided to compete in biathlon for Slovenia,after he won 2010 Olympic medal. For Slovenia,he won more Olympic medals and is one of the best male athletes in Slovenia. In Croatia,he is like a betraitor. But,the fact is that he had not good training opportunities. Now,Croatia in biathlon has Matija Legović,junior world champion. He is a big star in Croatian Winter sport after Zrinka Ljutić🇭🇷💪

[prso1000 736]

Now it’s official

Ilija Kovtun received Croatian citizenship and will start competing for Croatia from summer 2026. 

 

I am not a big fan of this nationality changes , but at least there is some connection to Croatia as he lives in Croatia since the war started in Ukraine. 
he didn’t compete since the Olympics and will have to wait for one more year. 
 

in general Croatia is not known for buying athletes. We don’t have the money. Currently we have a waterpolo player from Russia, badminton player from Indonesia who is ranked within Top 100, a Russian female sailor in Laser who lives in Split for many years and now Kovtun. At least I don’t recall anyone else. 

Edited July 14, 2025 by prso1000

[avlar 586]

37 minutes ago, prso1000 said:

Now it’s official

Ilija Kovtun received Croatian citizenship and will start competing for Croatia from summer 2026. 

 

I am not a big fan of this nationality changes , but at least there is some connection to Croatia as he lives in Croatia since the war started in Ukraine. 
he didn’t compete since the Olympics and will have to wait for one more year. 
 

in general Croatia is not known for buying athletes. We don’t have the money. Currently we have a waterpolo player from Russia, badminton player from Indonesia who is ranked within Top 100, a Russian female sailor in Laser who lives in Split for many years and now Kovtun. At least I don’t recall anyone else. 

Yes, It was a big topic in Ukrainian sports community these days.
A lot of negative but all the negative goes towrds Kovtun.
We lost many athelets during the decades and mostly all the hate goes to the national federation which cannot motivate people to stay.
But this time Kovtun`s behaviour brought all the hate to him (the NF got a lot but due to another reason).

And there is no negative to the Croatian NF - I would say I do not see words like "buying athletes" talking on this case at our media.
So it is  ok ))

 

[copravolley 639]

4 hours ago, avlar said:

Yes, It was a big topic in Ukrainian sports community these days.
A lot of negative but all the negative goes towrds Kovtun.
We lost many athelets during the decades and mostly all the hate goes to the national federation which cannot motivate people to stay.
But this time Kovtun`s behaviour brought all the hate to him (the NF got a lot but due to another reason).

And there is no negative to the Croatian NF - I would say I do not see words like "buying athletes" talking on this case at our media.
So it is  ok ))

 

Olena Zubrilova? I remember that at the beginning of the 21st century there was quite a fuss about it.

Edited July 14, 2025 by copravolley

[chargundam 52]

5 hours ago, prso1000 said:

Now it’s official

Ilija Kovtun received Croatian citizenship and will start competing for Croatia from summer 2026. 

 

I am not a big fan of this nationality changes , but at least there is some connection to Croatia as he lives in Croatia since the war started in Ukraine. 
he didn’t compete since the Olympics and will have to wait for one more year. 
 

in general Croatia is not known for buying athletes. We don’t have the money. Currently we have a waterpolo player from Russia, badminton player from Indonesia who is ranked within Top 100, a Russian female sailor in Laser who lives in Split for many years and now Kovtun. At least I don’t recall anyone else. 

This doesn't seem like buying athletes to me, seems like a unfortunate outcome of the war

[avlar 586]

6 hours ago, copravolley said:

Olena Zubrilova? I remember that at the beginning of the 21st century there was quite a fuss about it.

Yes, it was a big story.

2002 Olympics were in the year of parliamentary elections.
And our state TV during the Olympic broadcasts stressed the sponsorship and support of the ruling block (later transformed into the Partz of Regions led bz Yanukovich).
It looked like they told about it more than about the Games itself.

But the games were the total disaster for us. Biathlon was the main chance to win the medal, Yubrilova was the leader of the team. 
So she was appointed as a guilty one and left for belarus. 

By the way, right now she supports belarussian regime and has a proper attitude from our fans.

[copravolley 639]

49 minutes ago, avlar said:

Yes, it was a big story.

2002 Olympics were in the year of parliamentary elections.
And our state TV during the Olympic broadcasts stressed the sponsorship and support of the ruling block (later transformed into the Partz of Regions led bz Yanukovich).
It looked like they told about it more than about the Games itself.

But the games were the total disaster for us. Biathlon was the main chance to win the medal, Yubrilova was the leader of the team. 
So she was appointed as a guilty one and left for belarus. 

By the way, right now she supports belarussian regime and has a proper attitude from our fans.

Ukraine had its golden time in summer sports around 1996-2000, but winter sports have always been rather weak there. Except for biathlon or some star in other sport, of course. I remember hockey was once quite strong in your country and you played at the Olympics, but of course, without any chance of winning medals – that's the level of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Alpine skiing has always been havent`t good in Ukraine. Why? Are there no conditions for this sport?