The Russian training squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics includes Ksenia Afanasyeva, Kristina Goryunova, Liudmila Grebenkova, Svetlana Klyukina, Yekaterina Kramarenko, Yulia Lozhecko, Anna Pavlova, Kristina Pravdina, Ksenia Semenova and Daria Yelizarova. Two time Olympian Yelena Zamolodchikova was left from this training squad, after a more than lackluster performance at the Russian Cup last weekend. Finishing 12th during finals with only a 55.700 was not enough for this former-Olympic gold medalist to be put on the squad.
Also missing from the cut is Anna Myzdrikova. This youngster shocked the gymnastics community at the 2008 Pacific Rim competition with her first tumble: roundoff, backhandspring, triple twist, punch back tuck. Finishing first on vault and third on floor at that competition, most of the gymnastics community viewed her as a lock if Zamolodchikova couldn't compete. Now, neither of them will make the Olympic team.
Another surprise was the highest score in the all-around finals. Not Semenova's uneven bars, but Liudmilla Grebenkova's balance beam. She scored a 16.200 to obtain the highest score of the night. Grebenkova placed second in event finals to Anna Pavlova by posting another high score of 16.000.
Also missing from the cut is Anna Myzdrikova. This youngster shocked the gymnastics community at the 2008 Pacific Rim competition with her first tumble: roundoff, backhandspring, triple twist, punch back tuck. Finishing first on vault and third on floor at that competition, most of the gymnastics community viewed her as a lock if Zamolodchikova couldn't compete. Now, neither of them will make the Olympic team.
Another surprise was the highest score in the all-around finals. Not Semenova's uneven bars, but Liudmilla Grebenkova's balance beam. She scored a 16.200 to obtain the highest score of the night. Grebenkova placed second in event finals to Anna Pavlova by posting another high score of 16.000.
