20. Januar 2004  
Newlands, Johannesburg / SA  
Artistic Gymnastics

Russian gymnasts in South Africa

Zamolodshikova, Lobazniouk (RUS)

Two of Russia's brightest gymnastics stars of the new millennium, double Olympic champion Elena Zamolodchikova (22), and triple Olympic medallist Ekaterina Lobazniouk (21), have arrived in South Africa to kick-start a local club's programme.
Between them, they have won seven Olympic medals and more Russian, European, World championships and other international medals than they can remember.....

Elena's secon visit in South Africa

Expending into women's artistic gymnastics...
They are accompanied by one of Russia's foremost acro gymnastics choreographers, Tatiana Silchenko....
'Last year our club produced world beaters in acro gymnastics and now we are expanding into women's artistic gymnastics,' said Dr. Chris Dreyer, managing director of DreyProps, sponsors of the Russian Gymnastics School of South Africa in Newlands, Johannesburg.
'It was the first time that South African acro gymnasts won gold at any major world event and we believe it is possible to do the same in artistic gymnastics.'
Dreyer says the club succeeded where so many other codes failed by launching a workable and meaningful . 'At the 2004 South African championships, only three of the 21-member Central Gauteng acro team were whites. This year the club's representatives in international events will also have more black gymnasts than white ones,' he said.
Elena Zamolodchikova is on her fourth visit to South Africa. 'The last time was eight years ago when I won the SA Cup in Cape Town. I couldn't wait to get back to visit Sun City and Durban again,' she said . 'I am aiming for my third Olympics (2008 Beijing) and would love to compete in South Africa again, but no one has invited me since 1996.'
The petite Moscovite now has a driver's licence and intends to drive and see as much as possible during her visit. 'I do it all the time on my motorbike in the hectic Moscow traffic - it is like an extreme sport experience,' she said.

Ecaterina Lobazniouk's career took off again after a knee operation performed by former rugby Springbok Daan du Plessis at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Pretoria two years ago.
'Unfortunately a drunken commuter in the Moscow Metro lost his balance and fell on me and I injured the knee again. I have had two further operations, the last one just before Christmas,' said Lobazniouk.
Lobazniouk, now a fifth-year sports student, will remain for six weeks to assist the Russian Gymnastics School of SA's women's artistic programme. Zamolodchikova will remain in South Africa for eight days before flying out to compete in a World Cup event.

<< Lobazniouk at the beginning of her career 6 years ago (Cottbus 1999)

Source: The Star & Independent Online / SA
photos: gymmedia