23. Dezember 2004  
Moskow / Russia  
Artistic Gymnastics

Arkaev resigns -Titov will be the next Russian Gymnastics President

Juri TITOV
- Russia's new Gymnastics President

After 22 years the president of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Leonid ARKAEV resigns after massive criticism.
In the recent elections the 69-year-old triple Olympic Champion and former president of FIG Juri TITOV prevailed in a sensationally close vote (27 : 22 votes) over the former gymnastics diva Svetlana KHORKINA (25) who was also running for office....

Svetlana Khorkina (RUS)

Gymnastics diva Khorkina fails to become president
Svetlana Khorkina, who retired from gymnastics as active athlete after the Olympic Games in Athens, was almost elected as president of the Russian Gymnastics Federation (FSGR) in Moscow, which would have been a huge sensation.
The double Olympic Champion and nine-times World Champion succumbed with 22:27 votes under the triple Olympic Champion and long-term president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Juri Titov. After the election, the 69-year-old from Siberia offered to the 25-year-old Khorkina as well as to the 52-year-old Olympic legend Nikolai Andrianov a co-operation as vice-presidents of the federation.

Leonid Arkaev (RUS)

The main reproach against the current president Arkaev was the bad performance of the Russian gymnasts at the Olympic Games in Athens as well as the opinionated and authoritarian leadership of the 64-year-old. The majority of the delegates at this gymnastics congress considered Arkaev's work of the past four years as being 'dissatisfactory'.

His successor Titov severely criticised Arkaev's actions: 'We have to destroy what Arkaev introduced, this certain disregard of opinions of the council of experts', he said.

Larissa Latynina (RUS)

'We even had reached a point, when gymnasts were personally persecuted because their coaches dared to speak against him.'
At the moment, it is not clear if Arkaev will remain head of coach.
The 18-times Olympic medal winner Larisa Latynina uttered a clear opinion on the verge of this congress:
'In my opinion, Arkaev should resign to the full extent.'
2004, Monday, December 27 Latynina celebrates her 70th birthday.
Sources: Russian Press
Translation: Florian Schmid-Sorg