05. September 2008  
Gelendjik, Russia  
Sports Acrobatics

Three Russian acrobats killed ....

In Mourning: ... not only the Russian Acrobatic Federation

* fig press release: --- A coach and three Russian acrobatic gymnasts perished in a fire that ravaged their hotel the night of Saturday, August 30-31, 2008: Gymnasts Anastasia Golovitnina, Anna Maryina and Olga Gofman and their coach Svetlana Kushu - the foursome was training in Gelendjik (RUS), a coastal town on the Black Sea not far from Socchi and Krasnodar.
Lightning hit the building causing an immediate blaze.
Swiftly moving flames and a caving roof left the victims with no chance of escape...
The gymnasts were training in preparation for the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships set for Glasgow (GBR), October 10 - 12
In a state of shock and grief, FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) expressed his distress and consternation on behalf of the international gymnastics community, addressing his condolences to the bereaved, and to gymnasts of the Russian Federation (FSAR) and Acrobatic throughout the world.
* Information: fig press release