Filipino gymnasts catch Russian coach’s fancy

Coach Georgii Genrikhovich Vagner was impressed with the country’s young talents who are taking part in the ongoing joint training sessions carrying the theme “Building Bridges Through Gymnastics” between the Philippines’ and Russia’s gymnastics federations. 

“Filipino gymnasts have a great potential,” Vagner said through an interpreter during an interview Tuesday at the PSA Forum at the Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.

Vagner was accompanied by coaches Sergei Vladimirovich Shtatenko, Mikhail Viktorovich Batkovskii and Kristina Viktorovna. Also present were Russian Embassy Vice Consul Dmitry Petrov and press attache Natalia Nanmova.

Vagner of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia heads the 15-member delegation composed of some of Russia’s elite coaches and gymnasts who are training and exchanging techniques with the Philippine junior team and selected coaches and athletes from leading local clubs Alpha Gymnastics Philippines, Club Gymnastica and the Gymnastics Academy of the Philippines.

The Philippines has extended the invitation to Russia after eight junior Filipino athletes joined and won four medals (one gold, one silver and two bronzes) in the National Far Eastern and Siberian Sports Gymnastics Championships held from Jan. 8 to 18 at Blagoveshchensk, Amur Region in Russia. It was the first time for the young Filipino gymnasts to compete against some of Russia’s most talented athletes.

“This is a groundbreaking event,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion, referring to the two-week joint training sessions that began on May 3 at the Gymnastics Hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. PNA