Russia’s women gymnasts reach for Olympic gold
Published 30 April, 2008, 06:39
One hundred days to go until the start of the Beijing Olympics and Russia's athletes are aiming to bring back a record number of medals, with the women’s gymnastics team, in particular, hoping to produce some of the youngest stars of the games.
At only 15, Ksenia Semenova is one of Russia’s main hopes for gold in Beijing. She's already a world champion on the assymetric bars and, although too young to compete at the last Olympics, she believes she can spur on her team this time round.
“During the last Olympics I was watching the girls closely and trying to train hard, while adding to my programme, so I could compete at the big competitions. If we all work hard as a team, we can get into the top three or even get as high as second place,” she said.
Just three years older than Semenova is team-mate Yulia Lozhechko, a world champion on the balance beam. She is also full of confidence that Russia can compete with the likes of Romania who dominated at the Athens Games.
“Realistically we can hope to fight for third place overall as a team. Semenova can definitely get a medal, maybe even a gold. If I can be at my best, I can get a medal on the balance beam,” she said.
These gymnasts will be among the 470 athletes Russia will take to the games and they'll be doing their best to protect their country’s record of always having finished in the top three of the medals table.
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