Two photographs of our Russian Olympians at a molieben at the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin prior to their departure for the Olympics. All those speaking of a “neo-Soviet Union” should hang their heads in shame. This is as far from atheistic communism as one can get. On the other hand, the current hedonism and nihilism of the Western chattering classes is only a step away from Marxism. Something to think about, no?
BMD
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Becky Hammon (1977- ) of the Russian Olympic Women’s Basketball Team. Ms Hammon is from South Dakota, but, plays for TsKSA in Moscow and holds a Russian passport (Russian athletes play in America, so, turnaround is very fair play, indeed!). Godspeed, Becky!
Maria Abakumova has won the silver in the women’s javelin in Beijing, thereby fulfilling some hopes and dashing some others. Before the games she was expected to get the bronze, but, hardly the silver. In this case, she proved the pessimists wrong. At one time, she was even in the lead. Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic was the eventual winner. “I’m very pleased actually. This is my personal record and Russia’s record, and the European Youth Record. I’m also in that division. I’m not ashamed to have lost to Barbora”.
Another Russian walker got a medal. This time, it’s Denis Nizhegorodov. He came in third in the marathon 50 kilometre walk. He had to slow down and drop out of his challenge for the silver because of the danger of disqualification. The 28-year-old was overjoyed as crossed the finishing line. “But, I was hoping for more”, said Denis. “today, the conditions were good on the rubber-like Beijing asphalt. By the end, I was getting cramps in my legs, but, I still could have speeded up. But, I got the order to slow down. This was the second warning. I could have been disqualified. So, I went for the bronze. Better that than nothing”, he said. This is his second Olympic medal. He was second in this event in Athens four years ago, and he covered the last few kilometres virtually in an unconscious state.
A bronze also went to Russian boxer Georgi Balakshin in the 51 kilogrammes (121 pounds) weight division. He lost in the semi-final to Cuban Andris Laffite by a narrow margin of 8 to 9. The whole bout was on equal terms, 8 to 8, until practically the last moment. In cases like this, the referees give victory to the one who lands the last punch. That’s what the Cuban did, as Georgi lunged into a final attack leaving himself open. This is Balakshin’s first Olympic medal, and the first for the Russian boxing team. In boxing, “the fight goes on”. Rakhim Chahkiev made his way into the final of the 91 kilogrammes (201 pounds) division, and Aleksei Tishchenko is still in the fight in the 60 kilogrammes (132 pounds) category.
The Russian basketball girls are also through to the final. They overcame the Hungarians in the semis in a ding-dong battle which could have gone either way until, once again, almost the very end. This is the first time a Russian women’s basketball team has taken part in the Olympics. So, for a début, that’s not bad.
The International Olympic Committee asked the International Gymnastics Federation to start a joint investigation of allegations concerning China’s women’s gymnastics team. Allegedly, some of China’s gymnasts at the Games are underage, something forbidden by the IOC. In particular, two-times Olympic champion Hey Kaisin is apparently not sixteen as declared, but, fourteen. This is not the first time that such information appeared. Two leaders of the Chinese women’s team, Hey Kaisin and Tsiang Yuyan, are suspected of being younger than they make themselves out to be.
22 August 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31516&cid=63&p=22.08.2008
Editor’s Note:
I have had the privilege of knowing several people who went to Russia as “expats”, but, who decided to stay and become Russian citizens. None made their decision based on hatred of their former homeland. Not at all. Rather, the Orthodox culture drew them in, they fell in love with a way of life rooted in a more spiritual and less material approach to the world. Yes… all did become Orthodox in faith, it did seem “natural”.
Westerners must understand that theirs is not the only approach to life on this planet. I have read much unfocused hatred directed at Ms Hammon. If someone can “become an American”, do realise that many have “become Russians” (including some Americans!). It is a very personal decision, one I am loath to comment on. However, words such as “traitor” have no part in this particular discussion…
BMD
Andrei Moiseyev (1979- ), world champion modern pentathlete, two-time Olympic gold-medallist
Andrei Moiseyev has become the Olympic Modern Pentathlon champion twice in a row. Four years after Athens, he triumphed in Beijing. It wasn’t an easy win, marred by various disagreements among the referees, but, he made it in the end and took the gold. The contests for the Modern Pentathlon began early in the morning. For the next twelve hours, the sportsmen had to compete in pistol shooting, épée fencing, swimming 200 metres, show-jumping, and a 3-kilometre cross-country race. Moiseyev took the lead after the first three events.
Then, the most treacherous part came, the show-jumping course on horseback. The horse is drawn by lots. Things were not made easier by the rain in Beijing, which drenched the course. The Chinese, the first among the leaders, should have opened this event, but, for some reason he dropped out. The Czech athlete in second place, had a bad run, and was out of the competition. It was now the turn of the Russian, who despite some mistakes, now went into the lead. However, at this point, the missing Chinese appeared, riding a horse which had not been registered to run. “How did this happen? Nobody seems to know”, said Russian trainer Andrei Tropin. “We won’t go into the affairs of the judges, or rather, the organisers in this case. The main thing is Andrei came through very well”.
As he went into the final round, the cross-country, Moiseyev was 13 seconds ahead of his Chinese rival. “Although this is quite a lot, I prepared myself for a tough final round”, Andrei said. “As you know, the Pentathlon consists of five parts. And if you drop out of one of these, you can’t hope to win. Anything can happen. Nothing is decided until you reach the finishing line”. Moiseyev made the finishing line in first place.”I proved to myself and to everyone else, that my victory in Athens was no accident. It was much easier in Athens. I was not under the same pressure, as I was here. Traditions are very strong in our type of sport. Our team traditionally wins at the European and world championships. I’m glad we did it again at the Olympics”. This is Russia’s third win in the Olympic Modern Pentathlon in a row. Moiseyev is setting his sights on the next Olympics in London for a repeat performance.
22 August 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31530&cid=63&p=22.08.2008
Bakhtiar Akhmedov (1987- ) (left), world championship super-heavyweight wrestler, Olympic silver-medallist
The wrestling matches in Beijing are over. Russian wrestlers managed to collect three medals on the last day of the tournaments. Altogether, the Greco-Romans and the free-stylers brought in eleven medals into the national kitty, six golds, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. This was the biggest contribution to Russia’s collection in any line of sport at the Beijing Olympics. “This proves that Russia’s team is the world leader in all forms of the sport of wrestling. Let’s not be coy about that”, says the president of the Russian Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili (note well, a man of Georgian ethnicity: editor’s note).
Twenty-three year-old Nazyr Mankiev and 19-year-old Islambek Albiev opened the score in wrestling golds for Russia. Albiev thereby became the youngest Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling ever. European champion Aslanbek Khushtov who got the gold in the 96 kilogrammes (212 pounds) division also confirmed his class. As for the free-stylers, before the Games started, they were hoping for 2 golds, one silver, and one bronze. Their hopes were more than fulfilled. Twice-Olympic champion in the 74 kilogrammes (163 pounds) division, Buvaisar Saitiev, became a three-time champion, Mavlet Batirov got his second Olympic career gold, and Besik Kudokhov got his third in the lightest division of 55 kilogrammes (121 pounds).
On the last day of the wrestling matches, Russian free-stylers mounted each one of the steps of the awards podium. 22-year-old Georgi Ketoyev didn’t make it to the final, but, he had a clear win for the bronze in the 84 kilogrammes (185 pounds) division. Shirvani Muradov got the top spot in the 96 kilogrammes (212 pounds) category after a really tough contest in the final against Teimuraz Tigiev from Kazahstan. “Of course, we all came to Beijing digging for gold, silver, and bronze”, said Muradov. “At the last world championships we had six golds out of a possible 7, and at these games in Beijing were all hunting for gold. Maybe, this time, we didn’t all quite make it, but, next time, we will”.
Twenty-year-old Bakhtiar Akhmedov’s silver in the super-heavyweight class came as a pleasant surprise. These were his first games and he was beaten by a very deserving opponent, the Athens Olympic champion Artur Taimazov from Uzbekistan. “He was better prepared than I was. You can’t argue against that. But, the silver isn’t all that bad. This will be an incentive to try harder”, Bakhtiar Akhmedov said. “I’m still young, but, I must admit I came here digging for gold. I’ve got time to analyse my mistakes”.
It’s clear that the young Russian team won’t rest on their laurels. Furthermore, their trainers are confident that the medals they won in Beijing are a foretaste of what’s to come four years from now in London.
22 August 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31514&cid=63&p=22.08.2008
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