Rodionenko sums up the Russian championships

"We have held the first competitions of a new season. And not just a new season, but an Olympic quadrennium. The first competitions with the new rules put in place by the FIG. The first thing I wanted to see in these championships is new programs, and how the gymnasts cope with these new combinations. We have intentionally held these championships with the full program (team, all around and event finals), as it was important to look at the structure under this format.(?) It is also necessary that each personal trainer, including those who are not working with the national team, to understand the format - three gymnasts per event (for team competition). Secondly, we have included in the championships gymnasts born in the year 1994, that is, gymnasts who are one year too young for senior competition. We have done this intentionally, to prepare them. I am very happy; the younger ones have brought variety and freshness."

Are there any areas in which you are dissatisfied?

"Firstly, there are weak areas, which should be taken seriously. For the women, it is the vault; for the men, the vault and pommel horse."

Speaking of the men, do you wish to mention the weakness on rings? For example, Pluzhnikov's score?

"Rings is an apparatus where the rules are very different now. And, owing to these rule changes, the scores will change also. For example, specialist Pluzhnikov's routine last year had a difficulty score of 7.3, and now it is about 6.6. All-arounder Ryazanov had a difficulty of 5.9 and now it is 6.2. So it is not possible to draw such unequivocal conclusions, as you are doing."

In your opinion, why is there a problem with the formation of the women's European team?

"We already spoke of the demographic "hole" of the start of the 1990's. The country left this hole at the start of 1994.(???) But we cannot take the fifteen-year-olds to the European championships. I am disturbed more by other situations. Here, the 12-16 year olds in a team are much stronger than the other gymnasts."

Do you think it is necessary to work more on the difficulty of the routines?
"I think the routines are ready in terms of difficulty. Now it is necessary to work on the execution."