Alexander Alexandrov - I hope that our team will have confidence to compete with China and America as equals

Yesterday at the third World Cup competition in Maribor, the Russian WAG team won four gold medals. Alexander Alexandrov spoke to All Sports about the performance of the team, and the prospects of individual gymnasts.

At the competition, our gymnasts won four gold medals - you are probably in a good mood?

"Certainly! I am very glad that out gymnasts won separate exercises. After an unsuccesful last season, we have done well here and at the European Championships. I hope that now our team will have confidence that we can compete on the same level as America and China."

You were pleased with the quality of performance of the girls?

"Well, the scores were not the highest. The girls made some errors. And in connection with the FIG's new rules, almost all competitors have new programs with new complexities. We will develop further skills. But at the same time, I do not wish to belittle the achievements of the girls; all the competitors were on equal footing. And the strongest won."

So you're writing off the errors, because of changes to rules and competition?

"[....gargh] Secondly, we brought to this World Cup competition gymnasts for whom this was their first competition where they must compete for their country. The leaders of the national team are still recovering from injuries, but we cannot wait for them. Therefore we give these younger gymnasts experience."

Is this generation of gymnasts different from those ten years ago?

"Naturally! First of all, those ten years ago were brought up in the Soviet Union. The present gymnasts - they are wholly Russian. In the 1990s much was lost - training centres were closed, trainers left for overseas. Then we just reaped the fruit of those years - no time for a powerful system, we had to make do with what is left. Today, of course, the situation is diffferent again. The state is paying more attention to sports. But we cannot see a return for a few years. I think that already next year, we will have gymnasts with more potential than we do now. The present girls are at a transition period - neither due to the fault of their trainers, or of them. The main thing is a desire to fight. The doors of our national training centre are open to all. For the World Championships, the very strongest will get to London."

How is the World team selected?

"We are continually watching the girls. At the same time, each new competition gives us a chance for reflection. The first of these was the Russian Championships. From it, we selected the team for the European Championships. It is very good that Ksenia Semenova and Afanasyeva took first and second place in the all-around. Such success we did not have for about the last seven years. Now the gymnasts will compete in several international competitions and the Russian Cup. Following the results of these competitions, we will select the strongest gymnasts to go to London in the autumn. The Americans and Chinese will be there. But I do not think we will be merely "extras". I think the Russian team will be strong competition for any other team."