For the next couple of months, I will review where we are in the Olympic qualification process. I will take each countries and try to identifiy some facts about them : Who were at the 2000-2004 and 2008 games, who were the potential athletes in 2009 – 2010, who are now the potential athletes since the begining of the qualification and how can they qualify. 

Pour les prochains mois, je vais faire le point sur le processus de qualification pour les Jeux olympiques. Je vais prendre chaque pays et je vais faire ressortir certains aspects : Qui sont les Olympiens ? Qui étaient les athlètes potentiels en 2009-2010, Qui sont les athlètes potentiels maintenant et quels sont les critères de sélection pour l’équipe.

Week 3 : Russia –Women and Men

I will briefly talk about the women first. Russia has actually 2 spots for the women. Best athletes are Irina Abysova (45^th Olympic ranking) and Alexandra Razarenova (46^th). They’re in a good position to maintain their spots for the games. This would be the third time Russia has two spots at the games on the women side. Best ever result is Nina Anisimova with a 12^th place at Sydney. This record should not fall in London. Russia doens’t have a tradition of success on the women side. They never won a World Cup event in the history of the sport. Only 2 medals : 2011 Abysova’s bronze in Tiszaujvaros and in 2009 Abysova’s silver on the same course.

Now the men. As you can see in this video, the goal in London is a third place :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T711izXQ7Q

Olympians :

2000 :

– NONE

2004 :

– Igor Sysoev (15^th)

2008 :

– Igor Sysoev (9^th)

– Dmitry Polyansky (22^nd)

– Alexander Bryukhankov (24^th)

Facts :

– Best finish = 9^th place

– Only 4 World Cup win

– 5 WCS medals since 2009 (no 1^st place)

– No podium finishes in a World Championship or a Grand Final

2009 –  2010 : Who were the athletes

2009 :

– Dmitry Polyansky (9^th Dextro Ranking) (2008 Olympian)

– Alexander Bryukhankov (11^th Dextro Ranking)  (2008 Olympian)

– Ivan Vasiliev (19^th Dextro Ranking)

– Vladimir Turbaevskiy (33^rd Dextro Ranking)

– Ivan Tutukin (37^th Dextro Ranking)

– Igor Sysoev (92^th Dextro Ranking)

2010 :

– Alexander Bryukhankov (8^th Dextro Ranking) (2008 Olympian)

– Dmitry Polyansky (14^th Dextro Ranking) (2008 Olympian)

– Valentin Meshcheryakov (17^th Dextro Ranking)

– Vladimir Turbaevskiy (20^th Dextro Ranking)

– Yulian Malyshev (30^th Dextro Ranking)

– Ivan Tutukin (36^th Dextro Ranking)

– Ivan Vasiliev (45^th Dextro Ranking)

– Igor Sysoev (104^th Dextro Ranking)

 

2011 : Who we have now

Since I don’t speak Russian, I couldn’t find anything about the criterias for this country on their website. From what we learn in the video, Bryukhankov qualified with his 2^nd place in London.

Order according to the Olympic simulation

– Alexander Bryukhankov (4^th Olympic Ranking, 5^th Dextro Ranking (2008 Olympian)

– Dmitry Polyansky (5^th Olympic Ranking, 8^th Dextro Ranking) (2008 Olympian)

– Ivan Vasiliev (38^th Olympic Ranking, 31^th Dextro Ranking)

– Valentin Meshcheryakov (41^st Olympic Ranking, 46^th Dextro Ranking)

– Vladimir Turbaevskiy (42^nd Olympic Ranking, 52^nd Dextro Ranking)

– Ivan Tutukin (50^th Olympic Ranking, 32^nd Dextro Ranking)

– Yulian Malyshev (56^th Olympic Ranking, 97^th Dextro Ranking)

– Artem Parienko (60^th Olympic Ranking, 30^th Dextro Ranking)

– Igor Polyansky (73^rd Olympic Ranking, 49^th Dextro Ranking)

 

So, who is on the team if the games were tomorrow ?

– Bryukhankov and Polyansky are easy choices on the team. Who is number 3 ? They are so close in the ranking. Well, for me, it’s not complicated. Vasiliev would be my third man without a doubt. The explanation is based on a team strategy. The goal for Russia is to get a medal. Bryukhankov and Polyansky are the ones who can achieve it. They are also among the top 5-6 swimmers in the sport so it’s almost certain they will be at the front in London. The third man needs to be with them in order to help out in an eventual early break on the bike. The problem is that Polyansky and Bryukhankov could be out of the water between 1^st and 5^th place. You need someone else who can be out in 5-6^th place or better to go out fast with them at the beginning of the bike without losing a single second. Vasiliev is the only one who can fill this position in my opinion. Of course all the Russian listed above are outstanding swimmers who always get out of the water well established in the front pack. The thing is that you need more than that. You need a top 5 swimmer : Vasiliev.

My team alternate would be Vladimir Turbaevskiy

This plan is pure speculation because do you seriously think that these three men could get away without a reaction from the other contenders ?

Next week : USA