In a surprising move, two US gymnasts, Alaina Kwan and Kylie Dickson are now representing the Belarus at the world championships in Glasgow, Great Britain later this month.
This country change has stirred up quite a bit of controversy round the gymternet, number one, because neither girl has any known ties to the former Soviet country and have never set foot on Belarusian soil. Also, because of FIG women's technical committee president, Nellie Kim, who originally hails from Belarus and is also the vice president of the Belarussian Gymnastics Federation.
Alaina and Kylie both currently train at AOGC, and are trained by Artur Akopyan and Galina Marinova, who also coached two time vault world champion and Olympic silver medalist, McKayla Maroney. Both competed at the Secret US Classic, the final qualifying event for the P&G National Championships. The minimum score needed to qualify was set at 54, all around. Alaina came in 9th, with an all-around total of 51.800 and Kylie came in 11th, with a 51.550.
Akopyan and Marinova also helped coordinate this change of nationality for their athletes.
International Gymnast posted a detailed interview with the girls.
This country change has stirred up quite a bit of controversy round the gymternet, number one, because neither girl has any known ties to the former Soviet country and have never set foot on Belarusian soil. Also, because of FIG women's technical committee president, Nellie Kim, who originally hails from Belarus and is also the vice president of the Belarussian Gymnastics Federation.
Alaina and Kylie both currently train at AOGC, and are trained by Artur Akopyan and Galina Marinova, who also coached two time vault world champion and Olympic silver medalist, McKayla Maroney. Both competed at the Secret US Classic, the final qualifying event for the P&G National Championships. The minimum score needed to qualify was set at 54, all around. Alaina came in 9th, with an all-around total of 51.800 and Kylie came in 11th, with a 51.550.
Akopyan and Marinova also helped coordinate this change of nationality for their athletes.
International Gymnast posted a detailed interview with the girls.
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