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Russia takes the floor in Subdivision 7, which also features Brazil, Czech Republic, Iceland, Mexico and Mixed Group 3. With an eye on 2012, the Russian men have brought several newcomers to give them experience: 18-year-olds David Belyavsky and Igor Pakhomenko both made the final lineup. The other members of the team are veterans, including two-time Olympians Maxim Devyatovsky and Anton Golotsutskov. Like the women's team, the Russian men are enjoying a rejeuvenated program, though the impact is less apparent. Russia is still mourning the loss of Yuri Ryazanov, who died in a car accident days after winning the all-around bronze medal at the 2009 Worlds.  David Belyavsky, one of two 18 year olds on the Russian team
Team Mexico was 28th in 2006, and a strong enough showing can help them make the jump to the top 24 this year. The team is lead by young Daniel Corral, 20, who was 34th in qualification at the 2009 Worlds. Corral is now coached by Spain's Alfredo Hueto, coach of two-time Olympic vault champion Gervasio Deferr. Corral will be looking to make the men's all-around final this year.
Mixed Group 3 features gymnasts from Chile, Georgia and South Africa. Chilean artist Tomas Gonzalez is the group standout, and hoping to make it to another floor exercise final. He is also planning to do attempts on vault, though he is not going to risk his triple-twisting Yurchenko with its stingy 7.0 Difficulty rating.
Brazil, 18th in 2006 and 17th in 2007, will find it hard to move up much without two-time world floor exercise champion Diego Hypolito. Hypolito missed the worlds with an ankle injury, undergoing surgery recently in Switzerland. Young Sergio Sasaki, who at age 17 finished 19th all-around in 2009, should lead the Brazilians this year.
Russia's newcomers will start the team off right away on parallel bars, with Pakhomenko leading off for Belyavsky. Russian Cup champion Sergei Khorokhordin anchors the team on the first two events. Belyavsky will be doing all six events, and is second to last on floor exercise, where he tumbles a Kolyvanov (piked double-full in). Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Golotsutskov anchors the team on floor exercise and vault. The team may struggle to bring in a high total on pommel horse and still rings, since it chose to leave home event specialists in favor of giving experience to the younger gymnasts. Russia won the silver medal ahead of Japan at the 2006 Worlds, but its big test in 2010 will be how well its young gymnasts do under pressure.
The Czech Republic's best gymnast continues to be 2008 Olympian Martin Konecny, 26. The team was 39th at the 2006 Worlds. Next Up: : Norway, Ecuador, Mixed Group 4, Hungary, Vietnam and Kuwait! Chat with other fans as you follow IG Publisher Paul Ziert's live commentary from the Ahoy Arena, broadcast simultaneously on IG's official Facebook Page and Twitter account! Comments (0)
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Mexico: Floor Exercise
Mixed Group 3: Pommel Horse
Brazil: Still Rings
Russia: Parallel Bars
Czech Republic: High Bar
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