Olympic gold medalist Aliya Mustafina will lead the Russian women’s gymnastics team at the Universiade in Kazan next year, women’s team Valentina Rodionenko coach told R-Sport on Saturday.
Mustafina, 18, won gold in the uneven bars at the London Olympics in August, ending Russia’s 12-year wait for gymnastics gold, as well as team silver and two bronze medals.
“We’ve already chosen four female athletes who will definitely compete in Kazan. The team leader will be Aliya Mustafina, and Ksenia Afanasyeva, Tatiana Nabieva and Kristina Goryunova will compete together with her,” Rodionenko said.
Afanasyeva won team gold with Mustafina, while Nabieva is a former team world champion who did not compete in London.
Goryunova missed the Olympics because she had tested positive for a banned substance.
The Universiade in Kazan will be the first time a Russian city has hosted the world student games since Moscow in 1973.
