1.   Consider Svetlana Khorkina, the Russian gymnastics diva, who proclaimed she would be the Olympic champion in Sydney in September.

2.   Russian national gymnastics team member Maria Zasypkina is showing signs of recovery after a fall in practice left her partially paralyzed, doctors said Friday.

3.   Russian rhythmic gymnastics world champion Alina Kabaeva and runner-up Irina Tchachina on Wednesday were given a one-year doping ban and ordered to return their medals.

4.   That new freedom has has been a mixed blessing for Russian gymnastics.

5.   The breakup of the Soviet Union has been a mixed blessing for Russian gymnastics.

6.   The federation said it was now testing a second sample given at the same time, following a request from the Russian gymnastics governing body.

7.   The Russian rhythmic gymnastics federation has appealed the one-year suspension given to the pair.

8.   Leonid Arkaev, head coach of the Russian team, attributed the long-standing success of Russian gymnastics to work, and brains.