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Elena Zamolodchikova Says McKayla's Vault Silver in London Was Deserved

After the 2012 Olympic Games in London where McKayla Maroney famously won the silver medal after falling on her Mustafina vault in the vault final, her competitor, Maria Paseka, had said she didn't think McKayla's silver was deserved.


Russian gymnast and vault bronze medalist. Maria had said that McKayla didn't deserve the silver because she had fallen and her vaults. A controversial statement, not everyone agrees with her. According to Team Russia on Facebook, 2000 Olympic Vault gold medalist, Elena Zamolodchikova said she did not think that McKayla was over-scored.

"In artistic gymnastics one should pay attention not only to the final mark, but also to difficulty, execution, and start value," she said.  "I admit that considering these details, it was worth for the American girl to receive the silver. "

Elena also added:

"I saw her performances before the Olympics and I can say that she was a potential contender for the title. The vault she did is very hard and even often men do not do it ."

Elena, aka "Zamo" won two gold medals in Sydney for the vault and floor exercise. She is also a two time world champion on the vault (1999 & 2002). She quietly retired in 2008 after failing to make the 2008 Olympic team. She never officially announced her retirement and as of 2010, she was a reserve member of Russia's national team. Today, she serves as a judge and a coach, working with beginner gymnasts.

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