Arina Kovshova and her coach Elizaveta Chernova share their impressions of the World Cup in Sofia

At the World Cup debut stage in Sofia, Arina Kovshova finished seventh in the all-around and qualified for two finals – with the ball and the clubs. The gymnast and her coach Elizaveta Chernova shared their impressions after the competition.

Arina spoke about the preparations for the tournament and her emotions during the competition:

"We started preparing for this back at the beginning of the season. We performed in Moscow and St. Petersburg and were already preparing for this competition. What goal have I set for myself? Go out there with confidence and show everything I can do. A very large-scale tournament, a big arena, and plenty of viewers. It's really nerve-wracking to compete in events like this. I've met a lot of girls. Take Sofia Raffaeli, for example. I guess we've become friends. The emotions I felt from the audience during the performance... They were really supportive, and that energized me. Many thanks to Alina Maratovna, Elizaveta Markovna, the choreographers, and everyone who worked with me. Thank you!"

Her coach Elizaveta Markovna also shared her impressions of the competition:

"I didn't really have any expectations, because for me, as a coach, this is also my first World Cup stage. Everything was just as interesting as it is here, and I'm really happy to be here. The stands are full. The fans cheered us on. That's really cool. It was exciting because, after such a long break, we were the first ones to arrive, and it felt like a big responsibility to represent. The World Cup series consists of larger and more high-stake events. And that's the kind of atmosphere here."

The specialist assessed Arina's performance and thanked everyone for their support:

"We tried to emphasize the risks, the artistry, and the execution, making sure the legs and arms were fully extended and that the movements flowed seamlessly. Unfortunately, it didn't all go as planned, but there's still work to be done. I think Arina did a great job. She finished seventh in the all-around. She did pretty well; she fought hard and made it to two finals. Things didn't turn out quite the way I probably hoped. But that's part of the learning process, and I suppose we'll learn from these mistakes so we don't make them again. Once we arrive, we'll get to work and start preparing for the next competitions. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in our team. Everyone was rooting, holding their breath, and believing. We called and wrote to both the fans and all our loved ones in the team. That team spirit was palpable. And those SMS and calls really did warm my heart. So a huge thank you to everyone, and thank my loved ones for being so supportive."

The World Cup stage was held in Sofia from March 28 to March 30.