Asel Arapova from Kyrgyzstan recently visited the Academy with her coach, Natalia Belugina. The gymnast told what she was working on during training:
"We changed the dance steps in the ball a little, added more dynamics and movement. I really enjoy training here. It's pure pleasure! The atmosphere is also very creative; it's a lot of fun in the gym."
Asel summed up the results of the 2025. She told us which competitions she remembered the most and how she felt performing at them:
"In the spring, I went to an international competition in Uzbekistan. I took fourth place in the ribbon. A good result. Then I went to the Asian Championships in Singapore. There, I also took fourth place with the ribbon, and my team with the girls took fourth place. Then we went to Bulgaria for the Junior World Championships. It's probably the biggest competition this year. I performed well there, respectably, with the hoop and ribbon. In the summer, we started putting together new routines, worked on them, and then we went to Japan for the World Club Championships. I took second place overall. I'm very happy about that. I went out thinking I'd have one attempt and then no more. I was focused and trying to do it cleanly. Well, I did it well enough for me. Then we went to China for the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025 and I also performed quite well there."
The athlete also shared what she has learned this year:
"A ring leap with two legs, a backhand turn on an uphill slope. Those are new elements. I learned to do the double ring with Natalia Vladimirovna. At first, I did the jump with her support, then I slowly tried to do it myself, carefully, through the insteps. The turn isn't that difficult; you just need to maintain balance and stand more on your big toe."
Choreographer Natalia Belugina, Asel's coach, took part in the productions of new programs for the Academy's students.