"The children have greatly improved their artistic skills." Head Judge Natalia Kukushkina shares her impressions of the Hopes of Russia competition

Head Judge of the Hopes of Russia competition, Russia’s Honored Coach Natalia Kukushkina, shared her impressions of the start in Yekaterinburg:

"The tournament is very colorful, very vibrant. The best Russian juniors are gathered here. Therefore, of course, it's a very interesting competition in terms of intensity and abilities. I think it's very interesting for both the spectators and the judges. Now I see that our children have improved greatly in artistic performance, and it's noticeable. And the programs have become much more interesting, more colorful, and more vibrant."

The specialist also noted the progress of the Academy students:

"They stand out for their execution purity, their legs are very neat, their feet are very taut, their arms are extended. The coaches' work on technique, on the purity of their execution, is clearly evident. I really remembered Yana Zaikina, a very beautiful girl. I think she shows great promise. I also really liked Karolina Pakhtusova, who performed brilliantly, in my opinion. And the other girls too. They've clearly made great progress, and the team of gymnasts and coaches is very well put together."

The All-Russian Hopes of Russia tournament was held in Yekaterinburg on November 29 and 30.