"It was a big competition for me." Karolina Tarasova on 1st stage of the international Cup of the Strongest tournament

Academy graduate Karolina Tarasova took part in the 1st stage of the international Cup of the Strongest tournament  for the first time.

After the end of the first international competition in Moscow, the gymnast assessed her performance and spoke about the support of Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva.

“I really enjoyed performing. I performed the hoop very well, 27.2 points. I performed the ribbon well. Alina Kabaeva supported me, even if something didn’t work out, she didn’t scold me, she just told me my mistakes, the right words that helped me. She can be strict, but at the same time affectionate and kind,” Karolina said.

Karolina also shared comments from the Russian national team Head coach Tatyana Sergaeva.

“Tatyana Sergaeva first praised me, said that I kept in mind all ofher comments in the hoop, looks, character, as she asked. In the ball, she said that I did not chicken out, went to do a new ball. And Alina Maratovna also said that I did not chicken out, that I was great, started doing a new ball, not the old one,” the gymnast said.

The athlete noted the importance of the tournament.

“We are all like one team now. And for me the competition here is quite high. This is my first time competing in such a major event. Because the girls who are competing with me now, they have been competing in these events for a long time, and they are not that scared anymore, they are more experienced.  I have never competed in the Cup of the Strongest. I have never competed in the Grand Prix, in the championship. For me it was really exciting. But I really enjoyed competing for the first time, the Cup of the Strongest was a big competition for me,” she said.