“It's like a miracle for us." Coach Nelli Borras about the Cubans’ participation at the Evgenia Kanaeva tournament

Nelly Ochoa Borras, coach of the Cuban gymnasts, talked about how Gretel Mendoza and Isabella Rojas participated in the EVGENIYA CUP tournament in Omsk.

"For us it is very important. First, I see that the gymnasts are starting to grow and their level is going up. The fact that we are competing in different competitions helps us reach a new level. We didn’t think that we would come here, it’s like a miracle for us,” the coach said.

She added that coming to Russia is important for her students, as a step in preparing for the season’s start. “There is another aspect here, we are now amidst the preparation for the Pan American Games. We have never had so many competitions before the main tournament. So it’s very important for us to perform everywhere,” Borras explained.

The coach also explained the benefits of preparing for competitions at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.

“I like that we did everything step by step, gradually. First, when we arrived, all the programs that we had prepared were changed. Then we started training for this new program. And we were doing more and more every time. And only after that, when the intensity was at a high level, only then we began to get ready for the competition. It’s good for athletes. I see that they are performing better,” she said.

Cuban gymnasts came to Sochi for training in February. Among gymnasts working with them, was the champion of the Universiade-2017 Yulia Bravikova.