Academy group exercise gymnasts speak about preparations for the Russian championship

Group exercise gymnasts of the Academy Nicole Andronchik, Anna Gryaznova, Polina Zakharova, Nelli Reutskaya and Alina Proshchalykina came in second in individual finals in the five pairs of clubs routine at the Russian championship.

The gymnasts were preparing for the competition under guidance of Anna Ustsova, the Academy coach and the 1996 European champion.

The athletes expressed their gratitude after the performance to coaches that had worked with them on the verge of the event in Kazan and underscored importance of assessment training session and guidance of Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva:

"There were control training sessions with Alina Kabaeva, where she prompted us, changed something, fixed, gave advice. She also called us and set us up before the performance, for which we thank her very much, because her words always help. And also many thanks to Anna Ustsova, Ekaterina Belova, all of the Academy coaches for constantly working with us. We are very grateful to them."

Academy students also spoke about images in exercises:

"In clubs we have lezginka. A total dance exercise, which Alina Kabaeva told us to change. At the beginning we are these girls, hidden from everyone, and in the second part we are already powerful, colorful. A few days before the Russian championship, Alina Kabaeva suggested changing the music for the hoops. Now it is faster, it has many different accents. The parts change — there is a slow part, then an accelerated one. And we began to like this music more."