Lia Rodionova and Sabina Samatova talk about their performance at the international tournament Ojaq Cup in Baku

After performing at the international Ojaq Cup tournament in Azerbaijan, International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association gymnasts Lia Rodionova from St. Petersburg and Sabina Samatova from Izhevsk summed up the results of the competition.

Lia spoke about her preparation and training at the Academy.

"I really like it at the Academy, although I miss Zhemchuzhina, I like it at the Academy more. There are more training sessions, the work process is better and the atmosphere is better too," Lia said.

She shared her impressions of working with coach Evgenia Eliseeva.

"I really like her because she is demanding, kind, and I like her energy," she said.

During the control training, Lia was compared with another gymnast of the Academy and a student of Evgenia Eliseeva, Ksenia Savinova. The gymnast noted that she was pleased.

"I like Ksyusha as a person, as a gymnast. She also has a very cool energy, she smiles very beautifully and performs well," she said.

Another of our students, Sabina Samatova, found herself in a difficult situation - during her performance, she lost her hoop, and the spare object was too big and not the right size. Despite this, our gymnast was able to finish the routine, after which the organizers gave Sabina an opportunity to repeat the program. She spoke about this situation in more detail.

"I thought: ‘Well, that’s it, I won’t be able to finish with this‘. Our psychologist Irina Kozyr works with us at the Academy. She gives us all sorts of exercises and tasks so that we don’t get lost in difficult situations," Sabina said.

The gymnast also shared the words of encouragement that her coach Irina Gusarova used.

"It’s a little scary to perform in a hall like this. She said: "If you smile and show artistry, you will always win," she said.

The international Ojaq Cup tournament, in which International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association gymnasts competed, is taking place in Baku from October 3 to 6.

Lia Rodionova and Sabina Samatova live, study and train at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.