“I really like these rules!” Coach Natalya Kukushkina talks about the all-Russian Sky Grace Cup competition

Russia’s Honored coach Natalya Kukushkina came to the all-Russian Sky Grace Cup competition, not only as a judge, but also as a coach.

Her student Elizaveta Panieva from Moscow took eighth place in the all-around in the Masters of Sports program. After the competition, the coach summed up her student’s performance.

“I am the judge and the coach. I have a girl coming to perform in the masters category here. There were minor mistakes in the rope because this is a new object for us. She did not have the rope before in her life. So it happened that she got on the period when there was no rope in rhythmic gymnastics anymore. And, accordingly, it is now back with us again. And she doesn’t cope very well with it. Concerning the other kinds, I hope everything will work out for us,” Elizaveta said.

The specialist highlighted the advantages of the rules of the International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association.

“I am fond of these rules. And it was rather interesting for the girls to change from Russian rules to these rules. I liked it here because the rules were made more harmoniously. And that the gymnasts can demonstrate themselves in the artistry because there is not enough time for the artistry. Skills with the object are also limited here and therefore there is time to probably make something more interesting, rather than simply to make everything more. I believe that this fundamentally gives development only for coaches, for girls. The more there are various interesting moves, changes, some new things, novelties, the greater development is, as it seems to me,” she said.

The coach also recalled how she trained with Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva.

“I also had the honor to train Alina Maratovna, to put together compositions for her. I also had a chance to catch the time when Alina was little. I also practiced with her, worked with her,” she said.

All-Russian rhythmic gymnastics Sky Grace Cup competition is held at the Academy, April 10 to 14.