"We get along great." Yulia Bravikova on working with Cuban gymnast Gretel Mendoza

In February, Cuban gymnasts arrived at the Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy in Sochi. Multiple Cuban champion Gretel Mendoza trained with Yulia Bravikova, winner of the 2017 Universiade.

The coach talked about how she got used to working with the Cuban gymnast and how they managed to overcome the language barrier.

“Greta doesn't speak English well, just like me. She doesn't speak Russian, she speaks Spanish. At first, we had an interpreter who was in the hall with us, translating the entire training session into Spanish. It all took a very long time - I would give the remarks in Russian, then it would be translated, and then she had to understand what I meant, and correct it,” Bravikova said.

She added, however, that after a while everyone got used to this way of working, and it became easier to understand each other in training.

“The coaches change, they constantly talk to her in English, in Russian, you can show something using sign language. She understands everything. We have no problems and nothing gets lost in translation. We get along great in training,” the coach said.

Bravikova also emphasized that this type of interaction can be an incentive, and facilitates learning new things.

“If there is someone who speaks better English than I do, I use that opportunity, and ask that person to be with me. Because we learn from each other - both coaches and gymnasts. This, of course, inspires you to work, because education is the light,” Bravikova said.

We got used to it. When I first came... Greta doesn't speak English well, just like me. She doesn't speak Russian, she speaks Spanish. At first, we had an interpreter who was in the hall with us, translating the entire training session into Spanish. It all took a very long time - I would give the remarks in Russian, then it would be translated, then she had to understand what I meant, and correct it. Now we are used to it. It’s her second month here, and the coaches have changed, they address her in English, Russian, and you can explain something by gesturing.

She understands everything. We don’t have any problems or miscommunications due to the translation. We get along great in training. If there is someone who speaks better English than I do, I use that opportunity, and ask that person to be with me. Because we learn from each other - both coaches and gymnasts. This, of course, inspires you to work, because education is the light!