Judge Ekaterina Lots assesses the level of gymnasts at the international Aura Cup tournament in Croatia

Ekaterina Lots, a member of the All-Russian Board of Judges, told which gymnasts surprised her at the international Aura Cup tournament in Croatia:

"Of course, our gymnasts are the best. Unfortunately, things didn't go perfectly. But we are moving forward and training hard. Some are at the beginning of the season while others are nearing the end, so I think it’s normal for gymnasts to make some mistakes; however, we are making great strides, and that is very encouraging. Our junior gymnast Alesya Naifonova was a real surprise. She is a very young athlete, yet she managed to go out there and perform all four routines without any drops. She was bold and confident. Yes, there were some minor errors, but overall, she executed a very high-level program featuring complex body elements and risk moves. For instance, the gymnast received very high scores twice for her clubs routine, which is certainly very gratifying. I would also like to mention Yana Zaikina, of course. She is a gymnast who is taking the international stage by the storm. In fact, the judges can’t stop talking about her, as she is truly unique, thanks to her natural gifts, charisma, and the complexity of her routines."

The specialist shared what she remembered about the performances of the Italian athletes:

"The Italians were actually a pleasant surprise. For one thing, there were a lot of them, especially in the senior category. And, generally speaking, all the gymnasts performed at a high level. They demonstrated strong apparatus and body technique, and there was a real sense of artistry that’s distinctive, character driven movements within their routines. So, I’d say the Italians really impressed me."