Academy coach Olesya Kovaleva spoke about Gretel Mendoza’s performance at the tournament in Japan

Olesya Kovaleva, coach at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, spoke about the performance of Cuban gymnast Gretel Mendoza at the international AEON Cup tournament in Japan.

“Gretel went to the championship of all international clubs. This is probably a preparatory part, so to speak, for her big start - the Pan American Games in Chile. Very strong, very famous gymnasts from around the world will come to Japan and, of course, she will have the opportunity to look at them and test her programs and her strength,” the coach said.

She not only helped the athlete work out and improve her programs, but also supported her in difficult moments.

“Gretel is a very smart, disciplined, hard-working girl. She knows what she wants to achieve and she is very focused. The difficulties were more of a psychological nature, because she really missed her family. Long, long conversations, talks, sometimes we would just take a walk here at the Academy in the park, that helped a little bit. Well, also massage, the swimming pool, restorative procedures - all of this somehow, in general, in symbiosis, helped her cope with her anxiety and worries,” Olesya said.

After competition in Japan, the Cuban gymnast will perform at the Pan American Games, and then at the Sky Grace tournament.