Rosa Abitova: "I've always dreamed of performing according to the rules of the early 2000s"
The Kazakh participant of the Sky Grace tournament told about the search for her coach and new experience at unique competitions in Moscow.
On December 16-17, VTB Arena will host the first experimental international rhythmic gymnastics tournament Sky Grace. The tournament will be held on the initiative of Olympic and World and European champion Alina Kabaeva and under the auspices of her charitable foundation. The competitions will be held according to an unusual system that combines the rules introduced from 2022 and the rules in force in the era of Alina Kabaeva in the early 2000s. The purpose of the tournament is the development and popularization of rhythmic gymnastics as an Olympic sport.
Among the participants, the Moscow audience will see the 18-year-old rising star of Kazakhstan rhythmic gymnastics, Rosa Abitova. Last year she took all the gold of the Kazakhstan Cup, and before that she won the Asian Championship in the junior team and participated in the Youth Olympic Games.
I envied the participants of the 2020 Olympics in a good way
— Rosa, what is the current situation with the popularity of rhythmic gymnastics in Kazakhstan?
— In fact, gymnastics in Kazakhstan became popular after the successful performance of Aliya Maksutovna Yusupova at the Olympic Games in Athens and Beijing. And every year rhythmic gymnastics in Kazakhstan is gaining momentum. I watched the broadcast of the Olympics in Tokyo. It was very interesting. And the most impressive moment for me is the awards parade.
— Were you jealous?
— Envy was present, but in a good sense of the word. Because performing at the Olympics is the ultimate dream of every athlete!
— Why did you choose gymnastics?
— This is a fascinating, very beautiful sport. I started doing gymnastics on my own initiative from the age of eight. I think it was my conscious choice. But the influence was, of course, the support of both parents and coach Lola Islamkulovna Adilbekova.
— Since the age of eight? Isn't it too late?
— When my parents brought me to enroll in the regional gymnastics school, they directly told us there: "You came very late, you are not suitable for age, and in general external data are not suitable for gymnastics." Then we went to another school and there we met Lola Islamkulovna — my first and only coach. She just looked at me and said: "Of course I take it! Tomorrow, let him come to the gym for training." That's how, to my great luck, I got to my favorite coach.
The nearest goals are to get to the Universiade and the Asian Games
— Rhythmic gymnastics is often associated with discipline. Is it wrong with you?
— In fact, I was very lucky with the coach. Yes, she is quite strict, but at the same time fair. He can always provide support and listen. And I'll still have time to take a walk! (Laughs.)
— What are your plans for the future? The 2024 Olympics? Maybe even stay for a few cycles?
— Don't I want to look far into the future, but the nearest goals are to get to the Universiade and the Asian Games. To do this, I need to work very hard. And up to how many years I will do gymnastics — time will tell.
— There will be special rules at the Sky Grace tournament in Moscow.
— The experimentation of the tournament lies in the fact that we go back a little to the past, in 2001-2005, to see how the current generation will cope with the rules of those years. And yes, to check if we can transfer these rules to the future with new amendments. In previous years, gymnastics was very different. She was more danceable, emotional, appreciated the flexibility and difficulty of the body. And nowadays the emphasis is on speed and working with the subject. It will be very interesting for me to test my capabilities at this tournament and get such an experience.
— Would you like to compete according to those rules?
— Definitely — yes! I've always dreamed of performing according to the rules of the late 1990s - early 2000s. Looking through the performances of gymnasts of those years, I understand that my physical data fit those exercises.
Source: Sport-Express.