We could not miss the opportunity to talk to the Olympic champions in rhythmic gymnastics at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025. The result is the exclusive interviews about the path to the main victory, willpower and overcoming of difficulties.Our first character is Linoy Ashram, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics champion.<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:7733,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Интервью Ашрам Английский&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;901/43b&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;90143b6c5f38a3e7b23e5d.mp4&quot;}}"></div>In an exclusive interview:<ul><li>How did Linoy Ashram get into rhythmic gymnastics?</li><li>Who among gymnasts inspired the future champion?</li><li>About the first performances</li><li>How did Linoy train and what she thought about during the pandemic</li><li>Emotions before participating in the Olympic Games&nbsp;</li><li>Main rivals&nbsp;</li><li>What did the future champion do the day before the start of the Olympics?</li><li>"I didn't feel like I was at the Olympic Games"</li><li>About the status of the first Olympic champion from Israel</li><li>What is Linoy up to after ending her career?</li><li>What is the secret of Olympic champions?</li></ul>

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Way to success

We could not miss the opportunity to talk to the Olympic champions in rhythmic gymnastics at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025. The result is the exclusive interviews about the path to the main victory, willpower and overcoming of difficulties.


Exclusive interview with Linoy Ashram, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics champion

Arina Kovshova from the Novosibirsk region recently joined the Academy team.The gymnast told what emotions the move to Sirius gave her.<blockquote>"I moved to Sochi and will be training here now. It's very cozy here. We generally hang out with everyone here, but we probably spend most of our time with the older girls. Sasha Borisova, Masha Borisova, Varya Toporova. I'm glad it's sunny and warm here. It's nice here."</blockquote>The athlete shared the goals she sets for the near future.<blockquote>"I need to recover, learn new exercises, and prepare for competitions. I think we'll be preparing for the Russian Championships; we'll be training hard here."</blockquote>

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Opinion

A gymnast from the Novosibirsk Region recently joined the Academy's team.

Arina Kovshova talked about moving to the Academy and her immediate plans

Varvara Toporova, a new gymnast at the Academy from the Republic of Kalmykia, told how the adaptation is going and what goals the athlete sets for herself.<blockquote>"I really like it here. The atmosphere is great. I've come here for competitions before. I was also at a training camp before the New Year. I'd really like to see through all the plans I've made for myself. Of course, I want to improve in all areas: improve my apparatus, elements, and cleanliness."</blockquote>The athlete also shared her impressions of the new programs.<blockquote>"They just put together two new routines for me, hoop and ball. The styles haven't changed much. I really like the routines that Evgeniya Olegovna Kanaeva put together for me. They're very interesting, with lots of new ideas. Everything turned out very melodic and I enjoy doing and practicing them."</blockquote>Varvara noted how she is supported by the Honored coach of Russia Lyudmila Galchenko.<blockquote>"She gives me guidance, corrects me, and encourages me as best she can. I feel really supported by her."</blockquote>Earlier, we <a href="https://skygrace.ru/en/news/mneniya/ey-hochetsya-pokazyvat-rezultaty-i-byt-na-vysote-lyudmila-galchenko-o-trenirovkah-varvary-toporovoy-v-akademii">recorded</a> an interview with Russia’s Honored Coach Lyudmila Galchenko, who came to Sirius with Varvara.

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The gymnast told how the adaptation goes and what goals the athlete sets for herself.

"I'd really like to see through all the plans I've made for myself." Varvara Toporova — about moving to the Academy

The Academy group exercises team attended the The Nutcracker ballet. The famous performance was shown at the Sirius Concert Center.Our new juniors Vladislava Gaivoronskaya from the Voronezh Region, Alexandra Ponomareva from the Rostov Region, and Alisa Kirpicheva from St. Petersburg, along with the Academy students also saw the production. The girls were selected for the 2012 group exercises team and are currently on a trial period.&nbsp;The trip to the performance was organized by the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Academy Life

The performance took place at the Sirius Concert Center.

The Academy group exercises team attended the The Nutcracker ballet

Good wishes on International Choreographer's Day from the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy and the Sky Grace International Association:<blockquote>"Dear choreographers, congratulations on your professional holiday!&nbsp;Choreography is not just the art of movement, but, above all, incredible work. We thank you for dedicating your lives to this wonderful craft, and that you inspire and teach young stars.&nbsp;We wish you endless inspiration, good health, bright creative ideas, and talented students.&nbsp;Congratulations!"</blockquote>

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Good wishes on International Choreographer's Day from the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy and the Sky Grace International Association.

Happy International Choreographer's Day!

Here's the next challenge in our marathon!Let's start this year with healthy habits. On January 8, we invite you to explore some beliefs about food and create a balanced diet in our Myth or Truth: Nutrition section.All episodes can be found <a href="https://skygrace.ru/en/video/sovety-dietologa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/c58/bb9/c58bb96dd20b4a2518b3072d2079852b.jpg"></figure>

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Here's the next challenge in our marathon!

Marathon of activities: January 8

The Russian Gymnastics Federation has published the 2026 national team roster.The Academy's seniors include Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg and Varvara Toporova from the Republic of Kalmykia. Among the reserves are Eva Kononova from the Tyumen Region and Arina Kovshova from the Novosibirsk Region.The junior team includes Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, Elizaveta Geraskina from Moscow, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, and Karolina Pakhtusova from St. Petersburg. Reserve list includes Academy group gymnasts, as well as Elina Khabirova from Kazan.The team's coaches and specialists include Irina Gusarova, Alina Gusarova, Evgeniya Eliseeva, Olesya Kovaleva, Ekaterina Lots, Olga Minigalina, Anna Ustsova, Olga Frolova, Elizaveta Chernova, Alina Protasova and choreographers Ekaterina Belova and Elena Egorova.<a href="https://sportgymrus.ru/uploads/media_manager/2026/01/spisok-kandidatov-v-sportivnye-sbornye-komandy-rossiiskoi-federacii-po-hudozhestvennoi-gimnastike-na-2026-god.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The full list of the Russian national team for 2026.</a>

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The Russian Gymnastics Federation has published the list.

The Academy gymnasts joined the Russian national team for 2026

The Academy's new gymnast, Varvara Toporova, came to us with Russia’s Honored Coach Lyudmila Galchenko.The specialist shared her impressions after the first day of training and told how Varvara is getting back into shape after the New Year holidays:<blockquote>"Varya, of course, trained with great zeal today, with great desire. I can see how hard she's working. She wants to show great results and be at the top. And, of course, that makes me happy, and I look forward to the future with great hope. Today was a very interesting day. I had a morning training session with Irina Nikolaevna Gusarova. I learned a lot from that training. Today we had a general fitness program, we worked on elements, risks, skills, a little bit of apparatus training, and a choreography lesson. Today we also had a swimming assignment in the pool, which Irina Nikolaevna gave us. So I think she'll be getting back into shape pretty quickly."</blockquote>Lyudmila thanked Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva for inviting her to the Academy:<blockquote>"New conditions and new teachers, coaches. I think this will be a great incentive for her. And for this, too, a big thank you to Alina Maratovna, because we needed it right now. So I'm filled with very positive emotions today. It's a real post-New Year's gift."</blockquote>Earlier, Varvara Toporova and Arina Kovshova joined the Academy team.

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The specialist shared how Varvara is getting back into shape after the New Year holidays and thanked Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva for inviting her to the Academy.

"She wants to show results and be at her best!" Lyudmila Galchenko talks about Varvara Toporova's trainings at the Academy

New gymnasts have joined the Academy team this season.Varvara Toporova from the Republic of Kalmykia, champion of the first stage of the Cup of the Strongest in the hoop event, and Arina Kovshova from the Novosibirsk Region, Alina Kabaeva Grand Prix Champions Cup silver medalist in the ball event and silver medalist of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest in the hoop event, will now live, study, and train at Sirius.Varya will be accompanied at training by Russia’s Honored Coach Lyudmila Galchenko.

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Now the gymnasts will live, study and train in Sirius.

Varvara Toporova and Arina Kovshova joined the Academy team

Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg, Anna Vakulenko and Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Eva Kononova from the Tyumen region, as well as group gymnasts Nikole Andronchik, Kira Pryn, Alina Proshchalykina from Krasnodar, and Elizaveta Malashenko from Rostov-on-Don have already arrived at the Academy. The girls and other gymnasts will soon begin training and preparing for the new season.By the way, Yana didn't return to Sirius alone. She brough along her pet turtles.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/f60/1ee/f601ee629ebf6710f634b7b1ecc74c20.png"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/8f5/d1c/8f5d1cb1e710cd861f5bcddf130565c7.png"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/0fd/984/0fd98462d26b8eb1c0409531b0c00462.png"></figure>

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Very soon, the athletes will start preparing for the new season.

The gymnasts of the Academy returned from the New Year holidays

We're dedicating the day to our internal well-being!On January 7th, watch Ask a Psychologist, in which Irina Kozyr shares important advice for both children and parents.Adapting to a new team, practicing mindful breathing, giving appropriate praise and criticism, you can find all this and much more <a href="https://skygrace.ru/en/video/sprosi-psihologa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/0fc/1e7/0fc1e7e21a5d14d760414049dfde734b.jpg"></figure>

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Watch Ask a Psychologist, in which Irina Kozyr shares important advice for both children and parents.