Rhythmic gymnastics has been officially included in the Olympic Games since 1984. Gymnasts first presented their routines in Los Angeles. And it was there that Canadian Lori Fung became the first-ever Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics.We learned more about her story at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025.<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:7788,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Интервью_Лори_Фанг_Английский&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;aad/7bf&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;aad7bfc7ad5c0778fdf381.mp4&quot;}}"></div>In this interview:<ul><li>How did Lori Fung become a professional athlete?</li><li>Memories of her first major international competition</li><li>"I wanted to spend all my time in the gym, every day"</li><li>What emotions did the Olympic Games give Lori Fung?</li><li>Friendships among gymnasts</li><li>"I had to put my hopes and dreams of a university on hold and wait until my time in gymnastics was over"</li><li>On her decision to become a coach</li><li>"If you have a dream, don't let anyone tell you you can't do it"</li><li>What does the Sky Grace Cup mean to Lori Fung?</li><li>The secret of an Olympic champion</li></ul>

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Way to success

We learned more about her story at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025.

Exclusive interview with Lori Fung, the first-ever Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics

Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy is recruiting for its group exercises teams!We invite gymnasts born in 2012 to join the junior team, and gymnasts born in 2010 and older to join the senior team.We accept video applications via email at gymnast@skygrace.ru.

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Academy Life

We invite gymnasts born in 2012 to join the junior team, and gymnasts born in 2010 and older to join the senior team.



Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy is recruiting for its group exercises teams

Having won gold medals in the individual all-around at the Olympic Games in Beijing and London, Evgenia Kanaeva became a legend of Russian sports and an example for generations of young gymnasts around the world.&nbsp;We asked the only two-time Olympic champion in the individual program of all time to talk about the most important stages of her sports career and the people who helped her to achieve success at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025.&nbsp;<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:7790,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Интервью с Евгенией Канаевой_Английский&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;3b8/327&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;3b832733a6566d4e192c00.mp4&quot;}}"></div>In the interview:<ul><li>What does Evgenia Kanaeva love about rhythmic gymnastics?</li><li>How did her journey in sports begin?</li><li>The 2008 Olympics in Beijing&nbsp;</li><li>"I didn't expect so many people to celebrate with me"</li><li>&nbsp;How was the second Olympics different from the first?&nbsp;</li><li>"I could not be a self-made person"</li><li>What is the secret of the Olympic champion?</li></ul>

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Having won gold medals in the individual all-around at the Olympic Games in Beijing and London, Evgenia Kanaeva became a legend of Russian sports and an example for generations of young gymnasts around the world. 


Exclusive interview with Evgenia Kanaeva, the two-time Olympic champion

A modern approach to the physical training of female athletes is being introduced at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.Ivan Goncharenko, the Academy's specialist in evidence-based conditioning, spoke about the new work format:<blockquote>"I train our athletes, improve the stability of the elements and bring them to the peak of their physical fitness."</blockquote>Ivan also stressed that such trainings are a necessary aspect for professional growth:<blockquote>"Physical fitness is the foundation, without which it is impossible to build serious technique."</blockquote>The specialist noted what the main work is aimed at:<blockquote>"The athlete's strength, flexibility, and endurance determine stability on the mat and most importantly – reducing the risk of injuries."</blockquote>Thanks to this approach, gymnasts get the opportunity to feel their bodies better and manage them in the most difficult moments of the program:<blockquote>"There is a direct connection: the stronger and more stable the body is, the more precise the movements are. With an appropriate strength base, the gymnast controls every stage of the element. From the ending in the stand to the landing."</blockquote>Evidence-based conditioning is a complex training program aimed at developing key physical qualities such as strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, coordination, and balance. It takes into account each athlete’s individual traits.

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Opinion

The new Academy coach spoke about the importance of working on specific muscle groups and the need for such training.

"Our goal is to make the body functional and stable." Ivan Goncharenko, the Academy specialist, talks about the new class format

The Academy gymnasts had a training session at the Novogorsk Training Center.Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg, Eva Kononova from the Tyumen Region, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, and Alexandra Borisova from Moscow are preparing for the first events of the new season.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b25/222/b252227f0d066dd89f3c9fc886f4d979.png"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/e70/e09/e70e09e076e9883416831e0bb1bbd810.png"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/c35/c2e/c35c2e427d5f7bd62edb03e0b5cf122b.png"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/78f/b20/78fb2033db65d4fe8eb94796c807e369.png"></figure>

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Workouts

The athletes came to prepare for the first competitions of this season.

A training session of the Academy gymnasts took place in Novogorsk

Alisa Shunina from Volgograd started training at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.The athlete is currently at the Academy on probation and is practicing with coach Elizaveta Chernova.In an interview, the gymnast told how the selection went:<blockquote>"I took the hoop and showed the exercise, and I showed it without the apparatus."</blockquote>She also shared her emotions from meeting Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva:<blockquote>"She came up to me and started pulling me, looking at how flexible I am. I was a little scared."</blockquote>The young athlete told why she likes to follow our <a href="https://t.me/skygraceacademy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">telegram channel</a>:<blockquote>"When they film the girls training, and how they're told about their mistakes. Later, when they pointed out the mistakes, I looked at my exercises and corrected those mistakes too."</blockquote>Alisa grows up in a large and creative family where everyone is passionate about their business:<blockquote>"My oldest brother is Arseniy, then my middle brother is Andrei, after Andrei, Grisha was born, then I was born, and then my younger sister Olya. Arseniy and Andrei took piano lessons, but they've already graduated. My younger brother, Grisha, plays the saxophone and the flute. And my sister Olya, she plays the piano, also does gymnastics."</blockquote>Now the gymnast is focused on improving her skills:<blockquote>"I want to learn how to do difficult risks and twists."</blockquote>Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva noticed the gymnast during the second stage of the Cup of the Strongest in Sirius. Alisa also participated in the training camp held at the Academy in summer.

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The athlete is currently at the Academy on probation and is practicing with coach Elizaveta Chernova.

Alisa Shunina from Volgograd told about the selection at the Academy

Academy gymnasts visited the concert of the State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseyev.The program comprised dance routines inspired by the culture of the peoples of the world.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/03b/635/03b63503ec2c70a1e6c68f9683626b33.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/e90/038/e9003822f528f389e0261196b3d4b918.jpg"></figure>

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The program comprised dance routines inspired by the culture of the peoples of the world.


Academy gymnasts visited the concert of the State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble named after Igor Moiseyev

The championship of the Republic of Tatarstan will become the first competition for Academy gymnasts in 2026.Malika Timurshina and Elina Khabirova will perform in their home city of Kazan from January 21 to 23. This tournament will be the qualification for the championship of the Volga Federal District.&nbsp;

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Competitions

Malika Timurshina and Elina Khabirova will perform in their home city of Kazan from January 21 to 23. 

Academy gymnasts will take part in the championship of the Republic of Tatarstan

Training sessions kicked off for preschoolers from free early development groups at the Academy after the New Year holidays.The girls practiced the "fish" and "ring" exercises, as well as general physical training and bench work under the watchful eye of coaches Ekaterina Lots, Elizaveta Chernova, and Elizaveta Zorkina.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/93c/513/93c513fae290c8b6a7d914297a332d9d.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/743/99d/74399d2db17b8ec561b140563a9f38ed.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/3bc/8dd/3bc8dd2e5e045385303411f6781f7aaa.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/d1b/5f6/d1b5f6dc09019e049ffabe425e013b5a.jpg"></figure>

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After the New Year holidays, the preschool gymnasts returned to training and developing lessons.

The Academy's youngest gymnasts started training

Alexandra Timoshenko competed in the 1988 Olympic Games and finished third, and won Olympic gold in 1992.At the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025, we asked her to talk about her path in sports and share her key thoughts on doubts, motivation, and responsibility.<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:7732,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Интервью Тимошенко_англ&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;699/876&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;6998761dd4e0b93d018761.mp4&quot;}}"></div>In an exclusive interview:<ul><li>What is so special about rhythmic gymnastics?</li><li>How did rhythmic gymnastics become Alexandra Timoshenko’s life's work?</li><li>"It was the advice of a doctor. And it helped."</li><li>Alexandra Timoshenko’s memories of her early competitions</li><li>Preparing for her first Olympics</li><li>Olympic bronze: tears of joy or sadness?</li><li>"When you follow this path, you understand what’s ahead for you."</li><li>Alexandra Timoshenko’s second Olympics</li><li>Favorite program at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics</li><li>What's the Olympic champion's secret?</li><li>Advice to herself as a child — a look back</li></ul>

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Alexandra Timoshenko competed in the 1988 Olympic Games and finished third, and won Olympic gold in 1992. At the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025, we asked her to talk about her path in sports and share her key thoughts on doubts, motivation, and responsibility.


Exclusive interview with Alexandra Timoshenko, 1992 Olympic champion

2000 Sydney Olympic champion, world champion, and three-time European champion Yulia Barsukova is the next focus in our series of exclusive interviews that we recorded at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025.<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:7731,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Интервью Барсукова_англ&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;4d6/c69&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;4d6c697e56c101d49a725a.mp4&quot;}}"></div>In an interview, she spoke:<ul><li>On the transition from figure skating to rhythmic gymnastics</li><li>Yulia Barsukova's favorite figure skaters</li><li>When did sport transform from a childhood hobby into a life's work?</li><li>On her first significant medals</li><li>First European Championships in Budapest in 1999</li><li>"I prepare the same way, go through control training. And then everyone leaves, but I stay"</li><li>What was the preparation for the Sydney Olympics like?</li><li>The night before the 2000 Olympic Final</li><li>"I just had to perform well"</li><li>Emotions after winning the Olympics</li><li>The "Dying Swan" and unique gymnasts' elements</li><li>"You need to leave with grace. Undefeated"</li><li>A gymnast in figure skating</li><li>How did Yulia Barsukova decide to become a coach?</li><li>On working with Dina and Arina Averina, Anastasia Guzenkova, and Anna Popova</li><li>What can athletes teach a coach?</li><li>What's the secret of an Olympic champion?</li></ul>

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2000 Sydney Olympic champion, world champion, and three-time European champion Yulia Barsukova is the next focus in our series of exclusive interviews that we recorded at the Sky Grace Cup International Tournament and Beijing Top Open 2025
