On Saturday, October 21, the international Games of Countries tournament started at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. What’s special about it is that in all age categories, according to an individual program, gymnasts perform exercises with a jump rope.Pre-juniors (born 2012-2014, perform 4 types - jump rope, hoop, ball, clubs) take part in competitions according to the individual program, juniors (born 2011-2009, 5 types - jump rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) and seniors (born 2008-2000, 5 types - jump rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon).&nbsp;Head judge of the tournament: Vera Sesina.The Sky Grace International Association of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs is the organizer of the competition.<h1>Day 2</h1><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>9:30-12:20&nbsp;</td><td>Pre-juniors born 2012-2014 (ball, clubs)</td></tr><tr><td>12:30-13:00&nbsp;</td><td>Group exercises, juniors born 2011-2009 (clubs)</td></tr><tr><td>13:30-17:10&nbsp;</td><td>Juniors born 2011-2009 (clubs, ribbon)</td></tr><tr><td>17:20-17:50</td><td>Group exercises, seniors born 2008-2000 (balls / ribbons)</td></tr><tr><td>18:00-20:00</td><td>Seniors born 2008-2000 (clubs, ribbon)</td></tr><tr><td>20:00-20:30</td><td>Awards ceremony</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

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Competitions

On Saturday, October 21, the international Games of Countries tournament started at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.

Live broadcast of the international Games of Countries tournament

Yana Zaikina, Ksenia Savinova, and Karolina Pakhtusova have already arrived in the Hungarian capital and completed training ahead of the international Gracia Fair Cup tournament.The competition will be held February 20-22 under the auspices of the World Gymnastics. Our gymnasts will compete under a neutral status.

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Yana Zaikina, Ksenia Savinova and Karolina Pakhtusova will take part in the tournament from February 20 to 22.

The Academy's gymnasts arrived in Hungary for the Gracia Fair Cup competition

After the North Caucasus Federal District Championship Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz, along with coaches Olesya Kovaleva and Elizaveta Zorkina, strolled through Elista, visited the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, and saw camels.The tour was organized by competition director Lyudmila Galchenko.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/128/acb/128acbe34783c8ba764c7709cab6db98.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/9c9/d71/9c9d71689587cc3691f2c1e63e9c592f.jpg"></figure>

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The tour was organized by competition director Lyudmila Galchenko.

After the North Caucasus Federal District Championship, Alesya Naifonova and the Academy's coaches went on a tour of Elista

Arina Tkachuk from Krasnodar Region came to the Academy to prepare for the Russian Championship.Together with her coach, Natalia Shmakova, she's perfecting her routines ahead of one of the most important competitions of the season. Academy coach and judge Olga Minigalina is providing assistance as well.&nbsp;

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Academy Life

The gymnast came to Sirius together with coach Natalia Shmakova.

Arina Tkachuk from the Krasnodar Region is preparing for the Russian Championships at the Academy

A control training session was held at the Academy on the eve of the upcoming starts.Our judges assess readiness of the gymnasts right here, in conditions as close to real competitions as possible.&nbsp;Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva was in touch with specialists and athletes throughout the training session.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b69/f23/b69f23fc42313444c4e407aa554d2cd2.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/c22/49c/c2249ce8d7ee8cbdd97f02c3eb592ad6.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/1e9/f1f/1e9f1fb95088d2e29fc3e868f3b5dbf2.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b68/361/b6836103c24f8d566257bc4e1d9123d0.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/04b/b3a/04bb3a7926da71caef16ead06bc0f7cd.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b2f/5d6/b2f5d67e026ead39a89a5dce8a79b9ed.jpg"></figure>

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva was in touch with specialists and athletes throughout the training session.


A control training session was held at the Academy on the eve of the upcoming starts

Chefs prepared festive and beautiful appetizers and desserts for the athletes in honor of the Martial Arts Academy’s birthday.Members of the Russian national team are currently continuing their preparations for the competition at the Academy.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/41c/57d/41c57d5864ba18ed38a9e27b604d0edc.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/587/72b/58772b7736f2843e269a8bd4a4afe891.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/4a0/ec3/4a0ec379ef1e258e70160e3ab3537818.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/896/82e/89682ebdddaa053903fbb61ac5ab1b6f.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/9b9/a7b/9b9a7b3133aeb9bd5e923829e53cee8b.jpg"></figure>

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MA Academy

Members of the Russian national team are currently continuing their preparations for the competition at the Academy.


Chefs prepared desserts for athletes in honor of the birthday of the Martial Arts Academy’s birthday

At the St. Petersburg Championships, Head judge Natalia Kukushkina told how judging has changed after the introduction of new rules:<blockquote>"When a completely different person arrives, seeing new children for the first time, there's, of course, no interest in this or that girl. And, naturally, it all turns out much more objectively than before. Plus, there's the new judging system. You judge everything you see according to the rules, react immediately to any mistakes, and, accordingly, the result is determined. Yes, of course, there are disagreements between judges, but when they're called on frequently, the judges always understand where they went wrong. Especially since we have a new rule now, a 0.3 discrepancy. Previously, it was half a point, now we have to get within 0.3. This is very important, because half a point, yes, is a whole element, but 0.3 is a very precise score."</blockquote>The specialist also shared her impressions of the performances of the gymnasts of the Academy:<blockquote>"There are so many good kids. I'm absolutely thrilled with both the Master of Sports Candidate and the first-category ones. The younger generation is simply amazing. I was very upset that Veronika Malinina withdrew. She certainly amazed us yesterday with her performances, her fouetté turns with three rotations each. Diana Kotlovskaya is also a very good girl. She's a very beautiful girl, very strong. I really liked her. I think she's a contender for the top three at the Russian Championships. I also liked Karolina Pakhtusova. She did a great job with the film. We were all absolutely thrilled with her composition. She did a fantastic job."</blockquote>In the 1st athletic category, Diana Kotlovskaya won gold in the clubs and ribbon events, and silver in the hoop and ball events. Veronika Malinina took first in the hoop and ball events. In the Candidate Master of Sports program, Karolina Pakhtusova won gold in the clubs and ribbon events.

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Opinion

The expert also shared her impressions of the Academy gymnasts' performances.


Head judge Natalia Kukushkina told how the refereeing changed after the introduction of the new rules

Daria Isaeva, who worked as a judge at the Volga Federal District Championship in Kazan, told us what subtleties experts pay attention to during the performances of gymnasts:<blockquote>"The Volga Federal District Championship is extremely competitive among the regions. All the gymnasts were trying to give their best, fighting for a place on the podium and a spot at the Russian Championship. Each performance is, of course, different. Some are artistic, others technical — each gymnast has their own unique selling point. Tatarstan was memorable! The girls from Ulyanovsk are very strong, they're truly artistic and stand out for that, as is Nizhny Novgorod. The Penza region is distinguished by its technique and purity."</blockquote>Academy student Miroslava Monina won bronze for the Penza Region team at the tournament.&nbsp;

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Academy student Miroslava Monina won bronze for the Penza Region team at the tournament. 



Daria Isaeva spoke about the subtleties of judging at the Volga Federal District Championship

Academy gymnasts Karolina Pakhtusova, Ksenia Savinova, and Yana Zaikina will compete as neutrals at the Gracia Fair Cup in Budapest.Ulyana Janus, Milena Shchenyatskaya, and Vladislava Sharonova will also take part in the competition.The competition will be held under the auspices of World Gymnastics.&nbsp;

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The competition will be held under the auspices of World Gymnastics. 


Academy gymnasts Karolina Pakhtusova, Ksenia Savinova, and Yana Zaikina will compete as neutrals at the Gracia Fair Cup in Budapest

The Academy coach Elizaveta Chernova spoke about Elizaveta Geraskina's performance at the Sirius Federal Territory Championship.The gymnast presented new routines at the tournament, with the hoop and the ribbon. The specialist summed up the results:<blockquote>"We prepared in sections and run-throughs, because this was the first competition of the new season, yes. Of course, not everything has worked out yet. It's good that the competition took place before the Russian Championships. We saw what we need to work on next, because competitions are a different process than training."</blockquote>Elizaveta Markovna assessed the importance of this start, and also noted the work of choreographer Natalia Belugina and two-time Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva:<blockquote>" We'll definitely work on the body elements. I saw that the body is still a bit weak, and we need to work on the artistry, especially the hoop. It’s also important not to forget about the apparatus: both artistry and execution, every detail is important. And, truly, there's a lot of work ahead. I'm very happy that choreographers and directors are working with us, and that they have these deas. Evgeniya Olegovna choreographed the new hoop for us. We really want to bring all the ideas of our choreographers, Natalia Vladimirovna Belugina and Evgenia Olegovna Kanaeva, to life and to make them happy. I want to bring the girls to life in these roles, so that they can be completely different in each style, in each exercise. We need to work on them like adults."</blockquote>She also thanked Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva for her help in preparation:<blockquote>"A huge thank you to Alina Maratovna. She joins us and gives us very valuable advice. When she came, she coached us and still coaches us over the phone. And a huge thank you for such valuable advice and knowledge that she gives to us, the coaches, and the girls."</blockquote>Elizaveta Geraskina won bronze in the all-around among candidate masters of sports at the competition. Her choreographer is Elena Egorova.

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The gymnast presented new routines at the tournament, with the hoop and the ribbon.


The Academy coach Elizaveta Chernova spoke about Elizaveta Geraskina's performance at the Sirius Federal Territory Championship

At the tournament in Elista, Alesya Naifonova won the all-around among candidate masters of sports and as a result became eligible to compete in the Russian championship.&nbsp;After the performances, the gymnast told what new program she presented at the competition:<blockquote>"Evgeniya Olegovna Kanaeva choreographed the ball for me. I really like it, it’s so beautiful, there are such interesting transitions everywhere. We practiced, and she said that I should be like a snake, move so smoothly, such transitions."</blockquote>The athlete shared whose support was especially important to her during the tournament:<blockquote>"The girls I used to train with performed here. They supported me, I supported them. During the performance they shouted at me loudly. I was very pleased, thank you! My parents were very worried. My dad even said that he left the room while the broadcast was on TV, he wasn’t watching. Thank you very much to Alina Maratovna, my coaches — Alina Ivanovna, Irina Nikolaevna, Alina Andreevna and choreographer Ekaterina Medorovna. I’m very grateful to them for the preparation!"</blockquote>Also at the tournament, Alesya met with her first coach, Aliya Apakova. The gymnast noted that she also felt her support:<blockquote>"I was very happy to see her, and so was she. She supported me, told me not to be afraid, did everything boldly to show off my beauty."</blockquote>The competition took place in the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia from February 11 to 18. Alesya's coaches are Alina and Irina Gusarova, and the choreographer is Ekaterina Belova. Alesya arrived at the tournament in Elista together with Elizaveta Zorkina.

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At the tournament in Elista, the gymnast from Vladikavkaz won the all-around among candidate masters of sports and as a result became eligible to compete in the Russian championship. 


9:30-12:20	Pre-juniors born 2012-2014 (ball, clubs)
12:30-13:00	Group exercises, juniors born 2011-2009 (clubs)
13:30-17:10	Juniors born 2011-2009 (clubs, ribbon)
17:20-17:50	Group exercises, seniors born 2008-2000 (balls / ribbons)
18:00-20:00	Seniors born 2008-2000 (clubs, ribbon)
20:00-20:30	Awards ceremony