Academy coach Evgenia Eliseeva talks about student training ahead of the Russian Championship

Academy coach Evgenia Eliseeva tells how the programs of students Elvira Belyaeva and Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina are being adapted to Russian rules before the Russian Championship.

"Certainly, all that is nerve-racking. In the first instance, we are discussing girls’ programs, so that there are no mistakes in their work, no repetitions, so that their work is done well, because 1/10 execution penalty under Russian rules means that an element is canceled. The risks judging is very strict, to have all the turns completed, to catch without interruptions. So, if we see some mistakes with each other on the floor, we immediately tell our colleagues about them, to correct them, because sometimes we can get too used to something and not notice the mistakes. We therefore try to stay together and give the girls quality training," Evgenia said.

She noted that the athletes are diligently preparing to represent the Academy at all-Russian competitions the best they can.

"There’s still time before the Russian championship; we will work to close out drawbacks. We have already achieved clean runs, with fairly good amplitude this time. We have well-prepared programs in terms of the score and if the girls perform with high quality, they will have a good score. We will go to perform not just for the Northwest but for our beloved Academy certainly, and we need to make a high quality presentation of the Sky Grace. We are therefore practicing, trying hard, so that we don’t let the Academy down," she said.

Academy students Elvira Belyaeva and Ksenia Savinova, as well as Miroslava Monina from Penza and Eva Chugunova from Ulyanovsk will perform at the Russian Championship, which will be held in Moscow from February 13 to 22.