Irina Gusarova—the coach of St. Petersburg-based World Championship medalist Maria Borisova—and World Champion and Russian national group team member Daria Melnik have returned to Sochi.

They were welcomed alongside the gymnasts by Ekaterina Dyukova, Director of the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, and representatives of the Sirius Federal Territory administration.

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Competitions

Fans were waiting for the coach and the gymnast at Sochi Airport.

Irina Gusarova and Darya Melnik were welcomed in Sochi following the World Championship

Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg and coach Irina Gusarova have already gone back to training.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/a73/c24/a73c2415c5c2019c5664bf24b7a01203.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/eb6/864/eb686485a5f68a7e36467fa67b44eb0f.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/9df/088/9df08875adc747f19af7414d9698061f.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/513/013/51301329a517bf2d5c8b59ec4ddde7fd.jpg"></figure>

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Training

In Novogorsk, the gymnast and the specialist began their training sessions.

Mariia Borisova and coach Irina Gusarova have gone back to training

Mariia Borisova and the St. Petersburg team opened the Russian Premier League match between Zenit and CSKA.After winning the team event at the World Championships, Mariia, along with Arina Lavrenova, Alisa Eremeeva, Anna Nikolaeva, Sofia Solonskaya, Agata Barekzai, and coach Elena Petunina, were invited to the match as guests of honor. Before the match, Mariia performed a symbolic kick.Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg is a world champion in the team all-around and a medalist at the European Championships. member of the Russian National team’s main roster and the Sirius federal territory team, and lives and trains at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. Her coach is Irina Gusarova, and the choreographer is Ekaterina Belova.&nbsp;The St. Petersburg group gymnasts are world champions in the team all-around and silver medalists at the Russian Championships. Together with Daria Melnik, they are members of the Russian National team. The group exercises team trains at the Zhemchuzhina Rhythmic Gymnastics Center. Their coach is Elena Petunina, and the choreographer is Elena Afanasyeva.

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Academy Life

After winning the team event at the World Championships, Mariia, along with Arina Lavrenova, Alisa Eremeeva, Anna Nikolaeva, Sofia Solonskaya, Agata Barekzai, and coach Elena Petunina, were invited to the match as guests of honor. Before the match, Mariia performed a symbolic kick.

Mariia Borisova and the St. Petersburg team opened the Russian Premier League match between Zenit and CSKA

Alina Kabaeva took part in preparing the Academy’s gymnasts for the upcoming competitions. The Olympic champion worked with the group gymnasts.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b48/4f6/b484f6d1223fa5bd02988223c2db2454.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/bc5/bf1/bc5bf1b67a765b396d0006031b68ac8e.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/f8f/82f/f8f82fb604a42670735cbc798679c03a.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/572/82c/57282cd634227b3ce3a9ab11ffec3e3b.jpg"></figure>

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The Olympic champion worked with the group gymnasts.

Alina Kabaeva took part in preparing the Academy’s gymnasts for the upcoming competitions

Due to the emerging cases of mailings sent on behalf of the Alina Kabaeva Charitable Foundation representatives, we’d like to state that the foundation does not send letters and does not practice any fundraising.&nbsp;These letters are sent by scammers and have nothing to do with the foundation, the Olympic champion, the Academy, or the International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics&nbsp;Association.&nbsp;Please exercise caution.

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Due to the emerging cases of mailings sent on behalf of the Alina Kabaeva Charitable Foundation representatives, we’d like to state that the foundation does not send letters and does not practice any fundraising.

Important information!

August marked the season's main event — the World Championships. Our athletes proved that after a five-year suspension, they are ready to compete again at the highest level:<ul><li>Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg became the only gymnast at the World Championships to qualify for all four event finals! She won three individual medals—bronze with ball, clubs, and ribbon;</li><li>Russian gymnasts became World Champions in the team all-around.</li></ul>But August wasn't just about World Championships.<ul><li>Alexandra Borisova from Moscow took fifth place in the all-around final at the&nbsp; Russian Peoples’ Spartakiad in Yekaterinburg;</li><li>Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva delivered a speech at the Russian Peoples’ Spartakiad and met with fans;</li><li>Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz won the all-around competition at the 13th Summer Student Spartakiad Final in Penza;</li><li>The Academy has begun recruiting preschoolers for free early development groups;</li><li>Preparations for the 2026 Alina Festival have begun in Novogorsk.</li></ul><div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:9787,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Results of the month: August 2026&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;ecd/165&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ecd165d973ad231ed8a3e5.mp4&quot;}}"></div>

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August marked the season's main event — the World Championships. Our athletes proved that after a five-year suspension, they are ready to compete again at the highest level.

Results of the month: August 2026

Gymnasts, coach Elizaveta Zorkina, and choreographer Elena Egorova attended the Shostakovich Time concert program at the Sirius Concert Center.&nbsp;The audience was treated to a concert by the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. The program included Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony.

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The event took place at the Sirius Concert Center.

The gymnasts and coaches of the Academy attended the Shostakovich Time concert program

Martial Arts Academy hosts Knowledge Day.Young guests and their parents were treated to an entertainment program with actors, face painting and a beauty bar, dance flash mobs and master classes.

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MA Academy

Young guests were treated to an entertainment program with actors, face painting and a beauty bar, dance flash mobs and master classes.

Martial Arts Academy hosts Knowledge Day

<blockquote>"Dear friends!&nbsp;&nbsp;Congratulations on this wonderful holiday—Knowledge Day!&nbsp;&nbsp;For children, September 1st marks the beginning of a new era, one that will bring amazing discoveries. May every day of the school year inspire them to pursue new knowledge and provide them with many vivid impressions.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's crucial that the younger generation be surrounded by adults who support them, help them believe in themselves, and teach them not to be afraid of challenges. This is how strength of character and determination are gradually developed, qualities that are important in both academics and sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;I wish all children an exciting school year, parents the joy of their children's successes, and teachers and coaches inspiration and new achievements!&nbsp;&nbsp;May this school year be filled with victories both big and small.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Happy September 1st!"</blockquote>

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Alina Kabaeva

Olympic champion and president of the Sky Grace International Association Alina Kabaeva congratulated children, parents, teachers, and coaches on September 1.

Congratulations from Olympic champion and president of the Sky Grace International Association Alina Kabaeva on Knowledge Day

On Sunday, August 30th, at 11:30 AM Moscow time (GMT+3), the Rossiya 1 channel will broadcast the 2022 Alina Children's Rhythmic Gymnastics Festival.&nbsp;<div data-component="video" data-props="{&quot;materialId&quot;:9723,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Alina Festival&quot;,&quot;externalCdnLink&quot;:null,&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;subDir&quot;:&quot;2ce/7ae&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;2ce7ae8a44a427a6e03905.mp4&quot;}}"></div>The program will feature performances by young gymnasts, sports stars, and famous artists.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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The Alina Festival

The broadcast will take place on Sunday, August 30, at 11:30 AM Moscow time (GMT+3).


The Rossiya 1 TV channel will broadcast the 2022 Alina festival

The choreographer and director of the “Alina” festival, Irina Zenovka, spoke about the specifics of the production:<blockquote>"It was very interesting. There was a very creative atmosphere, simply extraordinary. We put together a team — a Dream Team. I’m so happy to be working with everyone and I’m getting a lot of pleasure."</blockquote>Irina Borisovna shared her impressions of the three eventful days of rehearsals:<blockquote>"It should be a super show. We'll be demonstrating the art of rhythmic gymnastics. There's a huge amount of work ahead. We've just had a test run, so to speak. We've tried different props, unusual for gymnasts, and with apparatuses used in rhythmic gymnastics. Combining all of this, synthesizing, combining — I'm simply overwhelmed by the emotions. And right now, we've just finished rehearsal, I'm still trying to get my bearings. But there's still so much work to be done."</blockquote>

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The choreographer and director of the Alina festival, Irina Zenovka, shared her impressions of the three intense days of rehearsals.