After the first day of the Young Gymnasts all-Russian competition, Veronika Malinina from St. Petersburg is in first place.Diana Kotlovskaya, also from St. Petersburg, holds second place. Another of our gymnasts, Liya Rodionova from St. Petersburg, is currently in ninth place.The athletes will continue competing in the all-around event on September 28.

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Competitions

Diana Kotlovskaya, also from St. Petersburg, holds second place. Another of our gymnasts, Liya Rodionova from St. Petersburg, is currently in ninth place.

Veronika Malinina is in the lead after the first day of the Young Gymnasts all-Russian competition

September 27 marks Preschool Worker's Day in Russia!We congratulate all preschool teachers and all the early childhood education workers on their professional holiday!Childhood is a time for first discoveries and passions. Thanks to you, children are eager to learn new things and discover how to be friends.Thank you for your patience, attention, and warmth, and for the atmosphere where every child can feel safe and confident.Wishing you good health, inner warmth, and joy in every single day spent with the children. Happy holiday!

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Academy Life

We congratulate all preschool teachers and all the early childhood education workers on their professional holiday!

September 27 marks Preschool Worker's Day in Russia

<blockquote>"Dear friends!&nbsp;I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on the Mid-Autumn Festival—one of China’s most cherished and heartwarming holidays!&nbsp;China holds a special place in the history of Sky Grace, having hosted our tournaments in 2023 and 2025. We look back with gratitude on the hospitality and care you extended to our athletes and guests. Thanks to this, we were able not only to hold competitions of the highest caliber but also to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s culture and traditions.&nbsp;I wish you a day spent with loved ones, filled with joy and high spirits. May the future bring many exciting projects, delightful events, and opportunities for us to meet again.&nbsp;Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"</blockquote>

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Alina Kabaeva

Olympic champion and Sky Grace International Association President, Alina Kabaeva, has extended her Mid-Autumn Festival greetings to her Chinese friends and partners.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, has extended her Mid-Autumn Festival greetings to her Chinese friends and partners

Gymnasts from Belgorod have started training in Sirius. The athletes are currently preparing for their upcoming competitions at the Martial Arts Academy.The gymnasts arrived in Sirius at the <a href="https://skygrace.ru/en/news/trenirovki/olimpiyskaya-chempionka-alina-kabaeva-priglasila-gimnastok-iz-belgoroda-trenirovatsya-v-sirius" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invitation</a> of Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva.The training sessions are organized by the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, the Martial Arts Academy, and the Administration of the Sirius Federal Territory. All travel expenses were fully covered by the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.<figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/e5c/ff7/e5cff7b5f99dc9aa72c3d5a212328d1a.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b14/d9d/b14d9d328ba1d2b6f701456c5cb070fd.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/cf1/312/cf131254baef931c36a3067afd8e3b80.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/b47/f82/b47f8269a5b3dc7eb03315a122f347cb.jpg"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://skygrace.ru/static/files/images/editor/3d1/eda/3d1edab960d5ac5fbadb8cfa235aa5fe.jpg"></figure>

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Training

The athletes are currently preparing for their upcoming competitions at the Martial Arts Academy.

Gymnasts from Belgorod have started training in Sirius

Bronze medalist of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Anna Kamenshchikova, spoke about four clean programs at the start and her return after a short break:<blockquote>"I felt happy because I finally managed to skate four clean programs at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest. I wouldn't say I'm in peak form right now, I’d just returned from a break and even managed to get sick in the meantime. So, I arrived in less-than-ideal physical shape, but I pulled myself together and showed what I’m capable of."</blockquote>The athlete shared details about her work with the new head coach of the Belarusian national team, Lyubov Cherkashina:<blockquote>"I’ve worked with her; she is my personal coach. She’s become more confident, I suppose. I’m really happy for her — that things worked out so well and her coaching career has reached the highest level. It’s really cool. I’m so happy for her. Her character, her hard work, her happiness in life. The way she views life. And, I guess, her positivity and her determination. She manages to do it all. I don’t know, she inspires me. I always try to be like her, though, of course, I don’t quite manage it. But I really do want to be like her."</blockquote>The third stage of the Cup of the Strongest took place in St. Petersburg from September 18 to 20.

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Opinion

The athlete won a bronze medal in the all‑around competition at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest.

Anna Kamenshchikova from Belarus speaks about her return after a short break and about working with the new head coach of the Belarusian national team, Lyubov Cherkashina

Ulyana Janus, the silver medalist in the all‑around competition at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, summed up the tournament results and shared her emotions about her first podium finish at the stage:<blockquote>"When I came here, of course, I didn’t set a specific placement as a goal. I simply came with routines I had already perfected and wanted to perform well, since we had prepared very diligently for the competition. I’m happy with how things turned out and that I made it onto the podium. I am incredibly grateful to my coaches for working with me and helping me achieve this result. Of course, there were some shortcomings, but there’s always room for improvement, and I’ll work on fixing them."</blockquote>The gymnast also said that she supported Russian athletes at the World Championships held in August:<blockquote>"I was rooting for our girls. I’m so happy things worked out for them and that they managed to win a medal — actually, more than one."</blockquote>

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The gymnast came in second in the all‑around competition.

Ulyana Janus summarizes the results of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest and shares her emotions from reaching the first podium position at the stage

Anel Dinisheva from Kazakhstan won bronze in the all-around and the ball final at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest. The gymnast shared her impressions of the competition:<blockquote>"I enjoyed everything. It’s very beautiful. I really liked the organization; the people were pleasant and everyone was friendly. The competition is tough. But first I have to compete against myself and showcase all the work I’ve put in; the rest doesn't matter."</blockquote>Anel spoke about her routines and her preparation for the event:<blockquote>"For the ball routine, I’m Alice in Wonderland, and for the clubs, I have a very vibrant program. The hoop routine is very artistic, and the ribbon one is too. My last competition was the Astana City Championship, held here in Kazakhstan. The preparation wasn't easy. We put in a lot of work, making adjustments here and there, tweaking things that hadn't counted previously. My coach, Meruert Balginbaeva, helped me prepare. I want to express my immense gratitude for her patience, her contribution, and her belief in me."</blockquote>The athlete admitted that she had already had the chance to meet the other winners of the competition:<blockquote>"I didn't know anyone before. Now I’ve gotten to know a few people. Everyone is friendly."</blockquote>The competitions were held in St. Petersburg from September 18 to 20.

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Anel Dinisheva from Kazakhstan won bronze in the all-around and the ball final at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest.

"First, I have to fight against myself!" Anel Dinisheva from Kazakhstan talks about her performance at the third stage of the Cup the Strongest

Liubov Alexandrova, an international-level judge from Hungary, shared her impressions of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest:<blockquote>"It’s been a very packed, very interesting and, let’s say, long first day. Of course, all the gymnasts gave it their best, though things didn't always go quite as planned. There are so many talented, truly memorable gymnasts, so many of them. Both juniors and seniors. Russia and Belarus are here, representing very strong schools of rhythmic gymnastics."</blockquote>She noted the increased artistry, dynamism, and dance elements in modern routines, specifically highlighting the performances of Yana Zaikina, Alexandra Borisova, and other gymnasts:<blockquote>"Artistry has really improved these days; the girls move with great technical precision. There is dynamic variety, shifts in tempo, intricate dance sequences, and seamless transitions. So many of them really use their arms expressively. The juniors... Yana Zaikina. Her ball routine was absolutely magnificent, the style, the artistry. Everything flowed seamlessly from one movement to the next. She kept her arms moving constantly, even during transitions and footwork sequences. The range of motion was outstanding. That ball routine was a masterpiece; it truly was a masterpiece. Ksyusha had a slight mishap with the hoop, but her ball routine was top-notch as well. The group team, too — they slightly didn't work well together, but I think they’ll do as they gain experience. I believe this is their first time competing as a team, after all. Varvara Toporova — I really liked the hoop routine today. Sasha Borisova was absolutely magnificent, no losses. She did a great job; she’s a real fighter. The hoop routine was very, very beautiful and stylish, too. Everything flowed seamlessly from one movement to the next, just as only she can do. She performed and showcased truly beautiful rhythmic gymnastics."</blockquote>

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She noted the increased artistry, dynamism, and dance elements in modern routines, specifically highlighting the performances of Yana Zaikina, Alexandra Borisova, and other gymnasts.

Liubov Alexandrova, an international-level judge from Hungary, shares her impressions of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

The group gymnasts from the Academy and the Russian National team became champions of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest among juniors. The team includes Alina Chistyakova, Vladislava Gaivoronskaya, Alisa Kirpicheva, Alexandra Ponomareva, Elvira Belyaeva, and Darya Khoroshilova.The gymnast from the team, Alexandra Ponomareva, shared how they prepared for the competition:<blockquote>"Three new girls joined us: Alina Chistyakova, Daria Khoroshilova, and Elvira Belyaeva. All of them were born in 2012. We gave them a very warm welcome. We are so happy that they are part of our lineup now. Veronika Borisovna is very demanding when it comes to our clean execution, beautiful lines, gorgeous leg and arm extensions, and above all — artistry, because under the new rules, this is incredibly important. Artistry, facial expression, she pushes us a lot on this, and we do our best to follow all her instructions. We have definitely grown; Veronika Borisovna has actually done an immense amount of work.&nbsp;We’ve become much more confident in executing our elements because we practice them with her over and over again."</blockquote>The athlete shared important advice from Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and thanked everyone who helped and supported them:<blockquote>"Alina Maratovna told us that everyone must play her own part. You look at your partner, and she becomes your reference point. She supported us so much and helped us out. She was always by our side, and that was a huge help for us. Her energy and her presence mean the world to us. We want to say a huge thank you to Alina Maratovna for believing in us and supporting us. We value her so much and love her. We also want to express our deepest gratitude to our coaches and choreographers: Daria Olegovna, Veronika Borisovna, and Anna Pavlovna for contributing to us. We want to say a massive thank you to our fans for supporting and loving us. You help us so much; your energy is priceless. Thank you."</blockquote>The team took top honors in the all-around competition, as well as in the five-ball and five-ribbon events. These Academy group gymnasts are the active Russian junior champions. They live and train at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. Their coach is Daria Pirogova, and their choreographer is Veronika Shatkova.

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The team became the best in the all‑around competition and in exercises with five balls and five ribbons.

The group gymnasts from the Academy and the Russian National team speak about their preparations for the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

At the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Lyubov Cherkashina, Head coach of the Belarusian National team, spoke about her first steps in the new role:<blockquote>"I stepped into this role after the 30-year tenure of Irina Yuryevna Leparskaya, who built the system, the foundation, and the team. I am, in a sense, a product of her mentorship, someone to whom the right was deservingly passed on, and I will not let the country down. Therefore, my initial steps are undoubtedly a continuation of the path laid by Irina Yuryevna Leparskaya."</blockquote>She shared her impressions of the performance by the Belarusian gymnast Anna Kamenshchikova:<blockquote>"This is truly well-deserved, specifically for Anya Kamenshchikova, because it has been a long time since I’ve seen an athlete so ready to dedicate themselves to their chosen sport, so ready to be a professional."</blockquote>The specialist emphasized the importance of international cooperation in rhythmic gymnastics:<blockquote>"I think collaboration is crucial in sports overall, because on your own, you wouldn't know where to grow. You only become the best through competition. It is truly fantastic when, alongside the competitive aspect, there is a spirit of friendship that fosters the development not just of one specific national team or another, but of the sport of rhythmic gymnastics as a whole. I believe this is something the entire world should strive for. I will never tire of talking about the scale of rhythmic gymnastics in Russia. It is wonderful to see such extensive activity across group events and junior competitions, as well as opportunities for all the different regions to get involved. Everyone is putting in the effort. I imagine visiting gymnasts also find it exciting to experience this atmosphere and showcase their skills. Among the seniors, I was impressed by Elissar Hanounik, seeing her progress and the consistency she displayed throughout the all-around competition."</blockquote>Lyubov Viktorovna also spoke about Varya Toporova’s return to the competitive process from the Republic of Kalmykia:<blockquote>"Personally, I was delighted to see Varvara Toporova return to competitions, because the sport needs gymnasts who bring beauty to the performance. Of course, injuries are an inevitable part of sports. It takes patience, you have to wait. And I think Toporova’s return brought joy to so many spectators."</blockquote>

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At the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Lyubov Cherkashina, Head coach of the Belarusian National team, spoke about her first steps in the new role and the importance of international cooperation in rhythmic gymnastics.

"You become the strongest only through competition." Lyubov Cherkashina, Head coach of the Belarusian National team, talks about the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

For Varya Toporova, the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest marked her first competition following a long hiatus and recovery period. Meanwhile, for Sasha Borisova, the tournament brought her first gold medal at a Cup of the Strongest event.Coaches Irina and Alina Gusarova summed up the results of the competitions.Alina Ivanovna noted that both gymnasts had done a great deal of work:<blockquote>"This is Varya’s first competition after such a long time. She did a great job; she fought hard and really wanted this, so we all put in a lot of work, the doctors and the entire medical staff at the Academy. I’d also like to mention Sasha. She put in a tremendous amount of work, too. She gets nervous when competing, but here she overcame that and won the gold medal — her first one in this series of events. a truly large number of people were involved in Varya’s recovery. That includes the Martial Arts Academy, where she did physical therapy, and the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. A huge thank you to everyone for the work they’ve done. It is all thanks to the doctors, the coaches, and our entire vast team."</blockquote>Irina Nikolaevna also spoke about Varya’s recovery and Sasha’s progress:<blockquote>"Varya has done an amazing job. She managed to recover after the kind of injury she sustained. It took a truly heroic character for her to follow all the doctors' and medical staff's instructions, adhere to the coaches' requirements, and carry everything out. And now we see the results. I also want to say a huge thank you to the doctors who helped her. They handled everything, the proper treatment, the right monitoring, and, above all, the rehabilitation. A huge thank you to the Academy and our director for helping make all of this possible. And most importantly, a massive thank you to Alina Maratovna for believing, and continuing to believe, in Varya, and for helping her move forward. She helped her recover and heal. Naturally, the credit goes primarily to her. I also want to thank Alina Ivanovna, who helped train the girls. She put in so much effort. The girls listen to her, and it is wonderful to see them performing so brilliantly. And then there’s Sasha Borisova, so charismatic, vibrant, powerful, strong, and beautiful. She has become more confident and more determined. Of course, it’s clear that things didn’t go quite as planned, but she has a strong desire to move forward and showcase beautiful, dynamic rhythmic gymnastics. I am proud of her. She’s done a fantastic job."</blockquote>The athletes live and train at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. Sasha is a member of the Russian National team’s main roster.

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For Varya Toporova, the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest marked her first competition following a long hiatus and recovery period. Meanwhile, for Sasha Borisova, the tournament brought her first gold medal at a Cup of the Strongest event.