Rhythmic Gymnastics Veterans. Antonina Alferova, founder of the Chelyabinsk school

Founder of rhythmic gymnastics in the Chelyabinsk region. Teacher, coach.  USSR’s Excellent Education Worker.

Antonina Alferova (Nezhivykh) was born on August 22, 1933 in Slavgorod in the Altai Region.

Her mother passed away when she was seven, and a year later, the Great Patriotic War began. Her father went to the front lines, and little Tonya was left an orphan. She ended up in an orphanage. 

From a young age, Antonina dreamed of dancing and ballet. And even when when she was 12, the doctors suspected she had a heart defect and wouldn't allow her physical education and other active pursuits, Antonina secretly continued dancing.

She was a favorite at the orphanage, participating in social and athletic activities and helping the teachers with the younger children.

After graduating, Antonina enrolled in the Alma-Ata College of Physical Education. Graduating with honors, she went on to study at the A. Herzen Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute named at the Physical Education Department. She chose to specialize in rhythmic gymnastics, as she had dreamed of dancing since she was a child and called the great ballerina Galina Ulanova her idol.

In 1956,  after graduation, Antonina was assigned to Vladivostok. A year later, her classmate, Vladimir Alferov, also moved there. A relationship blossomed between the young people, and in 1960, their first son, Sergei, was born, followed five years later by a second son, Alexander. He looks back:

"I remember my mother for her warmth, hospitality, her willingness to always help, and her appreciation of friendship. She always took a responsible approach to her favorite work and devoted herself to it wholeheartedly. And my mother was also a great dancer!"

In 1961, the Alferov family moved to Chelyabinsk, Vladimir’s birthplace.

In 1963, Antonina organized a rhythmic gymnastics club at the N. Krupskaya Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren and worked there for a long time on a voluntary basis. Alferova also taught at the Chelyabinsk State Education Institute in the Physical Education Department and served as an All-Union judge.

Antonina trained an entire division of rhythmic gymnastics coaches and teachers, including Tatyana Bessarabova (Dubynina), Elena Bogatova (Kanel), Tatyana Skoblikova (Volkova), and Lyubov Nikolaeva (Shumkova).

Elena Bogatova, Head coach of the Chelyabinsk Region national team, remembers her mentor:

"Antonina was a person with the right moral values. She loved life and people. She understood children well and could easily explain how to distinguish good from bad. We looked to her as a role model for how to act in various situations. Antonina always remained calm, composed, and dignified, while also having a radiant smile and a wonderful sense of humor."

In 1981, Alferova was awarded the "USSR Excellent Worker of Education" merit badge.

Antonina Alferova passed away on July 16, 1987. 

The Open Regional Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament took place in Chelyabinsk for the 38th time in 2025, and was held in her honor. The tournament's inspiration and organizer was Elena Bogatova.

We would like to thank Elena Bogatova and Antonina Alferova’s family for their assistance in creating this material.