Tremendous experience and skill: Elena Karpushenko — head of the training camp at the Sky Grace Academy

Elena Karpushenko, Honored Coach of Russia, heads the Sky Grace Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics training camp, March 21-31, 2023.

Karpushenko was the personal mentor for the youngest absolute world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Yana Kudryavtseva. Also among her students are Tatyana Kurbakova, Angelina Yushkova, Alexandra Ermakova, Alina Ermolova.

In her work, Karpushenko pays special attention to relationships with everyone involved in the training process. She says that it is important to work on this not only in class, but also outside the training room.

“Face-to-face communication while training is important, first of all, with the children. But communication within the home team, with colleagues and friends from Russia and from all over the world is also important. This communication is very interesting - it takes place 24 hours a day and is not limited to the training sessions. Second, of course, is the creative component, when you’re able to create something that others like too. And also the children, who grow up right before your very eyes,” Karpshenko said back in 2020.

According to the coach, it was her own initiative that made her a part of the Academy training camp. “Honestly, I practically invited myself here. When I entered the hall, I liked everything from the start. Every last thing.

On the one hand, it’s fabulous here, on the other hand, it is simple, very spacious, and it's beautiful. We came in and I fell in love with this hall.

We asked Alina Kabaeva about her future plans and found out that there would be training camps. She said that if someone wanted to take part in them, they are welcome. And that’s when I shouted out “Me! I want to!” Karpushenko said.

She went on to say that the overall level of athlete preparation at the Sky Grace Academy training camp is quite high. “There are very good and strong gymnasts here. A whole group of athletes arrived from Krasnoyarsk. As I understand it, these are their best, most promising gymnasts. Very nice girls, young and capable. There is a group from Ulyanovsk. Among them there are those who have already shown some results. Almost all gymnasts are well trained, no one is weak. Of course, kids born in 2014 and 2015 can do little, but they are all very capable”, added Kaprushenko.

На сборах в Академии находятся гимнасты из Москвы, Санкт-Петербурга, Красноярска, Ульяновска и других городов России. Также среди гостей Академии кубинская команда и, в частности, лидер сборной Кубы Гретель Мендоса. Здесь же готовится к следующим турнирам и первая ракетка сборной России по спортивной гимнастике Милана Парфилова.