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Competitions

Alesya is a member of the Russian National team and lives and trains at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. Her coaches are Alina and Irina Gusarova, and her choreographer is Ekaterina Belova.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva watched a training session by Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz

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During the control training session for the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, the Olympic champion spoke with the gymnasts and coaches.

Meanwhile, members of the Russian National group team from St. Petersburg presented Alina Kabaeva with flowers and thanked her for her support and faith in them.

"Congratulations to you all, girls! You did a great job!"

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And just yesterday, we watched the practice sessions in anticipation.

The third stage of the Cup of the Strongest is picking up the pace!

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The tournament will take place in St. Petersburg from September 18 to 20.

Athletes from the Academy will take part in the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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Opinion

Anna Tikhomirova, the First Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, shared her impressions of the training session with the Academy gymnasts and noted their high level of training

"They all have legs like ballerinas." Bolshoi Theatre soloist Anna Tikhomirova shared her impressions of the training session with the Academy gymnasts

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Training

Natalia was accompanied to the Academy by her student Asel Arapova from Kyrgyzstan.

Choreographer Natalia Belugina is working on a new routine for Daria Igolkina, an Academy student

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Rhythmic Gymnastics Veterans

In this interview, Vera talks about the beginning of her journey, the state of rhythmic gymnastics in Omsk, issues with the rules, and the future of the sport.

Interview with Russia’s Honored Coach Vera Shtelbaums

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Alina Kabaeva

Olympic champion and Sky Grace International Association President, Alina Kabaeva, congratulated Emanuela Maccarani on her appointment as Head coach of the Russian National group rhythmic gymnastics team

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva congratulated Emanuela Maccarani on her appointment as Head coach of the Russian National group rhythmic gymnastics team

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The Alina Festival

On October 29th, a show based on Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird" will take place in Mumbai!

The Alina International Children's Charity Rhythmic Gymnastics Festival is heading to India

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They reviewed the new routines the gymnast will use next season when she begins competing at the Master of Sports level.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva worked with Yana Zaikina in Novogorsk

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Academy Life

Training continues in Novogorsk and Sirius.

The Academy gymnasts are actively preparing for their upcoming tournaments

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The training program is organized by the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, the Martial Arts Academy, and the Administration of the Sirius Federal Territory.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva invited gymnasts from Belgorod to train in Sirius

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

Mariia Borisova and coach Irina Gusarova have gone back to training

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Kazan — Moscow — St. Petersburg. Keep pushing forward, girls!

Ahead of the Cup of the Strongest, let’s look back at the previous stages!

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Every gymnast knows that special feeling from successfully executing a risk or element!

During a training session in Novogorsk, the Olympic champion told Yana Zaikina from Volgograd how she took a risk on a clubs cascade at the AEON Cup tournament and advised the athlete not to be afraid of difficult elements.

"Confidence comes through fear"

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During a training session in Novogorsk, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed Yana Zaikina from Volgograd the best way to transition into a turn.

Making the ball routine sequence smoother and more musical!

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During a training session in Novogorsk, the Olympic champion discussed the current rules of rhythmic gymnastics in detail with Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva and Zlata Tulubaeva, a member of the All-Russian Judges Panel.

"We need to tackle this gradually"

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The group team gymnasts from the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy regularly finetune their skills in choreography sessions with Veronika Shatkova.

What changes have the gymnasts noticed after training with this Russia’s  Honored Coach? Find out in our video!

"Each routine has become like a little performance for us"

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During a practice run by Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva helped adjust a sequence to eliminate the static pause before the pirouette en arrière. 

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva reminded Yana of the importance of enjoying training, setting goals in advance, and working towards them.

"Setting goals is important. Life without a goal isn't interesting"

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While working with Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region, Alina Kabaeva analyzed the planche turn. The Olympic champion focused on leg stability, body alignment, and shoulder positioning. 

"The most important thing right now is getting the form right"

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In Novogorsk, Alina Kabaeva watched gymnast Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region. The Olympic champion assessed the athlete's physical attributes, asked her to demonstrate elements and risks, and gave some technique advice. 

"Why are you feeling sorry for yourself? Where there's a four, there's a five!"

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At a training session with Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, the Olympic champion, along with Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva and All-Russian Panel of Judges member Zlata Tulubaeva, discussed the apparatus catch after a risk.

"Why is everyone spinning? Why aren't you turning?"

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While rehearsing a new ribbon routine, Alina Kabaeva asked the gymnasts to identify the flaw that had caught her eye by watching a replay on the screen. 

How does the Olympic champion help junior group gymnasts work on their mistakes?

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva recalled how Yana arrived from Volgograd to try out. 

What was Yana Zaikina’s try-out into the Academy like?

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And Yana managed to pull off a more challenging element!

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Evgeniya Eliseeva suggested that Yana Zaikina perform a backward pirouette through the hoop

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During a training session in Novogorsk, Alina Kabaeva suggested that Yana Zaikina from Volgograd and her coach, Evgeniya Eliseeva, add an acrobatic element to their routine. The Olympic champion had previously taken part in this move during the Tango performance at the 2010 Alina festival, which was choreographed by Alla Dukhova, the founder and artistic director of the TODES international dance company.  

"It’s so beautiful!"

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There was a time when Alina Kabaeva would actually approach Vera Shtelbaums to ask if she could finish up and leave practice. Who would have thought that, so many years later, they would meet again in the training hall! 

А heartwarming moment after a training session in Novogorsk

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In Novogorsk, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, coach Evgeniya Eliseeva, choreographer Ekaterina Belova, and Yana Zaikina from Volgograd discussed their recovery camp in Turkey and reminisced about the gymnast's victory at the European Championships.

"This is, of course, a team effort"

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Bolshoi Theatre Principal Dancer Anna Tikhomirova led a ballet master class for the Academy's gymnasts. They worked on plié, tendu, developpe, and attitude, positions, flexibility, backs, and every detail of the movement.

"Today we'll feel like ballerinas!"

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While working on the new hoop routine for Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Evgenia Eliseeva are paying special attention to the continuity and smoothness of movements.

"When you get up from the floor, your chest rises first, and then your head"

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva greeted the gymnasts and coaches of the Russian national team, as well as athletes from Kyrgyzstan, who arrived in Novogorsk for training camp.

Even more warm encounters!

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Meanwhile, coach Evgenia Eliseeva and All-Russian Board of Judges member Zlata Tulubaeva noted the nuances of the element's execution technique.

As the training session continued, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed Yana Zaikina from Volgograd an interesting variant of a pirouette to a back balance with a ball

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During training in Novogorsk, the Olympic champion noticed that Volgograd's Yana Zaikina's ball routine lacked a pirouette into a back balance after rising from the floor, even though the gymnast had all the makings of it.

"What a beautiful element you'll have, I can just see it!"

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The Olympic champion demonstrated an interesting catch. The video also features an example of an unusual boomerang!

Alina Kabaeva and coach Evgeniya Eliseeva took notice of Volgograd’s Yana Zaikina’s ribbon risk

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva suggested changing Yana Zaikina's catch on the risk with a ribbon from Volgograd to catch it in a Kudryavtseva element. She also demonstrated how to logically achieve the skill.

"Make it so that when you get up, you're already doing the skill"

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The Olympic champion focused on throwing technique and the speed of the element. She then showed the gymnast the best movement to catch the apparatus. 

Alina Kabaeva discussed ball risks with Yana Zaikina from Volgograd

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed Yana Zaikina from Volgograd how to wrap the ball around her routine to keep her movements from becoming static.

How to add variety to a dance routine?

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They discussed how Masha competed at the tournament and reached peak form, as well as what she needs to work on in her new routines. The gymnast also gave Alina Kabaeva a bracelet as a keepsake!

After Mariia Borisova's successful performance at the World Championships in Germany, Alina Kabaeva met with the gymnast and her coach, Irina Gusarova

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During Volgograd’s Yana Zaikina’s clubs rehearsal, Alina Kabaeva focused on her artistry. She asked the gymnast to use her facial expressions more, to feel the music, and to be more open to showing emotion.

The main focus of the Olympic champion's final training session was working on the character of her routines

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During a training session in Novogorsk, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Evgeniya Eliseeva advised Yana Zaikina from Volgograd on how to execute the fouetté turns in her clubs routine.

"Stay in the flow!"

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Take a look at her first minutes at the training base.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva's arrival in Novogorsk began with warm welcomes and greetings!

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Great news from Masha Borisova from St. Petersburg.

An announcement from the World Champion!

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Training continues for Masha Borisova from St. Petersburg, Varya Toporova from the Republic of Kalmykia, Sasha Borisova from Moscow, Ksyusha Savinova from Gatchina, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz, and our group exercise gymnasts.

Let's see how preparations for the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest are going for Academy gymnasts

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During a training session with Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz, the Olympic champion paid special attention to footwork.

“Look, your footwork is completely different now!”

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Alina Kabaeva took to the floor with the ribbon to show Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz the right way to execute a high-risk move without stopping. 


An Olympic champion shows how it’s done

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While practicing Alesya Naifonova's ribbon routine from Vladikavkaz, Alina Kabaeva noticed that one of the elements could be made much more dynamic.

New ideas from an Olympic champion!

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During one of her training sessions at the Academy, the Olympic champion discussed Vladikavkaz gymnast Alesya Naifonova's ribbon routine with coach, Alina Gusarova, and coach, Ekaterina Lots, a member of the All-Russian Board of Judges, and suggested creating a new one.

"Give her more time, it's okay. All children are different"

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For example, if you add an extra rotation to an exercise, the judges won't award any points. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva discussed this with her coach, Ekaterina Lots, a member of the All-Russian Board of Judges, while practicing her junior group gymnasts routine with balls.

The unfairness of modern rhythmic gymnastics rules: additional difficulty doesn't always earn points

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We're showing a glimpse of the creative process!

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and Russia’s Honored Coach Veronika Shatkova taught the junior group gymnasts how to properly perform the catch in the five-ball exercise

Video

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva watched a training session by Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz

"Congratulations to you all, girls! You did a great job!"

The third stage of the Cup of the Strongest is picking up the pace!