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Alina Kabaeva

19.09.2026. The Olympic champion helped Alexandra Borisova from Moscow overcome her nerves before stepping onto the carpet for the first time at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest.

"Where do you want to be? On the podium? Come on, go ahead!”

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19.09.2026. Before the start of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, the Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva met the head coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics group team, Emanuela Maccarani.

The meeting between Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and the head coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics group team, Emanuela Maccarani

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19.09.2026. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva helped Yana Zaikina from Volgograd to set up for her ball routine at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest. On the first day of the tournament, the gymnast delivered the top score across the two apparatuses.

"Every single time has to be better and better. Don't stop anywhere!"

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Competitions

Second place went to the Labor Reserves team from Moscow, while gymnasts from Belarus took third place.

The Academy group team gymnasts have won the all-around title in the junior category at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz, another gymnast from the Academy, delivered the third-best result; however, under the tournament rules, no more than two athletes from the same country can stand on the podium, so the bronze medal was awarded to Anel Dinisheva from Kazakhstan. Alesya is coached by Alina and Irina Gusarova, with Ekaterina Belova as thr choreographer.

Yana Zaikina and Ksenia Savinova won gold and silver medals in the all‑around competition among junior athletes at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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In January 2026, Varya moved to the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy to begin a new chapter in her career. Due to injuries, she had to put her competitive appearances on hold indefinitely. Doctors, coaches, and the entire Academy team did everything possible to help Varya return to the competition floor.

Congratulations to Varvara Toporova from the Republic of Kalmykia on her return to competitions!

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The sports center is hosting the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest these days.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva signed a ball for the Yubileiny sports center

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Ulyana Yanus from the Omsk Region holds second place after the hoop and ball routines, while another Academy gymnast, Alexandra Borisova from Moscow, comes in third.

Academy gymnast Varvara Toporova finished the first day of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest in first place

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Yana Zaikina from Volgograd leads the standings, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina comes in second, and Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz earned the third-highest total score for two apparatuses.

After the first day of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, individual gymnasts from the Academy occupy the top three places

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Аssociation

Individual gymnasts Angelina Ipatova, Sofya Nikolskaya, Kira Arefyeva, Ksenia Kolyadina as well as group gymnasts from the Republic of Karelia, Tula Region, St. Petersburg, and Volgograd Region have been given the opportunity to showcase their skills at the tournament in St. Petersburg.

Gymnasts and group teams from different regions will compete under the Sky Grace International Association quota at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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Academy Life

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!

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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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19.09.2026. At the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva helped Ksyusha Savinova from Gatchina get into the zone before her ball routine and reminded her of the essentials: don't relax, hold the shape, and finish every single element.

Alina Kabaeva helps Ksyusha Savinova from Gatchina get into the zone before her ball routine

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19.09.2026. Following the first day of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz took third place. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva psyched the gymnast up before her ball routine and helped analyze and correct her mistakes after the performance.

"Don't give up, understand? Keep getting cleaner and cleaner"

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19.09.2026. The Olympic champion drew their attention to the details: it is important to watch the apparatus until the very end and precisely calculate every throw.

Alina Kabaeva reviewed a ball exchange with the junior group exercise gymnasts

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19.09.2026. After the performance, the Olympic champion praised the gymnasts for a beautifully executed routine, their fouettés, and balances, and also motivated them for the remaining days of competition.

Alina Kabaeva reminded the junior group exercise gymnasts of the need to stay calm and focused until the very end of their routine

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19.09.2026. And the Olympic champion returned the sentiment. 

Fans at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest gave Alina Kabaeva a warm welcome

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19.09.2026. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva said goodbye to Yana Zaikina from Volgograd and Ksyusha Savinova from Gatchina, wishing the girls composure and confidence. She then checked on Veronika Malinina’s progress and encouraged her fighting spirit.

"Everyone is waiting for her to step onto the world stage!"

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19.09.2026. Before the start of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, the Olympic champion offered words of encouragement to Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, noting that everyone makes mistakes, the key is not to get discouraged and to keep working.

"So what if you dropped it? That’s sport!"

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19.09.2026. The sports center is hosting the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest these days. The ball was presented to the general director of the sports palace, Natalia Nazarova.

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19.09.2026. Featuring how the meeting went and the amazing emotions it brought to the participants.

The Olympic champion met with fans at the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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19.09.2026. They also discussed the upcoming Alina festival, which will be held in India for the first time this year.

Alina Kabaeva met with group gymnasts from the Omsk region, Moscow, and the joint team representing Russia's constituent entities ahead of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest

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18.09.2026. Olympic champion drew the attention of coach Alina Gusarova and choreographer Ekaterina Belova to specific aspects of the hoop routine that needed further refinement.

Before the start of the third stage of the Cup of the Strongest, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva watched a training session by Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz

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18.09.2026. 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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16.09.2026. 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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16.09.2026. 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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16.09.2026. 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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13.09.2026. 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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13.09.2026. The Olympic champion focused on leg stability, body alignment, and shoulder positioning. 

The gymnast's coach is Lyubov Usmanova.

While working with Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region, Alina Kabaeva analyzed the planche turn

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13.09.2026. The Olympic champion assessed the athlete's physical attributes, asked her to demonstrate elements and risks, and gave some technique advice.

In Novogorsk, Alina Kabaeva watched gymnast Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region

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13.09.2026. 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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13.09.2026. While rehearsing a new ribbon routine, the Olympic champion asked the gymnasts to identify the flaw that had caught her eye by watching a replay on the screen. 

How does Alina Kabaeva help junior group gymnasts work on their mistakes?

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13.09.2026. 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 Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy like?

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13.09.2026. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Evgeniya Eliseeva suggested that Yana Zaikina from Volgograd perform a backward pirouette through the hoop instead of a spin.

"It's out of this world. She can do it!"

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13.09.2026. 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.

Alina Kabaeva suggested that Yana Zaikina from Volgograd and her coach, Evgeniya Eliseeva, add an acrobatic element to their routine

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13.09.2026. There was a time when Alina Kabaeva would actually approach Vera 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! 

A heartwarming moment after a training session in Novogorsk featuring Olympic champion and Russia’s Honored Coach Vera Shtelbaums

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13.09.2026. 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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12.09.2026. 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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12.09.2026. The gymnasts from Kyrgyzstan arrived in Novogorsk for training camp.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva greeted the gymnasts and coaches of the Russian national team

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12.09.2026. 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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11.09.2026. 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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11.09.2026. 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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11.09.2026. 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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11.09.2026. 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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11.09.2026. The Olympic champion suggested an option to keep her movements from becoming static.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed Yana Zaikina from Volgograd how to wrap the ball around her routine

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10.09.2026. After Mariia Borisova's successful performance at the World Championships in Germany, Alina Kabaeva met with the gymnast and her coach, Irina Gusarova. 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.

"I believed in you, Masha, I believed in you. And I'm so glad everything worked out for us"

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10.09.2026. 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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10.09.2026. 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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10.09.2026. First minutes at the training base.

Video Archive

"Where do you want to be? On the podium? Come on, go ahead!”

The meeting between Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and the head coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics group team, Emanuela Maccarani

"Every single time has to be better and better. Don't stop anywhere!"