Sky Grace Cup 2024. Video greetings from Veronika Malinina

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

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.

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

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.

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.

We're showing a glimpse of the creative process!

Alina Kabaeva gave the junior group gymnasts tips on how to move without stopping. The gymnasts also received assistance from Russia’s Honored Coach Veronika Shatkova, coach and member of the All-Russian Board of Judges Ekaterina Lots, and Daria Pirogova.

During one of her training sessions with junior group gymnasts, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva praised the fouetté technique suggested by Russia’s Honored Coach Veronika Shatkova.

Training at Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy is a true team effort! The Olympic champion, along with Russia’s Honored Coach Veronika Shatkova, coach Daria Pirogova, and member of the All-Russian Board of Judges Ekaterina Lots, helped the Academy's junior group gymnasts refine their ribbon routine. Alina Kabaeva and Veronika Shatkova explained to Alina Chistyakova how to make her core and apparatus work more dynamic.

After participating in the opening of the Zenit-CSKA match, Mariia Borisova and the group gymnasts from St. Petersburg shared their impressions! Who are the world champions in the team all-around cheering for? What's it like to step into a football stadium and take part in the opening ceremony? And what do the athletes think football and rhythmic gymnastics have in common? Take a look at this video!

While working on the fouetté in Alesya Naifonova's ribbon routine from Vladikavkaz, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva suggested rearranging the skill to make it more comfortable for the gymnast. Academy coach Alina Gusarova and coach and member of the All-Russian Collegium of Judges Ekaterina Lots helped correct the flaws in her execution.

While practicing the ribbon routine, the Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva helped the junior group gymnasts increase their tempo after their jeté en tournant jumps by using rotation and suggested improving their throw technique.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva suggested adding a signature element of 2016 Olympic silver medalist Yana Kudryavtseva to the routine. Russia’s Honored coach Veronika Shatkova praised this idea, noting that the new element made the routine even more beautiful. Watch the routine development in our video!

Together with Alina Kabaeva and their coach, Ekaterina Lots, a member of the All-Russian Board of Judges, the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy students performed exercises to improve their ball feel.

The Olympic champion noted the difficulty of the elements but asked the gymnasts to bring more emotions and energy, in order to make the performance engaging for the audience.