Way to success. Dmitry Lutovinov

Watch how the members of the Sky Grace International Association team from different countries, along with their coaches, prepared for their performances in the new video from the CIS Games.

Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, and Ulyana Yanus from Omsk are assisted by the Russian national team Head coach Tatyana Sergaeva, the Alina festival choreographer Irina Zenovka, as well as coaches Irina Gusarova, Marina Drozd, and Evgeniya Eliseeva.

During a control training session before the III CIS Games, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Ekaterina Lots helped Karolina Tarasova practice her planché turn and the risk that follows. The gymnast worked especially hard on these turns, and executed them cleanly at the tournament in Azerbaijan.

Russia (Academy gymnasts), Uzbekistan, Belarus, Cuba.

Watch the broadcast of the tournament throughout the day live on our website.

On the first day of the III CIS Games in Azerbaijan, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva was in touch with Academy athletes Karolina Tarasova and her group gymnasts to motivate them and remind them that the main thing is to focus and perform at their best.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition is being held there from October 6-8 as part of the CIS Games.

Russia (Academy gymnasts), Uzbekistan, Belarus, Cuba.

The competition in Sheki, Azerbaijan, is gaining momentum.

The gymnast is competing at the CIS Games as part of the Sky Grace International Association team.

The closing ceremony was attended by Ilya Novokreshchenov, Deputy Head of the Sirius Federal Territory Administration and Director of the Department of Scientific and Technological Development, Education, Culture, Youth Policy, and Sports; Kirill Denisov, Sports Director of the Russian Judo Federation; and 2012 Olympic Champion Mansur Isaev.

The support of the Olympic champion is very important for Academy gymnasts. It inspires them and helps to brace up before important competitions. This is how Alina Kabaeva set up Karolina Tarasova and group exercise gymnasts of the Academy before the departure to Azerbaijan to the CIS Games!

Valeria Berezovskaya, the Director of the Perspektiva Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, spoke about achievements of her students.

Which master classes and activities were the most memorable for the children? Sergey Vyatkin, Luka Gavrilov, Nikita Bykov, Vyacheslav Cherepanov, Artemy Aseev, and Ivan Ondrin share their thoughts.

During the control training session, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina had problems with catching the hoop and with the jumping technique. This was noted by Academy coaches Alina Gusarova, Olga Minigalina, Zlata Tulubaeva, and Laura Acosta from Mexico, and Alina Kabaeva suggested how to correct these shortcomings.