Parents of gymnasts talk about the Sky Grace Tournament in St. Petersburg

Yana Zaikina from Volgograd and Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina conducted a ribbon training session for our guests from Kazan. But this session turned into a true celebration of friendship, hugs, and mutual support.

In a class with Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coaches Evgeniya Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd practiced her ribbon skills.

Upon arrival at the Academy, a touching surprise awaited Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, Alexandra Borisova from Moscow, Veronika Malinina from St. Petersburg, and Anna Vakulenko from Volgograd. The children from Kazan waited until the girls arrived to give them amulets.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva focused on the dynamics of the throw during the flip and cartwheel and asked Veronika Malinina from St. Petersburg to demonstrate the necessary speed and technique. See how a detailed analysis helps make the risk execution more precise, confident, and dynamic.

Figure skaters Victoria Dvinina, Taisiya Shcherbinina, Zlata Kamalova and Daria Andreeva followed the Academy gymnasts' training session with interest.

The girls went for a run outside, warmed up, and worked with ribbons in the hall.

In one part of her hoop routine, Eva Kononova from the Tyumen Region ran out of time to complete the transition. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva quickly identified the cause, it was a delay in the previous element that prevented her from maintaining the desired tempo. Together with fellow gymnast and coach Evgeniya Eliseeva, she analyzed the issue and helped her perform part of the routine more dynamically.

Alina Kabaeva performed a throw in her hoop and clubs routine with the gymnasts to better understand the reason for the mistake.

Group leader Lira Tazetdinova thanked the Academy team and shared how eager the girls were to get to training early in the morning.

We're sharing excerpts from her routine.

In the all-around, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, and Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz achieved the Top-3 results.

During a control training session before the European Championship, Academy judge Zlata Tulubaeva noticed Mariia Borisova's abrupt landing after her vault in the clubs routine.

Gymnasts from Armenia, Belarus, Canada, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Russia took part in a performance to Maurice Ravel's music "Bolero."

Yana Zaikina from Volgograd took first place, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina took second, and Vera Konopatskaya from Belarus took third.

The Academy hosted a master class with Nisa Chusovitina, choreographer and teacher at Alla Dukhova's TODES dance studio. Together, the gymnasts worked on their movement and learned a dance routine.