Father of the young judoka Dmitry Dubrovsky talks about the Christmas training camp in Valdai

After completing their performance tests, we also spoke with the preschoolers, born in 2020, from the free early development groups at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. Hear about their training, favorite exercises, and big dreams — all in our video.

An Olympic champion offered Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina some pointers on how to adjust the dynamics and hoop work in her new routine.

During a training session at the Academy, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva advised Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina on how to generate the necessary amplitude for the Raffaelli pivot. She also reminded her why it is important to execute a risk with a hoop with greater boldness and sharpness.

The Olympic champion, together with coach Evgeniya Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina, the Sirius Federal Territory team Head coach, worked with Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina on executing a high-risk move with the clubs.

Souvenir plates were presented to Alina Kabaeva from the Oksana Chusovitina School in Tashkent and the Karting Sports School in Kursk.

Natalia Belugina discussed the new routines created for the youngest athletes at Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, as well as for older gymnast Daria Igolkina. The choreographer also explained why artistry, acrobatics, and unconventional transitions are now being incorporated into routines from such an early age.

Gymnasts Nadezhda Peshkova, Olga Filimonova, Veronika Petunina, and Melike Gyurbyuz, the participants in the training camp from Bryansk, spoke about their training sessions, meetings with Alina Kabaeva, and the Academy gymnasts whose work inspires them. They also shared their impressions of the facilities and training opportunities available to them.

During a training session at the Academy, Alina Kabaeva analyzed a risk with a catch with Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina and identified a way to increase the element's difficulty.

And here is some more work on the fouetté. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, coach Evgeniya Eliseeva, and Olga Minigalina, the Head coach of the Sirius Federal Territory team, suggested the gymnast try out different hoop techniques to find one that doesn't hinder the rotation but, on the contrary, helps maintain speed and control for longer.

The Olympic champion focused on leg and arm movements, body positioning, and, most importantly, how to maintain rotational speed.

During a rehearsal of Tyumen Region’s Evelina Tandalova’s clubs routine, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva suggested trying different music and encouraged the gymnast not to hold back, but to feel the rhythm and dance.

The gymnast’s coaches are Evgeniya Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina; the choreographer is Elena Egorova.

During a training session at the Academy, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, coach Evgeniya Eliseeva, and Olga Minigalina, the Head coach of the Sirius Federal Territory team, offered Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina advice on movement expressiveness and tips for refining her technical skills in her hoop routine.

The routine was produced by Irina Zenovka.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva worked with Yana Zaikina from Volgograd on a section of a dance track and reviewed how a gymnast's training should be structured today.