"I worry about you so much, truly, but I know that everything will come together for you"
09 August
Following the control training session at the Zhemchuzhina Center of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva shared words of encouragement with Arina Kovshova from Novosibirsk region, Mariia Borisova and the group exercise gymnasts of the Russian national group team from St. Petersburg, and also presented them an icon before their departure for the World Championships.
Find out more about the history of this icon in our video!
Masha is a European championship medalist. She is a member of the Russian national team's main roster, lives and trains at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. The gymnast's coach is Irina Gusarova, and the choreographer is Ekaterina Belova.
Arina is a Russian champion and a medalist of the World Cup stage in Milan, lives and trains at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. The gymnast's coaches are Elizaveta Chernova and Olga Minigalina, and the choreographer is Ekaterina Belova.
The group exercise gymnasts from St. Petersburg are Russian Championships silver medalists; they are members of the Russian national team's main roster. The team's coach is Elena Petunina, and the stage director is Elena Afanasyeva.
Recommends
Following the control training session at the Zhemchuzhina Center of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva wished the gymnasts, coaches, and choreographers good luck ahead of the World Championships and reminded them how crucial it is to be a united team.
09 August
Together with Olga Minigalina, a member of the All-Russian Board of Judges, the gymnast from Mexico refined her clubs routine. The specialist pointed out an important nuance and advised what needed to be changed in performance.
08 August
Together with coach and judge Laura Acosta from Mexico, the Russian national team's group exercise gymnasts from St. Petersburg worked on the accents in their five-ball routine.
08 August
Academy coaches and judges Ekaterina Lots and Olga Minigalina reviewed Masha's ball routine in detail. Watch our video to see the details in artistry and execution the experts helped to refine!
07 August
Every unnecessary movement wastes time and disrupts the rhythm of the routine. Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed the Russian national group team from St. Petersburg how to transition immediately into an exchange right after catching the ball. A few repetitions — and the combination becomes noticeably cleaner.
07 August
During a control training session at the Zhemchuzhina Central Gymnastics Center, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and Russia’s Honored Coach Natalia Lashchinskaya advised Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg on how to more accurately time her ribbon routine to the music.
06 August
The athletes talked about familiar elements they saw on stage, which ballet legends they know, and whether they could imagine themselves performing a part in a ballet.
06 August
Anna Yeletskaya with her daughter Yesenia, Natalia Gurkovich with her daughter Anastasia Sirotyuk, and Evgenia Kravtsova with her daughter Veronika spoke about preparing for the auditions, training with our coaches, and their desire to join the Academy.
06 August
Diana Kotlovskaya from St. Petersburg acts as our correspondent. The gymnast will take you on a tour through the halls of the Minsk Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace and show you everything that usually stays off-camera.
06 August
Together with Academy coach Olesya Kovaleva, gymnast Jojo Tawinun from Thailand is working on her expressiveness: adding fluidity, accents, and freedom of movement.
06 August
Following the control run-throughs, Academy judges Olga Minigalina, Ekaterina Lots, Olga Frolova, and Zlata Tulubaeva evaluated the gymnasts' performances. The specialists explained why it is important to project energy to the spectators and judges, how the presentation affects the overall impression, and what technical nuances require attention to avoid losing points. Honored Coaches of Russia Veronika Shatkova and Inna Bystrova also took part in the training session.
06 August
During the training session, Honored Coach of Russia and national team choreographer Veronika Shatkova helps the gymnasts work on their lines, shoulder and arm positioning, expressive gaze, and smile — the details that make a performance truly alive and artistic.
06 August
Under the guidance of their coaches, the gymnasts worked with clubs and ribbons.
06 August
During the control training session, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva noted the progress made by the Russian national group exercise team from St. Petersburg in their ball routine and shared warm memories of her choreography classes with Honored Coach of Russia Veronika Shatkova.
06 August
During the control training, Ekaterina Lots, Olga Frolova, Olga Minigalina, and the coaches analyzed the Russian national team's run-through in detail. The judging panel highlighted one of the most important elements of the composition — the accents, which must be clearly visible during the performance.
06 August