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Competitions

The Cup of the Strongest final is more than just a battle for medals, it’s also a chance for young gymnasts to meet their idols. At Luzhniki, dozens of children were waiting for Alina Kabaeva, hoping to get an autograph and take a picture with her. 


Autographs and photos with the Olympic champion!

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Medical staff and coaches assisted her on the training mat, with Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva by her side the entire time.


Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz had to cut her performance short during the Cup of the Strongest final due to an injury

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva spoke with the junior group gymnasts from the Russian National team and the Academy, as well as their coach Daria Pirogova, choreographer Veronika Shatkova, and choreographer Victoria Borodina.



"I see you’re trying, but you need some right guidance"

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The competitions took place from November 6 to 8.

Channel One news segment about the Cup of the Strongest final

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The tournament was held in Moscow from November 6 to 8.

The Rossiya 1 TV channel news segment about the Cup of the Strongest final

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Opinion

At the tournament, Ksyusha won gold medals in all-around, exercises with clubs and ribbon, as well as bronze with hoop and silver with ball. Her coaches are Evgenia Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina, and her choreographer is Elena Egorova.

"It’s sad to say goodbye to junior programs." Ksenia Savinova talks about the results of the final of the Cup of the Strongest

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The competition was held from November 6 to 8.

The Cup of the Strongest final was held in Moscow. REN TV news reports

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At the competition, Yana won gold medals in the hoop and ball finals, and silver medals in the all-around, as well as in the clubs and ribbon finals. She also became the champion based on the results of all stages.


Yana Zaikina shares her emotions from competing in the Cup of the Strongest final

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The rankings were determined based on the results across all stages and the tournament final.


Yana Zaikina and the Russian junior national and the Academy team became champions of the Cup of the Strongest in 2026

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Yana Zaikina, Ksenia Savinova, and Alesya Naifonova won awards on the final day of the competition.

The Academy gymnasts won medals in individual events at the Cup of the Strongest final

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Earlier in the event, the gymnast won bronze in the all-around and with the ball, as well as silver with the hoop.

Alesya Naifonova sustained an injury during her performance in the Cup of the Strongest final and withdrew from the tournament

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The second place was taken by Sofia Ilteryakova. The third result was shown by Anastasia Vlasenko, but according to the tournament rules there can be no more than two gymnasts from a country on the podium, so Anna Kamenshchikova from Belarus won the bronze medal.

Mariia Borisova became the all-around champion in the Cup of the Strongest final

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Veronika Malinina, Evelina Tandalova, Diana Kotlovskaya, Karina Bogdanova, and Alisa Shunina took part in the competition.

Russian gymnasts successfully performed at the international Wings Cup tournament in Dubai

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Members of the Russian junior National group team and the Academy, together with their coach Darya Pirogova, extended belated wishes to the Olympic champion for National Coaches’ Day.


"Thank you so much for everything you do for us!"

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The champions and medalists in the senior all-around competition discussed their work on consistency, introduced new team members, and talked about the support they received from fans. The gymnasts from Omsk also recalled how the 2026 Alina Festival in India served as a true «reboot» for them before returning to their training regimen.


Teams from Moscow, the Omsk Region, and Nizhny Novgorod (Avangard) share their feelings about competing in the Cup of the Strongest final

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Training

During training, the Olympic champion drew attention to the work of the Academy’s group exercises nearby. The gymnasts made mistakes when throwing the balls, and the Olympic champion explained step by step how to perform the element cleanly and beautifully.


"Did a somersault and do a clean catch!"

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We follow the creative process during the training of Arina Kovshova from Novosibirsk.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva shows by her example how to improve the approach in the ranverse

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At an Academy training session Alina Kabaeva helped Polina Zavgorodnyaya from Moscow practice her rebounding and throwing steps in the program with the ball.


Improving the details of the exercise with an Olympic champion

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Watch how Alina Kabaeva helped Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg get into the right mindset during the all-around final at the Cup of the Strongest. After the first two apparatuses, the gymnast had the highest total score.

A boost of motivation from an Olympic champion before stepping onto the competition carpet

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Alina Kabaeva spoke with Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina and Yana Zaikina from Volgograd about how to prepare for stepping onto the mat and how to test their own capabilities during every performance.

Olympic champion helped the gymnasts get into the right mindset for the Cup of the Best finals

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Academy Life

The Olympic champion arrived at the Academy, where she was welcomed with smiles and hugs. Academy gymnasts and coaches congratulated Alina Kabaeva on Coaches’ Day and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

"Thank you for your hard work and patience, and for pouring so much of yourself into us!"

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Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and coach Elizaveta Chernova showed Arina Kovshova from the Novosibirsk region how to make the dance floor more artistic, and paid attention to the position of the foot and the ball during the throw.

"Keep the ball until the very end!"

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At a training session at the Academy, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva not only explained to Arina Kovshova from Novosibirsk how to create an image to the music of the program, but also helped give character and expressiveness to the movements in a new exercise with clubs.

"If you’re shy, they’ll beat you in terms of artistry!"

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Alina Kabaeva showed the athlete how to properly throw the apparatus so that it fits into the rhythmic pattern.

The Olympic champion helps Arina Kovshova add accents to her new clubs routine

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The Alina Festival

We posed this question to musicians from the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra during the 2026 Alina festival.

What do fouettés and other rhythmic gymnastics elements sound like?

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Gymnasts' practice session ahead of the Cup of the Strongest final

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MA Academy

The video features the impressions of Aleksey Sukmanov, who took second place. The young athlete summarized his performance at the junior championship. Meanwhile, coach Evgeni Ivanov spoke about the athletes' first competitive experience and what they need to work on next.

Students of the Martial Arts Academy took part in the Sochi Judo Junior Championship

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Together with the head coach of the Russian national team, Emanuela Maccarani, coaches Ksenia Dudkina and Anna Ustsova, the gymnasts are polishing their routines, perfecting their teamwork, and paying attention to details.

The group exercises team continues their preparation at the Zhemchuzhina Center of Rhythmic Gymnastics

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Mariia Borisova from St.Petersburg, Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina, Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz, and the junior group exercises team are busy refining their routines in Novogorsk.

Let’s take a look at how the Academy’s gymnasts are preparing for the Cup of the Strongest final

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Gymnasts from the Academy Alisa Shunina from Volgograd, and Diana Kotlovskaya and Diana Sobyanina from St.Petersburg, shared their impressions of competing in the tournament held in Armenia.

An interview with the winners of the international Step to the Dream tournament!

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The Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy celebrated All-Russian Gymnastics Day! 
A festive program was prepared for the young participants: master classes, fun relay races, flexibility and agility tasks, as well as surprises.

Yesenia Mitkova, Virsavia Panova, Lidiya Negodova, Ulyana Kordyukova, Eliza Polegaeva, Kataleya Sudarikova, Miya Mamisheva, Anastasia Skidan and Valeria Kubasova told what they remember most and why they love rhythmic gymnastics.

Let’s listen to the most sincere impressions by young gymnasts!

“Gymnastics gives you joy, strength and a smile!”

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Ariadna Ivannikova, Dasha Igolkina, Ruslana Varlakova, and Eva Gamanova share who they admire and who they aspire to be like. They also share some kind words for the Academy and their coaches!

The video is full of genuine smiles and big dreams!

Who do the participants of the mAlinka tournament look up to?

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Participants in the mAlinka tournament shared their experiences, talked about their first awards, and reflected on what they’ve learned during training.

In this interview, we feature Kristina Prosviryakova and Eteri Esatiya!

Big dreams begin with small steps!

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Following the mAlinka tournament, this was discussed by Maria, mother of Kristina Prosviryakova, Nina, mother of Ariadna Ivannikova, Ksenia, mother of Ruslana Varlakova, and Pavel, father of Eva Gamanova.


What changes in children’s lives after they join the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy? Parents of preschoolers speak about it

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Ksenia Savinova from Gatchina gives a tour of the rehearsal venue in Mumbai, showing the wardrobe and locker rooms, the relaxation areas, and spoke with participants.


Behind the scenes of the Alina 2026 Festival!

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Which roles will aerial gymnasts Alexander Tashkin, Alexei Volkov, and Artur Murinov play in the production? And what are the standout features of the festival? Watch this video to find out! 


Aaerial gymnasts share their impressions of the Alina festival in Mumbai

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The gymnasts became part of the Enchanted Garden in a rendition of the ballet The Firebird at the 2026 Alina festival. 

Ekaterina Timoshenko, Alisa Chernyaeva and Alina Rusanova talk about the preparations for the Alina festival

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Following the 2026 Alina festival, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva spent time talking with guests and audience members from India and posed for keepsake photos with everyone who wished to take one.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva spends time talking with guests and audience members from India

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Guests highlighted the grand scale of the production and the skill of the Russian performers and gymnasts.

More audience impressions from the 2026 Alina festival in Mumbai!

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Here are a few snapshots from that unforgettable evening.

Everyone was dancing at the banquet following the 2026 Alina festival!

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Offstage, Russian and Indian gymnasts recorded video greetings for each other as a keepsake.

Cultural exchange behind the scenes of the 2026 Alina festival!

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At the mAlinka competition, athletes and their parents congratulated the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy staff on their professional holiday — Coaches’ Day!


"May you have talented and grateful students!"

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A delightful flutter of excitement, joy, sheer delight, and goosebumps — experience the full spectrum of emotions from behind the scenes at the Alina festival in this video! 



Relive these magical moments along with the festival participants

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Here is how Honored Coach of Russia Natalia Orlova was wished a happy birthday in Mumbai.

Natalia Orlova's birthday greetings in Mumbai

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The Academy hosted its traditional mAlinka competition. 
During the award ceremony, Valentina Akmanova, the winner of the Miss Artistry nomination, was congratulated by her younger sister.


The sweetest moment of the most heartwarming tournament!

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Following the Alina festival, we spoke with audience members from India who attended a performance at The Grand Theatre, based on Igor Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird.

Spectators of the Alina festival share their first impressions of the production and the performance of the gymnasts from Russia

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All the creators of the show, the gymnasts, dancers, and musicians received well-deserved ovations from the audience to the touching words of the festival's timeless anthem, "Most, the Most," which was performed in English this time.

The Alina Festival has come to an end

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Alina Kabaeva met with the gymnasts during a rehearsal in Mumbai and congratulated Mariia Borisova from St. Petersburg, Sofia Ilteryakova from Moscow, and Yana Zaikina from Volgograd on their victory in the club standings at the AEON Cup.

Video

Autographs and photos with the Olympic champion!

Alesya Naifonova from Vladikavkaz had to cut her performance short during the Cup of the Strongest final due to an injury

"I see you’re trying, but you need some right guidance"