Gymnasts of "Heavenly Grace" continue to lead at the Russian Championships

The Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship is reaching the finish line. Medals are at stake in individual sports — exercises with maces and ribbon. Of the more than a hundred athletes, only the top 18 will qualify for the all-around finals. The undisputed leaders are the pupils of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy Alina Kabayeva. The details were told by Izvestia correspondent Anton Zolotnitsky.

The grace of the ribbon and the dynamics of the clubs — the variability of rhythmic gymnastics does not require proof. Athletes have to prove that such dissimilar subjects are equally subject to them.

The Russian Championship is in full swing. Gymnasts work with clubs and ribbons for two days to make it to the finals of individual sports and, of course, to make a bid in the overall all-around competition. Every appearance on the carpet is a new challenge.

"Personal exercises are primarily a struggle of personalities. The nerve of sport is exposed here. Yesterday's juniors versus champions, fatal blunders and triumphant comebacks. Everything that millions of fans love rhythmic gymnastics so much for," says Zolotnitsky.

Nicole Rimarachin Diaz's Latin American passion is both strict, but also motivating criticism after the performance.

"Work, work, and work, you know? Endlessly," said Tatiana Sergayeva, the head coach of the national team.

"I am very pleased to be supported and helped. I will try to follow all the comments so that everything comes out as requested and as I wanted," said Nicole Rimarachin Diaz, gymnast of the Moscow national team.

The head coach of the national team, Tatiana Sergayeva, watches the most talented athletes closely almost all the time on the podium. Special attention is paid to the pupils of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy Alina Kabayeva. Since the beginning of the championship, they have been the undisputed leaders.

Maria Borisova is the current champion, and she is currently leading the all—around qualifiers. Behind her are Eva Kononova and Arina Kovshova. All of them are gymnasts of Alina Kabayeva's Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy. The Olympic champion is personally involved in their preparation.

"Bring your hand up. Come on, boldly, boldly, calmly. Don't get upset. One, two, that's it," Alina Kabayeva advises the students.

And during the performance, Alina Kabayeva cheers on her gymnasts.:

"Up, spin, spin, spin, spin. Good girl!"

Relaxing is an unacceptable luxury, and especially for leaders. Kirill Barkan, the choreographer of the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team, emphasizes that the competition at the championship is the highest.

"This is the highest start in the country. Therefore, to what extent each gymnast can pass this competition correctly and cleanly, their future fate will depend on them so that they have the opportunity to enter the international arena," Kirill Barkan emphasizes.

Technical skill alone is not enough. Each gymnast, stepping onto the carpet, gracefully balances on the edge of sport and art.

"Each exercise should be like a small performance. And I want to convey all this," said Kira Pushilina, gymnast of the national team of the Donetsk People's Republic.

"It is, of course, important to go out and show such a performance on the carpet in order to hook both the audience and the judges, and to get high from your performance yourself," admitted Vladislav Nikolaenko, gymnast of the Nizhny Novgorod Region national team.

There are finals ahead in exercises with ribbons and clubs. Then — the culmination of the championship. In the all-around competition, the 18 best gymnasts will show everything they can to meet the expectations of the audience, coaches and, above all, their own.

"Yes, I am a seasoned Russian girl."

Olympic champion Angelina Melnikova — about the triumphant end of the season and plans for the future

The Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships started in Moscow on February 27. More than 500 of the best athletes compete in group and individual exercises. Each team has its own ritual. Before the performance, they set up so that later no one has any doubts: they are one on the carpet. The gymnasts of "Heavenly Grace" won gold at the championship. This is the team's debut at adult competitions. But there's a lot of support behind me. Olympic champion Alina Kabayeva helped with advice during training.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.