Gymnast Kononova won five gold medals at the first stage of the "Cup of the Strongest"

The first stage of the "Cup of the Strongest" in rhythmic gymnastics, which brought together more than 200 athletes not only from Russia, but also from four other countries, has ended in Kazan. Alina Kabayeva, a pupil of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, made a real splash at the tournament — 12 gold medals in different disciplines at once.

Eva Kononova became one of the main stars of the competition. The athlete became a five-time champion, having perfectly completed the most difficult elements. Izvestia correspondent Roman Ishmukhametov spoke about the most elegant wrestling.

Eva Kononova, a pupil of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, was warmly supported at the first stage of the Strongest Cup in Kazan. There are so many posters that they cannot fit in the athlete's hands. The fans didn't know then, but they believed for sure that Eva would perform triumphantly at this start. And the athlete did not disappoint, she won five gold medals at once. The gymnast pulled herself together and showed her best, everything she is capable of.

"I wanted to perform well for myself, for those who help me," said Eva Kononova, the winner of the first stage of the Cup of the Strongest.

The champion is always laconic, the movements on the carpet speak for her.

"She's very fast, very technical. The absolute advantage of this gymnast is a very high level of performance of body elements," said Anna Titova, the judge of the first stage of the Strongest Man Cup.

All three days that the first stage was underway, the athlete was supported by Olympic champion Alina Kabayeva, who was in touch from morning to evening.

"Eva, do it at your own pace, okay? You're doing well when you're doing at your own pace, how you like it, how you feel, and do it that way," Alina Kabayeva explained to the gymnast.

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In the women's team, the bid for the world championship in Jakarta is obvious, but the men have personnel problems.

The world-famous athlete became a director, psychologist, and strategist for the young gymnast at the same time. There is a coach behind every precise line, behind every confident movement on the mat. Evgenia Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina work with Eva.

"I am very glad. Thank you for this day, but tomorrow we will start all over again," said Eva Kononova's coach Evgenia Eliseeva.

Sofia Ilteryakova took the second place in the all-around. The audience also greeted her very warmly, the talented athlete has many fans. But this start was affected by the excitement. She did not perform very well in the ribbon exercise, and there were losses. This was reflected in the result. The third in the all—around is Nicole Leuta from Belarus.

Alexandra Borisova, another pupil of the Academy, won bronze in the ribbon exercise, and she finished fourth in the all-around. Sasha is coached by Irina Gusarova. More than 200 gymnasts from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Argentina competed for medals in Kazan.

"The strongest children of our country, the Russian national team, take part here. Both juniors and seniors perform, and group exercises," said Zlata Tulubayeva, the chief judge of the first stage of the Strongest Cup in Kazan.

Another pupil of the Academy, junior Ksenia Savinova, also performed brilliantly: she also received five awards of the highest standard. The coaches are Evgenia Eliseeva and Olga Minigalina.

"I was a little worried, I hedged my bets somewhere. And that's why there is something to work on," explained Ksenia Savinova, the winner of the first stage of the "Cup of the Strongest" among juniors.

Alina Kabayeva helped all the juniors prepare for the start all the days. There are no accidental victories in rhythmic gymnastics. Everyone has a long job and a person who knows how to show the best qualities on the carpet.

Another pupil of the Celestial Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, Alina Kabayeva Yana Zaikina, won silver in the all-around, she became the second in the hoop exercise. An elegant and dramatic fight for medals.

"The gymnasts are preparing for the podium on four training carpets. There are athletes competing in the individual program, and teams of group exercises. The concentration of the will to win and determination here are simply beyond the limit," the correspondent noted.

Every look, every gesture, everything is in unison. Their motto is "One for all and all for one!"

The junior team of the group exercises of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy Alina Kabayeva won gold in the all-around. They are the first in the final with balls and the second with ribbons.

"We are a new team, this is our second start. It is clear that we had mistakes, but we will work even harder to avoid them," admitted Anna Gryaznova, a junior gymnast of the group exercises team of the Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy of Alina Kabayeva.

This young team is coached by Daria Pirogova and Anna Ustsova, who is currently in Baku with the senior team for training camps. This week, the athletes will compete there at the European Cup and are now preparing for this important start.

Thanks to the quota of the International Sports Support Association "Heavenly Grace", individual gymnasts and group exercise teams from the Volgograd, Tula, Tomsk regions, St. Petersburg and the Republic of Karelia were able to perform in Kazan. The Volgograd team will take home the bronze medal in the final with balls.

"We didn't qualify for the main selection, but thanks to the International Association "Heavenly Grace" we ended up here, we even managed to win a medal, the third place. We are very happy, we are glad — thank you very much," said Valeria Spitsyna, a gymnast of the Volgograd Region group exercises team.

There are two more stages in the "Cup of the Strongest", they will be held in Moscow and Sirius. The best of the best will meet in the final in autumn, which will also be held in the capital.

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In April, Russian gymnasts also won four medals at the Baku World Cup. The main achievement of the Russian national team in group exercises, which won bronze in the all-around. Gymnasts live and train at Alina Kabayeva's Heavenly Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.