In addition to the important national start, the competition program in Yekaterinburg includes an international tournament in which athletes from friendly countries will compete. And the total number of participants will reach 1,500 gymnasts.
Of course, the leaders of our team will appear on the tatami: the three-time world junior champion, the European champion Lala Kramarenko and Anna Popova, who became the absolute champion of Russia this year. Unfortunately, multiple world and European champions Arina and Dina Averina will not be coming. Arina last competed in early August at the CIS Games in Minsk, and Dina competed in the Strongest Cup in Moscow in early May.
Perhaps now the new stars, the talented young women, Nicole Rimarachin Diaz and Ulyana Janus, will make their presence known. Among the approved participants were also Maria Borisova, Milena Shchenyatskaya, Arina Tkachuk and Maya Kolobovnikova. The athletes will perform within the framework of the international tournament from December 3 to 7.
From December 7 to 12, we will see two teams of the Russian national team in action in group exercises, and in the individual program Diana Chugunikhina, Ekaterina Sazonova, Ksenia Kolyadina, Sofya Kopylova, Alexandra Skubova, Victoria Chumakova, Alina Protasova are announced.
By the way
Even under global restrictions, Russian rhythmic gymnastics continues to develop thanks to the president of the WFHG, coach of the national team Irina Viner. Immediately after the suspension of Russian athletes from international competitions, she created internal rules that encourage individuality and the execution of distinctive elements. This allowed me to stay motivated. Although this complicated the task, since the girls had to perform two programs, even according to the international rules of the FIG.
Another innovation will appear in 2024. The changes will affect absolutely everyone, but they are still more aimed at the training and development of the skills of young athletes. For example, jumping rope and the “no object” exercise will return to the program. Therefore, now in the general classification there will not be four events (hoop, ball, club, ribbon), but six. The final of the absolute championship will take place according to the classic scenario.
– We have the strongest country, more than 80 regions participate in our program. This is the largest number of participants in competitions in a sport, and not just rhythmic gymnastics,” highlighted Irina Viner when explaining the new rules. – If we had stayed still, they would have long ago surpassed and surpassed us. And we must not, in these circumstances that are occurring on the world stage, give up. We must be even higher, faster, stronger and move forward.
