Rhythmic Gymnastics in Russia
Rhythmic gymnastics is a
harmonious combination of art and sport: it is not only about endurance,
strength and agility, as, due to the inherited from ballet tradition of
choreography being closely intertwined with music, it requires a unique sense
of rhythm and musicality. This sport is a women-only event that involves
gymnasts performing individually or in a group on a floor with rope, hoop,
ball, clubs or ribbons.
There is a widespread belief
that Russian rhythmic gymnasts are customarily among the strongest athletes in
this particular field. Some explain it by the history behind how this sport has
been established and has evolved within the country. Even though as a
discipline rhythmic gymnastics is rooted in Europe, it was adapted as a truly
competitive sport and Olympic sport in the USSR. In fact, the latter was the
first country to ever host an international rhythmic gymnastics competition.
Consequently, the Soviet Union had accumulated an impressive advantage in
training and technical knowledge over the decades to follow, and, once it
collapsed, the Russian Federation was the one to be passed on to all those
resources and experience.
Ever since in 1964 Ludmila Savinkova
became the first world champion during the international rhythmic gymnastics
tournament in Budapest, Russia has been continuing its so-called golden streak
in this discipline. Of course, some of Russian gymnasts’ names are more easily recognized
than others. For instance, Alina Kabaeva
is one of the most decorated sportswomen in history, whose name is inscribed in
the Guinness Book of Records and who became the absolute European champion
among adults at the age of 15; Svetlana
Khorkina, also carrying an unofficial title of “the Queen of the parallel
bars” because of having performed the toughest moves’ combination using them,
was the first gymnast to ever win three all-around titles at the World
Championships; Yevgeniya Kanayeva is
the only individual rhythmic gymnast to win two Olympic all-around gold medals,
and she was also the one to set the all-time record by winning six gold medals
out of six possible during the 29th World Championship in Japan; Lyasan Utiasheva, world champion,
six-time all-around European champion, has invented four rhythmic gymnastics’
elements who are now named after her.
Worth mentioning separately
are the athletes who took part in the most recent Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, as
they made an unimaginable five consecutive Olympic triumphs in both individual
and group events, therefore not only repeating, but surpassing the success of
London 2012 Summer Olympics. Margarita
Mamun, who is sometimes adoringly referred to as “the Bengal Tigress” due
to her Bangladeshi roots and passion for what she does and is the current
Record Holder under the 20-point judging system with the highest all-around
total of 77.150 points, won the gold medal with her individual performance in
Rio. Yana Kudryavtseva is the 2016
Olympic All-around silver medalist, the youngest in the history of rhythmic
gymnastics. Russian team which got gold in the group competition in Rio
consisted of such talented young sportswomen as Anastasia Maximova, Anastasia
Bliznuk, Vera Birukova and Maria Tolkacheva.
Russian gymnasts themselves,
though, do not pride themselves with being the leaders. They believe in
constantly working on themselves, discipline, integrity, and have utmost
respect for their competitors: while Russian rhythmic gymnastics school is
considered to be the best one out there and provides its young athletes with
all the conditions for success and personal growth, they are also taught to
stay humble and focused, after all, – their main rivals are themselves, and
only by conquering their own insecurities and fears, they can win the hearts of
judges and the audience.
-
Dilyara Gafurova
When foreigners arrive in Russia first and foremost they face with
Cyrillic language. Those, who have not been studying Russian language before,
feel serious difficulties. We don’t write in Latin words (in English for example)
names of most important locations, and unfortunately we have no translation. Thus
in modern Russia start to appear language assistance for foreigners like
information English speaking offices or subway English Language assistance it
is still pretty difficult for a foreigner to navigate in Russia without knowing
out Cyrillic alphabet and key words. 
