International Meeting Vitoria (Brazil) Results

August 18, 2014 rhythmicgymnasticsinfo

Russian gymnastics star, Alexandra Soldatova won last weekend in Brazil “IV International Meeting” where European and Southamerican teams took part. Alexandra is number four gymnast in Russian national team ranking, behind current World Champion Yana Kudryavtseva, Margarita Mamun and Maria Titova.

Alexandra Soldatova is coached by Anna Shumilova and used to train in Dynamo Dmitrov School of Gymnastics. Succesful Russian gymnasts such as Daria Kondakova, Adel Galina, Ekaterina Malygina and Olympic Champion Alina Makarenko trained here too.

Spanish group (Lourdes Mohedano, Alejandra Quereda, Artemi Gavezou, Sandra Aguilar and Elena López) beat the favorite, Russian group with 10 clubs.

Local gymnasts, Angelica Kvieczynski and Natalia Gaudio ranked second and third.

All-Around Results

1. Alexandra Soldatova (RUS), 2. Natalia Garcia (ESP), 3. Angelica Kvieczysnki (BRA), Apparatus Finals

Gymnast of the week

Gymnast of the week: Valeriya Khanina

August 17, 2014 rhythmicgymnasticsinfo

Valeriya Khanina is a gymnast who was born in Donetsk, Ukraine. Last year, “Lera” (short Ukrainian nickname) moved to Kiev for training with national team as a junior gymnast . Since that, Valeriya is one of the top junior individual gymnast of the world, Champion of Ukraine and silver medallist with ribbon European Championships Baku 2014. Her team mates are Yana Yarosh, Mariya Mulik and Valeriya Yuzvyak.

“Donetsk has never had a very popular gymnast, we have football, but maybe if I work hard, I could become a good gymnast. This is my dream”

Former Ukrainian champion, Alina Maksymenko, helped Irina Deriugina with Valeriya’s choreographies and traveled with her to several competitions, like Moscow Grand Prix. Junior GP competition was the event to qualify for Youth Olympic Games, where Valeriya competed against Margarita Vasilieva. Alina is really admired by Valeriya Khanina.

“My favorite apparatus are ribbon and clubs”

Irina Deriugina chose her to represent Ukraine in Youth Olympic Games 2014 as an individual gymnast, being one of the favorites for a medal.

” Our team is very strong. We are fed properly with a good morning breakfast: eggs, cereals and tea. For dinner we eat boiled fish, buckwheat, vegetables and salad. I have never felt hungry and even sometimes we can eat chocolate and ice creams”