Next weekend Moscow will host the first Grand Prix Series of the Olympic Year. Irina Viner-Usmanova, President of Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and Headcoach of National team confirmed some news in this interview.

Russian Yana Kudryavtseva, Margarita Mamun, Aleksandra Soldatova, Dina and Arina Averina, Senior Group, coaches and Russian Team choreographer were in this interview.

First of all, as Irina Viner-Usmanova said, Yana Kudryavtseva is not participating at Moscow Grand Prix. Yana is still recovering from her ankle injury and it is not safe for her to stress her joint that soon. On the other hand, Margarita Mamun who is ready, after an injury that prevent her to compete in Russian Championships in Kazan, is going to compete in Moscow . The first competition for Yana will be in Espoo (World Cup) or in Thiais (Grand Prix).

About Senior Group, they will have 2 really difficult routines, as they had in London 2012. Olympic Champion Anastasiya Bliznyuk was in this press conference as a member of the Senior Group.

Margarita Mamun has 4 new routines, which are really different from one to each other. She’s the top favorite for gold in Moscow. Aleksandra Soldatova, is competing in Moscow aswell, but as her coach said “she still has to improve”

The gymnasts will perform their routines on a scaffold, like they did in Montpellier World Championships in 2011. That’s why Irina Viner-Usmanova decided to build a similar one in Novogorks Training Center. More over, Russian Team will fly to Rio 17 days before Olympic Games start so that gymnasts will get used to weather conditions.