Yana Kudryavtseva announces her retirement
Silver Olympic Medallist, World and European Champion, Yana Kudryavtseva, announces her retirement because of her leg injury.
Irina Viner-Usmanova, president of Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation also confirms that Kudryavtseva is about to retire.
“Yana is injured since last year and she is still in pain. Last year, she underwent surgery, but now, she can’t resist this pain anymore. We are deeply sad because she is very young, she is such a beauty in terms of gymnnastics.”
After Olympic Games in Rio, Yana Kudryavsteva was advised to visit her orthopaedic surgeon again. Surgeons decided that Yana needed surgery once again.
On the other hand, it is still not clear if Olympic Champion, Margarita Mamun will continue her gymnastics career.
“I would like to continue and compete in Tokyo Olympic Games 2020, but there’s a long way to go.”
Rhythmic Gymnastics Photos: Grace in Motion V
Milena Milacic (SRB)
Anna Rizatdinova (UKR)
Aleksandra Soldatova (RUS)
Anna Rizatdinova (UKR)
Melitina Staniouta (BLR)
Rhythmic Gymnastics: Emotions
Rhythmic Gymnastics is a very emotive sport: isnt’t it? Gymnasts are rivals but they are also best friends. We all even can see the good relationship between coaches and their gymnast such as Amina Zaripova and Margarita Mamun, Ireesha Blohina and Anna Rizatdinova or Aleksandra Soldatova and Anna Dyachenko-Shumilova.
An example of friends are rivals are Yana Kudryavtseva and Margarita Mamun. They are happy for each other no matter what.
Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) and Margarita Mamun (RUS)
Amina Zaripova was one of the top gymnasts from Russia on 90’s. And now, she is coach of an Olympic Champion. Amina support Rita since she was a junior gymnast. She is always really sweet with her gymnasts.
Margarita Mamun (RUS) and Amina Zaripova
Anastasiya Serdyukova (UZB) and Sevar Karimova
Daria Svatkovskaya (RUS) and her mum (and coach) Oksana Skaldina
Carolina Rodríguez (ESP) and Ruth Fernández
Almudena Cid and Natalia García (ESP)
Anna Rizatdinova (UKR) and Ireesha Blohina
Russian twins Dina and Arina Averina always support each other . We can say they are almost the whole day, even in competitions, together.
Dina and Arina Averina (RUS)
Rhythmic Gymnastics Leotards: Decoration
Most of Rhythmic Gymnastics leotards have thousands of crystal rhinestones fixed. But the new trends are about sequins, drappery, appliques and even feathers. Here are some examples:
Mesh
Ukrainian leotards include mesh as a decoration of their leotards. Eleonora Romanova, Tamara Yerofeeva and the senior Group wore leotards with mesh on them.
Sequins
Sequins are the basics of a leotard. Before crystal stones, sequins were seen on all top leotards.
Drapery
Drapery was not very popular but gymnasts such as Anna Rizatdinova and Almudena Cid introduced this kind of decoration on their beautiful leotards.
Velvet
One of the most famous Anna Rizatdinova’s leotard was made with velvet. Such a beautiful piece of art.
Appliques
Gymnasts like Aleksandra Soldatova and Yeon Jae Son include flower appliques on their leos.
Feathers
Russian gymnasts always innovate. They even are including feathers on their leotards. Here’s Margarita Mamun on her “Black Swan”routine during Rio Olympic Games. This incredible leotard suited perfectly her ribbon exercise.
Rhythmic Gymnastics Leotards: Designer Inspiration
Russian Group 2011 iconic leotard, that reminds Valentino’s roses
Leotard is a skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs wore by gymnasts. Some of them are also covering legs and they are called “unitards”. Leotards designers can find their inspiration on fashion runways. Here are some examples:
Margarita Mamun
Olympic Champion, Margarita Mamun, wore a leotard that was clear an inspiration of Versace’s Runway gown that was also seen in supermodels such as Gigi Hadid.
Russian team gymnast, Karina Kuznetsova wore a leotard inspired in Valentino’s original gown. This leotard was worn as its first time by Margarita Mamun.
Yana Kudryavtseva loves fashion and that can be also seen on her leotards. Yana wore all her new 2016 season leotards during Baltic Hoop 2016. Her ball leotard was an inspiration on an iconic design by Dior Couture.
Margarita Mamun
Photo by Enrico Della Valle
Margarita Mamun’s butterflies leotard was a leotard adaptation from Jean Louis Sabaji SS 2013 Ready To Wear collection.
Another case in point is this beautiful leotard inspired in Elie Saab’s Couture 2013 gown, wore by Margarita Mamun
Yana Kudryavtseva wearing an inspired leotard on Elie Saab’s SS 2014 Runway Gown
Most Expressive Gymnasts
Each different gymnast has her own charisma, we can see it in their routines. Which are the most expressive gymnasts?
1. Natalia García (ESP)
Natalia García has half Spanish half Russian blood and that is showed on her original routines using from classical to pop music such as Thalia.
2. Anna Rizatdinova (UKR)
Ireesha Blohina (Anna’s coach) knows that Rizatdinova is really expressive and chooses music that suits Anna very well. She loves Michael Jackson and Lana del Rey.
3. Varvara Filiou
Varvara is extremely kind with her fans and that is really well known. She can perform under traditional Greek music or modern music.
4. Carolina Rodríguez (ESP)
Spanish top current gymnast, Carolina Rodríguez is nowadays one of the top most expressive gymnasts. She can execute under Spanish music, Flamenco or Classical. “My parents are deaf but they can guess what kind of music I am performing just because of my moves”
5. Polina Shmatko (RUS)
Polina is fierce. Her routines are unique and really different from other junior gymnasts of her age.
6. Daria Svatkovskaya (RUS)
Former European Champion, Daria Svatkovskaya surprised the audience during Vienna European Championships. Her hoop routine was the best of hoop final, beating even Margarita Mamun and Yana Kudryatseva. Daria retired because of a back injury.
7. Alina Maksymenko (UKR)
Alina was audience’s favorite during London Olympic Games. Her expression and moves were unique.
8. Daria Kondakova (RUS)
Daria Kondakova retired just some months before London Olympic Games because of a knee injury. Her routines were strenght personified.
Melitina Staniouta is not training anymore for the moment
Melitina Staniouta
Successful Belarusian gymnast, Melitina Staniouta is about to retire since she has no more motivation. Melita is suffering from a left foot injury before Olympic Games. Now the pain is becoming more intense.
“My foot is on pain. I thought that I could recover after holidays. Because of this pain I can’t execute some elements.
Melitina Staniouta was one of the favorites for podium position in Rio but some mistakes during her clubs routine made her to finish without a medal.
“I realized these mistakes were quite silly. If only I had the opportunity to repeat this routine just once again, I could execute perfectly one hundred or two hundrer times again. I can say also that 4 years ago, in London Olympic Games in 2012 I wasn’t ready enough. In Rio I felt I was pretty fit. In spite of being sad for these mistakes and so that not getting a medal, I can say I did everything I could.”- said Staniouta.
“A medal for me is my love for gymnastics, the audience and my fans”
Photos: Anna Rizatdinova’s Clubs Series
Anna Rizatdinova is:
- Bronze Medal in Rio Olympic Games 2016
- Hoop World Champion in 2013
- Hoop World Games Champion in 2013
- Silver Medal In Vienna European Championships (Team) 2013
- Bronze Medal in European Championships AA 2014
Happy Birthday Melitina Staniouta!!
Melitina is one of the most successful Belarusian Gymnasts and the great-granddaughter of Belarusian actress Stefaniya Staniouta. Melitina Staniouta finished 5th in Rio Olympic Games overall after a drop in her clubs routine, which pushed her away of podium.
She was born in 15 November 1993 in Minsk, Belarus. She is also a three-time (2015, 2013 and 2010) World all-around bronze medalist, and the 2014 All-Around European Champion.
Rhythmic Gymnastics Pictures: Grace in Motion IV
Elizaveta Nazarenkova (UZB)
Natalia García (ESP)
Maria Mateva (BUL)
Milena Milachich (SRB)
Mariya Kadobina & Valeriya Pischelina (BLR)
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