Location
This event will be held in Corbeil-Essonnes. The closest airport is Paris Orly.
Adress: “Palais des Sports” 90, Rue-Féray Corbeil-Essonnes
Schedule
Friday, 6th of May: From 14 pm, All-Around
Saturday, 7th of May: From 14 pm, All-Around
Sunday, 8th of May: From 14 pm, Finals and Gala
Contact
ascegym@gmail.com
Participants
Varvara Filiou was born in December 29, 1994 in Attiki, Greece. She is a 8 time (2008-2016) Greek National Champion. She is one of Greece’s most successful rhythmic gymnasts and she also got a direct qualification for Olympic Games in Rio at last World Championships in Stuttgart. Varvara’s mother, Eleonora Marinova is a former Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnast. Since a few years, Filiou is living in Moscow and training with Russian National Team in Novogorsk. Her coach is Russian aswell. Her former coaches were Evmorphina Dona (Greek champion) and Aliya Garayeva (Olympian from Russia/Azerbaijan).
These following pictures were taken in a photoshoot with Varvara and her family during World Championships in Stuttgart. Her parents were searching for Greek people living in Stuttgart, Germany to support her daughter during World Championships. And sure, they found a few people: Greek restaurant owners, who organized a private Greek (music, food and drink)party after Varvara got her qualification for Rio. All these pictures belong to Rhythmic-Gymnastics.info website.
Salut Cup International Tournament will be held in Toronto, Canada next weekend, from April 29 to May 1. The event will be filled with amazing performances of the best gymnasts from all over the world. Names who are already confirmed are Viktoriya Mazur (UKR), Aliya Protto (USA), Carmel Kallemaa (EST), Elizaveta Nazarenkova (UZB), Kseniya Moustafaeva (FRA) and Patricia Bezzoubenko, among others.
Salut RG would like to welcome all participants to a brand new Pan Am Centre. This welcoming multi-purpose centre, located in the heart of Markham boasts a triple gymnasium with approximately 3,345 square metres (36,000 sq. feet).
Viktoriya Mazur (UKR)
Elizaveta Nazarenkova (UZB)
Contact: Email: registrations@nationalrg.ca
Address: Markham Pan Am Centre ,16 Main Street, Unionville, Ontario L3R 2E5
Official Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/965322963488133/
Just in the middle of this season, Sofiya Skomorokh got injured. A few days after, the whole Russian National Group flew to Israel, where the new composition of the group was decided.
The members of the group after this camp were: Anastasiya Maksimova, Maria Tolkacheva, Anastasiya Bliznyuk, Anastasiya Tatareva and Kseniya Polyakova. Kseniya made her debut in Russian National Championships last weekend. Head member of the group, Anastasiya Maksimova said that Kseniya was “a good choice”.
From left to Right: Kseniya Polyakova, Maria Tolkacheva, Anastasiya Bliznyuk, Anastasiya Maksimova and Anastasiya Tatareva
On the other hand, Russian Group is not traveling to Rio Test Event that is going to be held this weekend. Irina Viner-Usmanova said that Group is not traveling because “traveling 18 hours to Rio for just a weekend is non-sense”.
– “We have already seen videos of the competition area and we built a plataform in Novogorsk, like the one that is going to be in Rio.”
Irina Viner-Usmanova also spoke about Sofiya’s injury.
– “Unfortunatly, Sofiya Skomorokh got injured last month. So we had to find a replacement. The new member of the group is Kseniya Polyakova”
All Pictures Copyright by Oleg Naumov for Russian Federation
Eight years ago, Almudena Cid announced her retirement. Almu is a RG legend, becoming the only rhythmic gymnast who competed in four Olympic finals.
“I’ve always dreamed to become an actress. I assume that even in my gymnastics career I had an actress side. I looked stronger than I actually was when I competed. I really felt unbreakable. When I retired my new life was not easy at all. ”
– How could you describe your gymnastics life?
– I remember that life every single day. Now that I am an actress I can express my feelings to the audience, like I did when I was a gymnast.
– How was your role as a gymnast?
– When I watch back my videos, I feel like I was a different. I was not that unbreakable than I looked like on the carpet. I was really competitive. Now, I am feeling more authentic, I don’t need to hide my feelings.
– What is your opinion about masculine rhythmic gymnastics?
– We have seen a few rhythmic gymnasts boys with a high level. But since other countries of the world didn’t recognize them as gymnasts, this category didn’t exist. But I think they really deserve a position in this sport. It is a way of expression (although there is controversy around it, moreover the aesthetic part). If we exclude them, it is like going a step backwards.
– You are also a writer. Tell us about it
When I decided to retire I had the opportunity to speak about my memories. I thought that writting about the end of my career wouldn’t be as useful as speaking about my sportslife as an elite gymnast. And that’s why I pretend to express when I write my books: to help the girls who are starting their gymnast career. “Olympia” is starring my tales. She is quite sensitive. You can see what I felt before, during and after competitions through her character.
Source: YoDona Magazine
Belarusian champion, Melitina Staniouta and her teammate Ekaterina (Katsiaryna) Halkina gave an interview for sportsmagazine “SportTime”. Both will compete this summer in Olympic Games in Rio.
I will try to add new elements to surprise my fans
“The more days left to Olympics, the more I think about it. Even just being at the Olympic Village is like a licence. It is worth it: nerves and tears. In the Village, you could meet people from many different countries: Russia, Ukraine, United States of America, France… But for the moment, Russia is the leader”
Even just being at the Olympic Village is like a licence
“Now I am 22 years old. I am trying to have different routines. In adition, I will try to add new elements to surprise my fans.”
Source: “SportTime Magazine” Photo Copyright: Melitina Staniouta for SportTime Magazine
During last weekend, Carolina Rodríguez and her teammates from Spanish National Team and Club Ritmo, from León (Spain) were invited to Palilula Cup in Belgrade. Carolina performed over there her gala. Carolina is 11 times National Champion and Mediterranean Games Gold medal. Olympic Games in Rio will be their 3rd Olympic Games. She also will be the oldest gymnast ever in Olympic Rhythmic Gymnastics discipline.
– How did your gymnastics career start?
– For my parents it was actually very difficult. Both are deaf. I must communicate with them using my hands. That´s why my coach realized I could even perform a story using only my hands. And this is how my career started. After two years I became Spanish National Champion . We had a lot of difficulties: our club had not very good facilities (cold, low ceiling…) so that we had to train in a church. I even was called ” The Miracle Champion”.
I joined National Team as a junior gymnast and after a year, in 2001 I competed in World Championships in Madrid
– After so many years, you still have the strenght for training
– I have to say I do everything with passion. Of course I had bad moments. But just one good moment worths the bad moments.
“In 2007, Spanish National Federation asked me to leave the team. I was really sad and I stopped doing gymnastics for 6 months. Then I was back and after a year, the Federation said I was selected for representing Spain. But I decided not to leave my hometown, León. ” – said Carolina
– How was your stay in Belgrade?
– Carolina will only perform a Gala over here – said Ruth, her coach – but Sara Llana from National team is also here and two other junior gymnasts: Paula and Olatz. We think we have a really different style.
Ukrainian gymnast, Eleonora Romanova could change her citizenship and compete under Russian flag, as Regnum.ru confirms. Elya didn’t compete with team Ukraine in the beggining of the season. We couldn’t see her at L.A. Lights, Miss Valentine or Ukrainian Championships. Some other rumours say that Romanova is injured. According to this website, Eleonora could soon compete representing Russia.
This weekend the first stage of Ukranian Championships were held in Uzhgorod. Anna Rizatdinova won gold medal while Viktoriya Mazur was second and, Anastasiya Mulmina third.
Ukrainian RG Federation spoke about this situation: “To sum up : Eleonora Romanova was staying with her parents in Krasnodon (region of Lugansk) after New Year and the coaches of the National team have been shocked to find out of her presence in Russia. Currently, neither the gymnast nor her parents have reached out to Ukrainian RG Federation and never informed the Federation of the wish to change citizenship. However, we are aware that she was seen in Moscow. Eleonora Romanova has been financed in full by the government of Ukraine and sponsorship during all the years of her stay in National team. Normally the preparation of an athlete of such a high level costs approximately 2-5 mln. USD.”
Ukrainian RG also said in their website: “Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation of Ukraine respects the rights of any person , including the athlete’s right to freedom of expression in accordance with the sports law . However, if you make this decision contributed to certain circumstances , which do not comply with the principles of the Olympic Code , then, of course , Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation for its part will undertake certain legal actions in full compliance with the principles of international sports law.”
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.
Maria Mateva
Photo Copyright Dan Pickard
National Bulgarian Head Coach, Effrosina Angelova talked about the situation of Team Bulgaria to “Bnr.bg” in a recent interview. Since the beggining of February, Mariya Mateva is not training with the National Team.
“Mariya Mateva is injured and my opinion is that she could not withstand hard trainings looking forward European Championships that will be held in Israel in June”.
The first competition of the season for Bulgaria will be Grand Prix in Moscow, next weekend. Neviana Vladinova, who got a place to Olympics last year in World Championships in Stuttgart will represent Bulgaria in the first Grand Prix of the season.
On the other hand, the second senior group is not training together anymore due to an unexpected decision. One of the reasons could be because of the injuries of some members of this group.
Ina Ananieva, Head Coach of the Group also talked about her gymnasts:
“At this moment, I think the gymnasts are in good shape. I am delighted that we have no serious injuries. This year, for one composition we worked with Georgi Andreev. Second composition, with hoops and clubs, we are using music from the movie “The Matrix,” but we selected parts that are not so popular. It is such a strong composition. Our first competition will be next weekend in Moscow”.
Rhythmic Gymnastics Info 