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03 August 2017, 16:40

Practicing ahead of FIG World Challenge Cup 2017 – BSB Bank in Minsk

Belarusian athletes are practicing ahead of the FIG World Challenge Cup 2017 – BSB Bank that kicks off in Minsk on 4 August. Belarus will field its strongest eight-member team. The national team will be led by the Olympic Games 2016 finalist Yekaterina Galkina and will also include European championship 2017 bronze medalist Alina Gornosko. The highlights of the practice session are in our photo report.

Rhythmic gymnastics is all a lot harder than it looks. Routines with ball, hoop, ribbon, clubs, and rope seem incredibly simple, but the first impression is deceptive. The beautiful performance means hours and hours of continuous training.

“I am continuously asked about my plans for the 2020 Olympics, but I can't foresee the future. This is sport where anything can happen. All athletes strive to win. It is good that the atmosphere is warm and friendly on the team. I get a lot of help from Yekaterina Galkina who I look up to,” Alina Gornosko said.

Teams from Bulgaria, Japan and Finland are practicing next to the Belarusian girls.

Young girls who are invited to the competitions as volunteers are watching closely the older gymnasts. “We really like to watch the leading athletes of our national and other countries train,” the girls share their impressions.

“A succession of generations is proceeding very well. We are working on our talent pool. We are ready for the FIG World Challenge Cup 2017 – BSB Bank in Minsk. Belarus is one of the world's top teams and our gymnasts can show a lot,” said Lyubov Cherkashina, a member of the executive committee of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus and a famous rhythmic gymnast. In her words, the competitions of the kind contribute to the international prestige of Belarus. The country welcomes the world's best athletes and also gains an excellent experience in the organization of such events.

“The level of the Belarusian rhythmic gymnastics continues improving. As a rule, new generation of athletes get into the limelight after each Olympic Games. At present rhythmic gymnastics is focused mainly on apparatus. This is quite entertaining and interesting,” Lyubov Cherkashina added.

The forthcoming tournament will be a celebration of sport, Irina Leparskaya, head coach of the Belarusian rhythmic gymnastics national team, told a press conference. The best athletes from 24 countries are taking part in the event. This is a new generation of athletes who will perform in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. She added that the competitions in Belarus will be attended by FIG President Morinari Watanabe.

For the leading gymnasts the FIG World Challenge Cup 2017 – BSB Bank in Minsk will be a dress rehearsal ahead of the 35th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2017 in Pesaro, Italy.

Alexander Zhibul,

Photo by Ramil Nasibulin,

BelTA

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