Good Luck, Kseniya, and Good Luck, France!

Kseniya Moustafaeva has finally gotten her French citizenship and can now represent France in the Olympic Qualification Test Event over the next couple of days. It took a very long time for Kseniya to get her citizenship, even though she has been living and working in France for quite a while. In fact, there was even a Facebook group with over 1,100 members rooting for this wonderful gymnast to get the through the paperwork fast.

I hope that Kseniya will stay calm and focused during this first big event for her. If she performs cleanly, I believe she has a chance to get one of the spots and compete in the Olympics. She fully deserves it, too. Watch this elegant, smooth ball routine:

Rhythmic Gymnastics is for Everyone

When I started my English blog, I first wrote about the Spanish star Ruben Orihuela

Here is another amazing performance by a man. Watching this makes me dream about the day when both males and females will participate in rhythmic gymnastics with equal passion, just like both males and females engage in all kinds of other sports, from soccer to figure skating, to weight lifting.

This performance is different from Ruben's, as Ruben remains more true to dance and ballet nature of gymnastics, rather than showing off acrobatic skills. But both are fun to watch, a treat for the fans!

Happy New Year to all! May this Olympic year bring us many more amazing performances!

Merry Christmas, and the Blessing to Be a Fan

Nothing seems more suitable for a holiday mood than a Teodora Alexandrova routine. Should you feel uncertain that Christmas miracles, or miracles in general, do happen, just watch this routine:



I have been fortunate to watch Teodora both train and perform and I always felt that she brings a unique uplifting feeling to anyone who loves gymnastics, dance, and movement in general. If there is anything that someone less talented than Teodora can learn from her, it is to love what you do at over 100% and to give it your 120%. Occasionally, someone like her comes up like a bright star on the gymnasics horizon and brings more than athleticism and elegance. They bring a miraculous sparkle of joy and warmth.

Merry Christmas, fans!