Rhythmic gymnastics is a relatively young sport; it was created by the famous Mariinsky Ballet Theatre maitres. In a short period of time, the sport gained worldwide recognition and got many fans all over the world.
In 1913 the Higher School of Art Movement was opened at Leningrad Institute of Physical Culture named after Lesgaft. The first teachers were Rosa Varshavskaya, Elena Gorlova, Anastasia Nevinskaya, and Aleksandra Semenova-Naypak.
In April 1941, the first Leningrad Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship was organised by graduates and teachers of the school. In 1948 the first USSR Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship was held.
Since 1954, rhythmic gymnastics started to spread outside the USSR and quickly gained a worldwide popularity.
After that, rhythmic gymnastics was recognised by the International Federation of Gymnastics as a sport. In 1960 in Sofia, the first official international meeting was held among Bulgaria, the USSR and Czechoslovakia. 3 years later, on December 7-8, 1963 the first official international competition, called the European Cup, took place in Budapest.
Rhythmic gymnastics was included in the Olympic Games programme at the International Olympic Committee Congress in 1980 after the Moscow Summer Olympics concluded.
At different periods the Olympic champions were: Yulia Barsukova (Sydney 2000), Alina Kabaeva (Athens 2004), Evgenia Kanaeva (Beijing 2008). Russian gymnasts also topped the podium in the group events as well: Maria Netesova, Irina Belova, Natalia Lavrova, Irina Zilber, Vera Shimanskaya, Elena Shalamova (Sydney 2000); Natalia Lavrova, Olesya Belugina, Elena Murzina, Elena Posevina, Tatyana Kurbakova, Olga Glatskikh (Athens 2004); Elena Posevina, Natalia Zueva, Gavrilenko, Daria Skurikhina, Margarita Aliychuk, Tatyana Gorbunova (Beijing 2008).

Pride of Russia

Alina Kabaeva (born on May 12, 1983, Tashkent) is an outstanding Russian athlete (rhythmic gymnastics), Honored Master of Sports. She is winner of the 28th Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, bronze medallist of the 27th Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, two-time absolute world champion (1999 and 2003), five-time European champion (1998-2000, 2002, 2004), six-time Russian champion (1999-2001, 2004, 2006-2007).

Rhythmic gymnastics has been developed in Tatarstan since 1948, sports and rhythmic gymnastics sections and clubs were organised in various sports centres of the republic.

In 1978-1979 it was decided to establish the rhythmic gymnastics school in Kazan.

Rhythmic gymnastics obtained special status in the last ten years. Irina Viner, President of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and head coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team, highly commended the conditions created for the sport’s development in Kazan.

Since 2003 the official rhythmic gymnastics competitions in Kazan are elevated to a higher level with each coming year: 1st Summer Spartakiade of School Students of Russia, 2005 Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship, rhythmic gymnastics championships and tournaments of the Volga Federal District, Young Gymnasts All-Russian Competitions, Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Competitions, Hopes of Russia All-Russian Championship, 2nd Eurasian Sports Games, championships and tournaments of the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan and the list is not complete yet.

The 10th edition of the Yoldyz International Tournament, which is well known far beyond the borders of our country, and Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Cup, that brought together top gymnasts of Europe and world, were held in 2009 as part of the 1st Russia – Country of Sports All-Russian Forum.

The steps taken towards development of rhythmic gymnastics in Russia yielded positive athletic results in our republic as well. Since 1996 three Tatarstan athletes – Yulia Fedorova (1996), Maria Frentsel (2001) and Ralina Rakipova (2011) – became European champions in group competitions.

Our special pride is Daria Shkurikhina, five-time European champion, three-time world champion, Beijing 2008 Olympic champion, Merited Master of Sports.

Young athletes grow up and replace old masters, they are not quite experienced but have some good achievements under their belt.