This year’s Miss Valentine tournament hosts elite gymnasts and coaches from 37 different countries. Since the first competition, 25 years ago, we have had participants from 67 countries. Every year we welcome newcomers and over the 4 days of the competition you will see the beauty of both Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) and Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG).
This year, the Miss Valentine competition will highlight the RG Juniors since their performance here will also serve as a test for the 1st FIG Junior World Championships which will take place in Moscow this July. Among the RG Junior groups, the following national teams have registered to compete: RUS, UKR, EST, FIN, SUI, BLR, SVK and BUL. “They are all strong groups, only the tournament will show who is in the best shape “, says the chief organizer, Janika Mölder. Among Junior individuals be sure to keep an eye on Nikol Krasiuk and Melaniia Tur from Ukraine, Darya Tkatcheva (BLR), Michel Vivier (CAN no 1) and Estonian representatives Vanessa Kivirand and Polina Murashko.
The RG FIG Senior competition will be no less exciting. Ukraine will be representated by Olena Diachenko and Yanika Vartlaan, who both also competed last year. Russia has a new rising star, Maria Pobedushkina, who is training under Elena Karpushenko (coach for Jana Kudrjavtseva – silver in Rio Olympics). Be sure to also keep an eye on Lacherzara Pekova, who is training under Neshka Robeva – the rhythmic gymnastics legend from Bulgaria. The Estonian Gymnastics Federation has 4 gymnasts competing, including Carmen Marii Aesma.
In addition to Robeva and Karpushenko, we are also glad to welcome Inna Bystrova, who is the coach for the Russian National RG Junior Team and also plays a huge role in the success of Japanese RG as the coach for their Senior team. Among RG coaches, Janika is also very pleased to greet her former teammates, Marina Nikolaeva (KOR) – World Champion 1989, and Elena Kholodova (RUS) – European Champion. Also, much loved former Miss Valentine competitor, Victoria Mazur (UKR) is coming back as a coach.
In the AGG tournament strong groups from Estonia, Finland, Belorussia, Japan and Russia will compete.
The 25th anniversary tournament ends on March 3rd with a beautiful Gala performance titled “Walking on Sunshine”.
Participating countries: ARM, AUS, AZE, BEL, BLR, BUL, CAN, CYP, CZE, EGY, ESP, EST, FIN, FRA, GRE, HUN, IND, ISR, JPN, KGZ, KOR, LAT, LTU, LUX, NED, NOR, PHI, PUR, RSA, RUS, SIN, SUI, SVK, SWE, UKR,USA, UZB
Tickets at the venue and Piletilevi: http://missvalentine.eu/venue/tickets/
Photo by Riinu-Liis Lajal