Russia's fencer Sofya Velikaya waves during the medal ceremony for the women's team foil event during the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.
Valery Sharifulin/TASSRussian fans have long been used to seeing their gymnasts on the podium, particularly since Alina Kabaeva, who shone in the beginning of the 2000s. Yana Kudryavtseva, Russia's current star gymnast, has eclipsed even Kabaeva.
Yana, just 18, is already a 13-time world champion (Kabaeva has nine world titles). The blonde girl is heading for her debut Olympics as a favourite: Having entered adult sports in 2013, she has become the youngest world champion ever. And Kudryavtseva has shown no reason to doubt her superiority in the future either.
Kudryavtseva performs her ball routine during the Individual All-Around event at the 2016 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Kazan. Source: Yegor Aleyev/TASS
Kudryavtseva has been called “an angel with iron wings” by her fans. This frail, pretty girl also has nerves of steel. At her first world championship in Kiev in 2013, during the rhythmic gymnastics qualification round, the music accompanying her performance was interrupted several times, but this irritating incident didn’t prevent her from completing her programme with excellence and grace.
"Actually, I never worry. Perhaps that is just how my nervous system is," Kudyavtseva said in an interview with Sport-Express.
It is possible that it was her unique psychological stability that helped her win five gold medals at the 2015 world championship in Stuttgart, even though she had a fractured foot.
Source: ciciginastica/YouTub
However, Kudryavtseva should not be considered a perfect robot. She admits that it is difficult for her to ideally perform her routines when she is in a bad mood. In the national team, despite the tough competition, she is friends with her main rival, Margarita Mamum. They both take care of the team mascot dog, a Pomeranian Spitz named LeBron James.
Russian synchronized swimmers have accustomed everyone to victory and now most fans consider their achievements a given.
"God forbid we get a silver or bronze. Then everyone will forget our sport for 10 years," Svetlana Romashina, Russia's top synchronized swimmer, said bitterly.
Romashina performs during the Show of Olympic champions in synchronized swimming in the Swimming Pool of the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow. Source: Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
Romashina has an incredible track record: A three-time Olympic champion and an 18-time world champion, she has won in the solo, duet and group competition. Her duet with Natalya Ischenko in the Rio Olympics is bound to become a sensation among photographers, since the Russian girls constantly invent striking new moves.
For Romashina, the Olympics in Rio will be her last, since she wishes to spend more time with her family. But her athletic career will not end here: Romashina plans on participating in sailing sports, something to which her husband introduced her.
Source: Synchro Foro/YouTube
Leaving synchronized swimming will also present Romashina the opportunity to develop another passion: ballet. Several years ago she intentionally skipped her training to spend a day in St. Petersburg and watch Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Sofiya Velikaya has been part of the women's sabre fencing elite for such a long time that it seems she has won everything. Well, almost everything. The seven-time world champion is still short of an Olympic gold medal.
Velikaya celebrates during the women's team sabre event at the 2015 FIE World Fencing Championships, in Olympiysky Sports Complex in Moscow. Source: Artyom Korotayev/TASS
She had a chance four years ago in London, but she lost in the final to Korean underdog Kim Ji-yeon, who performed miracles that day. Velikaya will try again in Rio, returning to the sport after having become a mother. She won the world championship in Moscow in 2015, both in the individual and group competitions.
The 31-year-old athlete believes that her age is not a disadvantage but a trump.
"The older the athlete, the more responsible he or she is. He is capable of maintaining his concentration, his mental state, not paying attention to things that may distract him. The athlete is mature," said Velikaya in an interview with R-Sport.
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