Our girls always find themselves on the podium when it comes to rhythmic gymnastics. Now they are also "the same from the face." "AiF" talked to the twins who were able to take away 10 medals from the World Championship (including 5 gold ones).

Roman Ivanov, "AiF": How did rhythmic gymnastics appear in your life?

Arina: We were sent to gymnastics because our older sister was engaged there Pauline... Although I must say that in the Volga region, where we were born, there was no other choice (smiles). Mom and Dad left for work in Nizhny Novgorod in the morning, returned late, grandparents were responsible for us. And we were such hooligans - no one could put us to sleep. Sports helped in this sense - our energy was getting smaller.

Dina: We turned 4 when there was the Sydney Olympics. We watched rhythmic gymnastics on TV and tried to repeat it. Then they decided that I would be Alina Kabaeva, and Arina - Irina Chashchina. They began to organize competitions at home, which were judged by the older sister. I honestly don’t remember the first day in the gym. It seems that we were just mad there, and the coach was trying to calm us down. All of us were difficult to manage. We often quarreled with each other, we could fight.

- Can you fight now?

D .: No, they have matured, grown wiser (laughs).

A.: Now we help each other in difficult times.

From left to right: Dina and Arina Averina. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Song

- And when was such a moment?

D .: I have last year at the Moscow stage of the Grand Prix. I made it to the final with the hoop. I performed very badly, missed my chance. Really upset, I wanted to quit. If not for Arisha, Vera Nikolaevna(Shatalina, coach of the national team. - Ed.) And Irina Alexandrovna(Viner-Usmanova, head coach of the national team. - Ed.), Who supported me then, I don't know if I would have stayed in gymnastics ...

A.: And for me this season is difficult. Trauma after injury, and this attack does not end. Just before the World Cup, I had a problem with my leg. The question arose: should I go there at all. But I could not refuse the championship - there is too much competition in the team, I cannot drop out of the line-up. And the pain? I didn't feel it. When you perform, you have such adrenaline that you forget about everything.

- They say that there is a mystical connection between the twins. Is there such a thing?

D .: I think yes. Even without being next to my sister, I can feel what is happening to her. For example, if Arisha gets sick, it means that I can. And I also noticed such a thing: if Arisha performed well, then everything will be fine with me. And if she was mistaken, then, most likely, I will repeat after her, and in the same place.

- What is it like to compete with your sister? Dreaming that your twin will become the second ...

A.: And there are no such thoughts. On the contrary, we are in sports for each other. If one did not succeed, the other must not fail.

D .: Even in the all-around world championship, we did not compete. It just so happened that the "gold" went to me, and the "silver" to Arisha. You're not upset, are you?

A.: Of course not. As I worked, I got such points.

- By the way, how do you feel about the fact that men began to engage in rhythmic gymnastics?

D .: I don't understand this a little.

A.: And I. I think men should go to hockey, football, boxing. But this is their business - let them do whatever they want.

- Do you have time for something other than sports?

D .: When you are preparing, for example, for the World Cup, then no. Two workouts a day, four hours each. The rest of the time is medical procedures and sleep. Plus we study in the third year at the correspondence university. Lesgaft. Let's become trainers.

When the schedule is simpler, we are engaged in diamond embroidery - this is when you glue rhinestones on pictures. We want to make such a picture for the New Year for Irina Alexandrovna. What else? Cinema, shops. Now they even began to recognize us there. Apparently, because when the World Cup was, we were on the news. But Arisha immediately says: “No, no, this is not us. You are mistaken". Punks like this.

A.: We do not go to discos, clubs. Another thing is the park, fresh air. In the summer we go to training camps in Croatia, sometimes it turns out to go to our parents in the Volga region. Well, dad and mom come to visit us at the base in Novogorsk near Moscow, where we have been living for 4 years.

Dina and Arina Averina Photo: / RIA Novosti / Vladimir Song

- To be honest, aren't you tired of each other?

D .: Not from Arisha. In the 19 years that we have been together, this has never happened (laughs).

A.: Somehow we decided to train separately. We didn’t quarrel, it was just that it was easier to work on new programs. We came to the hall one by one. Unusual! Everyone asked: "Why are you alone, where is Dina?"

by the way

The most successful twins of Russian sports are freestyle wrestlers Beloglazov(in order not to fight with each other, we performed in different weight categories). Sergey- two-time Olympic champion (1980, 1988), six-time world champion. Anatoly- Olympic champion (1980), three-time world champion. Have hockey players Evgeny and Boris Mayorov for two also 3 Olympic victories (1964, 1968), gold medals of the world championship - 8. Rowers Yuri and Nikolay Pimenov won the silver medal of the 1980 Olympics and three times the world championship ... Football players Alexey and Vasily Berezutsky- Winners of the UEFA Cup (2005) and the "bronze" of the European Championship (2008).

June 11, 2017 11:41 pm

In my past, many people wanted to know more about our beautiful artists. So who is the first number of the national team now?

Lichnits

Alexandra Soldatova.

Alexandra Sergeevna Soldatova(born June 1, 1998) - Russian gymnast, member of the Russian national team, two-time world champion in the team event (2014, 2015), two-time European champion in the team event (2015,2017), champion of Russia in the individual all-around (2016), bronze medalist in the all-around Russian gymnasium championship (2014).

2017 programs.

Hoop:

In my opinion, this is Sasha's most beautiful exercise. I think many people remember the beautiful Yulia Barsukova at the 2000 Olympics, and now, 17 years later, a wonderful new swan appears in the world of gymnastics.

Sasha is often called the most flexible gymnast in the country.

Crown element

Alexandra went to the Olympics in Rio as a substitute

Sasha is coached by Anna Vyacheslavovna Dyachenko (Shumilova)

Interview excerpts

Without perseverance, hard work and patience, they do not become champions. Your coach Anna Dyachenko told that there was a time when you drove with her every morning from Dmitrov by car to Novogorsk and you slept in the back seat. This is true?

Yes. In Novogorsk, I did not start living and training right away, I had to leave Dmitrov early in the morning to get to Novogorsk on time. Anna Vyacheslavovna put me in the back seat, I had a pillow there, on the way I fell asleep and woke up already at the entrance to the gates of the base. But it's okay, these are trifles. If you want to achieve something, you will have to deny yourself a lot and be patient.

Sasha, why exactly rhythmic gymnastics? This is love at first sight?

No. It turned out quite funny. In Sterlitamak, where I come from, my mother brought me to the rhythmic gymnastics section to record ... my brother. Then we just did not know that gymnastics can be different - sports and rhythmic. We were told that where they wanted to give my brother, everything was only for girls, then my mother was not at a loss and said: "And I have a girl, take it!" I don’t remember the first trainings, I was small, the awareness of gymnastics came to me only when I was already in the third grade.

You have excellent physical data for gymnastics, can I assume that everything worked out the first time?

Far from it. I agree that I have flexibility, stretching, good feet, but I, for example, lack dexterity. Dina and Arina Averina, in terms of working with an object, are stronger than me, they are by nature like that.

What subject is more difficult for you?

I can't say that some are more difficult, but some are easier. I am still at the stage of excellence in mastery and comprehension of something new.

You have come a long way to get into the Russian national team. Sterlitamak - Dmitrov - Novogorsk.

They also forgot Pushkino! From Sterlitamak my family moved to Pushkino, from there I got to Dmitrov, where I waited with bated breath ... when they would send me back to Pushkino. The first training session, the second, the week, the second, the third, and then they told me: "You stay here!" My emotion was lightning fast, but meager: "Yes. Good!" I will say right away that I did not have longing for my mother and family, as it happens with many girls at the age of 12. I calmly reacted to the fact that I would live separately from my parents and without their care. I was independent!

First meeting with your coach Anna Dyachenko. Did you expect to fall under her care?

I didn't expect it, but from the first day we had a wonderful duet. From the first day, I caught her every comment. The girls and I even competed about who would get up close to her in training, who would be the first to ask about something, who would write to her or call her. She is wonderful in every way!

Sasha, how did you get to the training camp for Irina Viner?

I did not have such that I somehow unexpectedly saw Irina Aleksandrovna at training or she unexpectedly came to the gym, and there I was. She knows who trains with her. We came to the training camp, I saw how Irina Aleksandrovna works with other gymnasts, how she communicates. Then, when she joined the Russian national team, she began to pay more attention to me and, naturally, there was more communication. Irina Aleksandrovna is a strict and very attentive mentor.

Photoshoot:

Arina and Dina Averina

Arina.

Arina Alekseevna Averina August 13, 1998 - Zavolzhye) - Russian rhythmic gymnast, member of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team, International Master of Sports. Multiple winner and medalist of all-Russian and international tournaments, three-time European champion.

Programs

Dina

Dina Alekseevna Averina(August 13, 1998 - Zavolzhye) - Russian rhythmic gymnast, member of the Russian national gymnastics team, Three-time European Champion 2017, Absolute Champion of Russia 2017, International Master of Sports. Multiple winner and medalist of all-Russian and international tournaments.

Programs

Joint Demonstration

Dina in pink, Arina in blue

The sisters are trained by Vera Nikolaevna Shatalina. She also trained Alina Kabaeva.

Excerpt from interview with Irina Aleksandrovna Viner-Usmanova:

Can we say that Dina and Arina somewhere even surpassed their capabilities, somewhere they surprised with their results?

The fact is that since childhood Dina and Arina were, as we say, "tricks", and now the program is such that all this counts. Previously, we also had very strong girls, and Alina Kabaeva did amazing things, but not everything was counted. Therefore, their time has come. But they lacked a little bit of feeling, lacked expressiveness, they did it all as if by a thread. And now they do it expressively, they try to make all the exercises very "characteristic" and these movements, tricks, these risks, these interesting masterful elements merge with the music. So that they organically emphasize it, and in Budapest they succeeded.

Arina Dina

private photos

With parents and older sister Polina

Dina on the left, Arina on the right

Together with the team doctor - Dmitry Ubogov

Arina on the right, Dina on the left

Dina, Arina, sister Polina, mother Ksenia
Arina on the right, Dina on the left

Arina Dina

The girls dreamed of standing in group exercises, but due to their short stature, they were not taken.

Arina on the left, Dina on the right

Photoshoot

Group exercise

(Anastasia Bliznyuk, Anastasia Tatareva, Anastasia Maksimova, Maria Tolkacheva, Vera Biryukova - Rio 2016)

Programs

3 balls + 2 skipping ropes

5 hoops

Now it is difficult to talk about the main line-up, as it is constantly changing. But most often it includes the following gymnasts.

Anastasia Bliznyuk

Anastasia Ilyinichna Bliznyuk(born June 28, 1994, Zaporozhe, Ukraine) - Russian gymnast. Two-time Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics in group all-around (2012, 2016); world and European champion.

Nastya returned to sports after a serious illness - leptospirosis.

The whole country was worried when you got sick, you got into a difficult situation. How did you manage to continue your career?
“I didn't even know I was so seriously ill. My kidneys failed ... Irina Aleksandrovna Viner treated me in Germany. At first they said that the kidneys might not start. The chances are very slim and I will always live on dialysis.

But thank God, I recovered. And she began working in Novogorsk as a coach of the second team. Somehow it turned out that I decided to lose weight, get in shape. And it grew into a training process.

I got into the second line-up. Proved to everyone that I can and want. I will stand on this team! And she made her way to the main team.

In general, there is a lot of competition in Russia. It was only when the last week before the Olympics was left that I realized that I would be performing in Rio. Each start is a very big fight. If you make any mistake, even in training, they will remove you at any time. It doesn't matter that I was an Olympic champion or that the girls won the World Championships. The road started from scratch

More excerpts from the interview:

Nastya! You are the second two-time Olympic champion in the group in our history. There was also the gold of London.
- The third - there is also Elena Posevina and Natalya Lavrova ... Of course, I am incredibly happy and grateful to Irina Aleksandrovna Viner for this victory. I was able to overcome myself, recover from illness, return with faith in my strength and capabilities. Thanks to the whole team who helped a lot. This road was extremely difficult. But when you realize that you did everything, the taste of victory becomes the sweetest.

- And for five Olympics in a row, we take two gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics.
- I believe that only Irina Alexandrovna. Everything rests on Wiener.

For me, she is like a mother. Because she saved my life when I got sick. I was born again! And they gave me the chance to perform in Rio.

- How to set yourself up mentally for the new Olympic cycle?
“You know what you're doing this for. But we have insanely hard training. And this medal was more difficult for me than the first one. Apparently I was younger then. And now I thought: “Maybe I can still? Maybe that's not all? "

I retired from gymnastics in 2013 after the World Championships. Now I have returned. And I think: "But I can still!"

Photoshoot

Anastasia Tatareva

Anastasia Alekseevna Tatareva(born July 19, 1997) - Russian gymnast. Olympic champion (2016) Honored Master of Sports of Russia. World and European champion.

Interview excerpts

- The age of gymnasts is very short. Many have only one Olympics, then they have to end their careers ... Does this not scare you?
- Life is beautiful, and there are so many interesting things in it! I'm not afraid that I will have to say goodbye to sports. This is fine. I study at the university - at the correspondence department of the Institute of International Relations. So I will probably do this later. Life will show.

- An interesting choice. Probably a good command of a foreign language?
- English. Not bad, but I have to learn more - that's what I'll do. There is a lot of language practice at competitions!

- Do you have time to study?
- All forces are spent on training. Especially when there is preparation for the competition. We have to study on Skype ... And they send us assignments, we carry them out and send them back.

- Teachers don't make discounts, don't simplify the task?
- No. And who am I to simplify my task? (laughs).

- You compete in the team all-around. Do you want your personal views?
- I started personally, by the way. Then they called me to the team ... No, I don't want to - I like it more in the team - here, of course, the responsibility is higher. But then you feel that we are together. There is what is called "team spirit". We have a very friendly line-up. If we quarrel, it is rare. And we quickly put up.

- Do you know that on the forums you are compared with Alina Kabaeva?
- I have not heard about that! It seems to me that we are completely different. I am not like her ... I think you need to remain yourself, not strive to be like others.

Photoshoot:

private photos

Vera Biryukova

Vera Leonidovna Biryukova(born April 11, 1998 - Omsk) - Russian gymnast. Member of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team. International Master of Sports of Russia. Champion of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Honored Master of Sports. European Champion.

Interview

Vera Biryukova "burst" into the Olympics in Rio with the speed of a meteor and almost at the last moment. Even a month and a half before the Games, neither numerous fans of rhythmic gymnastics, nor the Omsk "artist" herself even thought about such a development of events.

- If I had any hopes of getting into the main team, then a couple of months before the Olympics they almost disappeared, - says Vera. - I calmly worked in the second team, trained and did not really count on anything. Judge for yourself: there is nothing left before the Games, who will make changes to the existing group? But it turned out that one of the girls was injured, and the coaches decided to try me. And you know, it worked out well. Even Irina Aleksandrovna Viner praised. She said, almost imperceptibly, that a new person had joined the group. “You go to Kazan, and there we'll see,” - such were her words. There were only two starts left before the Olympic Games: the World Cup stages in Kazan and in Baku. To be honest, I thought that after Kazan I would be removed from the squad. But this did not happen either after Kazan, or after Baku! But I could only believe that I was going to Rio on an airplane flying to Brazil.

- Did you have a good rest after the Games?
- Yes, our whole team was sent to the sea, we rested in Sardinia, it was great. Then each went to her hometown. I also enjoyed spending a week at home.
- Did you remember with your mother how it all began?
- From the sea and Turkey! We rested there, and my mother only had time to make sure that I did not climb where it was not necessary. The energy was overflowing! Well, I have always loved to dance, "bent" in all directions. Then my mother suggested that I try gymnastics. I immediately agreed, although I really had no idea what it was! Maybe I've seen it on TV a couple of times. When we returned home, my mother took me to the gym. And so, at the age of five, I started training. Mom said that parents were not allowed to train so that the children would not be distracted. But she managed to peep out the window. She says I always tried, I didn’t cheat. She trained conscientiously, even if the coach left the gym. Although I myself do not remember that time very well.

- And the first medal?
- I remember. At school competitions, she shared the first place with another girl.

- You once mentioned that in childhood your idol in gymnastics was Lyaysan Utyasheva. But Omsk residents traditionally call Irina Chashchina, Evgenia Kanaeva ...
- Irina and Evgenia are great gymnasts. But it's true: it was Laysan that I admired. I have always liked the way she moves, works with the subject, her emotionality. Yes, for me she was the best gymnast. And over time, it did not go anywhere, she is now my idol. And not only as an athlete, but also as a person.
- Did you ask her for advice before the Olympics?
- Unfortunately, before the Olympics, I was not familiar with her yet. My childhood dream came true after the Games. We were introduced by Nastya Bliznyuk. This happened when the girls and I performed at the Alexei Nemov show in Moscow. Laysan also participated in it, we even changed clothes in the same locker room.

- Laysan, after completing her gymnastic career, found herself as a TV presenter. Have you already thought about the future?
- Honestly, this is a difficult topic for me so far. I have not yet decided on new goals in life, in gymnastics. Now sports take up 100% of my time and it is very difficult to fit something else into my life with such a schedule. Therefore, I cannot answer this question yet!

Photoshoot

private photos

Sophia Skomorokh

Sofia Pavlovna Skomorokh(born August 18, 1999 Omsk) - Russian gymnast, world and European champion.

Shortly before the Olympics, Sonya was injured and could not go there, although she was in the first team all year.

private photos

Maria Tolkacheva

Maria Yurievna Tolkacheva(born August 18, 1997 - Zhukov) - Russian gymnast, three-time world champion, three-time European champion, two-time European Games champion, Olympic champion (2016) in group exercises. Honored Master of Sports

In my opinion, Masha is the most beautiful gymnast of the national team. Although, of course, they are all beautiful.

Masha and Nastya Tatareva are best friends

That's all! Thank you all for your attention, and new victories to the girls)

07.06.2017

At the May European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Budapest, the twins from the city of the Volga region of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Arina and Dina Averina, won six gold medals. Arina became the best in exercises with a ball and clubs, Dina was the first with a hoop and a ribbon. And besides, the sisters brought success to the Russian national team in the all-around. After that resounding success, fans are waiting for Dina and Arina at the World Championships in Italy, which will be held in Pesaro at the end of August this year. The sisters themselves also dream of being at the championship of the planet together and again together to rise to the first step of the podium.

And in a short pause between trainings and competitions, Arina and Dina found time to talk to Otkryty Nizhny and told who was an example for them in childhood, whether there was a rivalry between the twins and how the judges confused them and how Irina Viner-Usmanova distinguished them.

- Even the strict head coach of the Russian national team Irina Viner-Usmanova called your performance at the European Championship a benefit performance. Are the Averina sisters themselves happy with everything?

Dina Averina: On the first day of the competition, I made a mistake in the exercises with the hoop, however, then I corrected myself in the final. And on the second day, she did not perform the exercises with the ribbon too cleanly (in both disciplines, Dina eventually became the winner - author's note). But in the exercises with clubs I liked everything, but I became only the second, losing to my sister (laughs). This is the female logic: where I won, I am dissatisfied with myself, and where I lost, on the contrary.

Arina Averina: But I am more satisfied with my performance than my sister (smiles). There were, of course, moments that needed to be worked on in training, but in general everything worked out.

- By the way, how did you divide the subjects with which you performed?

D.A: Irina Aleksandrovna (Viner-Usmanova - author's note) gave us the right to determine for ourselves who will perform in which exercises. Arisha chose the ball and clubs, and I chose the clubs and the hoop. And it was decided to entrust the tape to me, because Arisha had a minor injury, and she said that it would be difficult for her to perform this exercise.

- In a face-to-face dispute of exercises with clubs, Arina Averina bypassed her sister, taking the "gold". But Dina later said in an interview that she was even more happy with her sister's victory. Is there no competition between you?

AA: Dina and I are not competitors. The main thing for us is that in the first place of the podium there should be an athlete performing under the Russian flag and with the surname Averina.

DA: In fact, now we have ceased to compete, and when we were children, we competed with each other only in this way! And I was always offended by my sister if she did something better (smiles). But it also helped - we were constantly reaching after each other. And now there really is no rivalry between us, and I am more happy for Arisha than for myself, as she is for me.

- Personally, it is very difficult for me to distinguish you. I am sure that both the fans and, probably, the judges at the competitions perceive you as a whole. For many twins, this attitude is annoying. How do you feel about this?

AA: And we ourselves have always liked that we are perceived as one whole. And in childhood, when we were especially similar to each other, we were confused by everyone except the closest ones, but we were never offended. Now my sister and I have become different, and we are distinguished by many. In the Russian national team, everyone knows for sure who is Dina and who is Arina.

D.A .: Our manner of performance is also very different, so if, for example, Irina Aleksandrovna suddenly does not distinguish us by sight, she will immediately understand who is who by the movements on the carpet. But the judges still confuse us, but we do not use this and do not speak for each other. Otherwise, you can get two years of disqualification (smiles).

- Your characters, it seems, are also different. Dina smiles, laughs, but her sister is serious all the time. Or do you, Arina, just react to unfamiliar guys like that?

AA: You know, my sister and I are not strong when dealing with guys (smiles). And it's not that we like the same ones and Dina and I don't want to get into an awkward situation. We just don't have enough time for anything other than training and competition.

- I was always surprised at the endurance of the gymnasts. Very young girls who think about nothing but business. As a child, did you understand what sacrifices you make when choosing professional sports?

AA: Of course, they understood, because before us was the example of Polina's older sister. She also did rhythmic gymnastics, but then chose to study. Polina is a very smart girl, she graduated from school with a gold medal. And Dina and I didn't study well enough to quit sports (laughs).

D.A .: And you know, we liked training from the very childhood! We fell asleep and woke up with thoughts about how we would go to do gymnastics. Arisha and I dreamed of European championships, world championships, the Olympic Games and all the time set ourselves up for hard work.

AA: And we were also very lucky with the coaches. In the Volga region, we trained with Larisa Viktorovna Belova (mother and first coach of the 2000 Olympic champion Irina Belova - author's note). She taught us a lot. And when we moved to Novogorsk and began to train in the Russian national team, we very quickly found a common language with Vera Nikolaevna Shatalina, under whose guidance we are training now.

D.A: And, of course, working with Irina Aleksandrovna Viner-Usmanova gave us a lot. It is on TV that she seems serious and strict, and in communication with athletes she is ready to explain and show everything a thousand times. She is very wise. But it's better not to argue with her (laughs).

- Now your childhood dreams are starting to come true. The European Championship was triumphant, the next in turn is the World Championship in Italy, where the fans are waiting for the performances of the Averin sisters. But Irina Viner-Usmanova immediately after the continental championship said that you have not yet guaranteed your performance at the world forum, which will be held in August. Is she too strict?

AA: There is still a lot of time before the World Championship, and most importantly, there are many starts. Grand Prix in Israel, World Cup stages in Berlin and Kazan. My sister and I will have to prove that we are the best. And we have a serious competitor in the person of Sasha Soldatova (two-time world champion - author's note). Three athletes will compete at the Grand Prix and at the World Cups from Russia, but only two will go to the World Cup. And Dina and I really want to be in Italy together at the end of August.

D.A .: My sister and I do not like to part. When we are not together, we are bored and very strange. Even if we bother each other, we should still be there!

Arina Alekseevna Averina. Born on August 13, 1998 in the Volga region of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Russian rhythmic gymnast. International Master of Sports.

Father is a football player. Mother Oksana Averina did gymnastics.

Twin sister - also a famous rhythmic gymnast.

The elder sister, Polina Averina, was a member of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team.

Arina, like her twin sister Dina, began to practice rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 4. Then the parents brought the twins to Larisa Belova, who became their first coach. By the way, the daughter of their first coach, Irina Belova, is an Olympic champion in gymnastics.

Irina Belova said: “Before that, I already knew the family of Dina and Arisha - their older sister Polina did gymnastics with me. The kids always came with their mother to meet Polina. They were very restless: they always tried to climb higher on the gymnastic rack. fall, but mother Oksana was very calm about this, because she knew that her daughters were very independent ... They were very purposeful, diligent and demanding of themselves. "

Her serious sports career began at the age of 11.

Since September 2011, she began training at the Novogorsk training center. She and Dina were noticed at the "Young Gymnast" competition, and after the training camp in Croatia, they were invited to the CSP for training with Vera Nikolaevna Shatalina.

The sisters had a growth problem. So, at the age of 12, they looked like 9. Because of this, their career could not take place. But then they were already in the youth national team of Russia and the coach decided to examine the girls - doctors studied their bones, phalanges of the fingers to see what the growth zone was. No pathologies were identified. They slightly reduced the load, added more fish and sour cream to the diet - and the athletes started growing.

Until the age of 12, Arina studied in a regular school, but not with the whole class, but individually in all subjects except music, drawing, physical education, labor and life safety. Just like her sister.

Since 2014, Arina and Dina began to go to more serious competitions. They took part in the Moscow Championship, where Dina became the Moscow champion in 2014, and Arina was the second.

Then the girls went to Israel, to the "Grand Prix Holon 2014". This time Arina won, beating her sister by only 0.048 points. Then Arina goes alone to the "Baltic Hoop 2014" in Riga and takes second place in the all-around, and in the final with clubs and ribbon she takes a silver medal, a bronze for the hoop and, finally, gold in the performance with the ball. Overall, she won 5 medals.

At the 2014 Russian Championship in Penza, Arina performed with a hand injury. In the all-around, like her sister, she did not take prizes, but in the final of her performance with the ball she received a gold medal. In the final with a hoop - bronze, with clubs - silver.

At the Luxembourg Trophy 2014, Arina took second place in the all-around.

In 2015, she performed at the annual Grand Prix stage in Moscow, where, due to an unfortunate mistake with the ribbon, she became only thirteenth in the all-around.

At the Spring Cup in Krasnoyarsk, she competes in the finals, having won two gold medals (ball, ribbon), one silver (hoop) and one bronze (clubs). At the Moscow championship, he takes second place in the all-around, losing three points to his sister, and is selected for the Russian championship.

In the team championship at the Russian championship in Penza, he takes first place, becomes second in the all-around and replenishes his piggy bank with gold in the finals with a hoop and clubs, is in second position with a ball and ribbon.

At the international senior tournament in Pesaro, he becomes the first in the team with Dina, and in the finals in individual events he won two gold medals in the ribbon and ball exercise. A real triumph for the gymnast was the performance in Corbeil-Esson, where Arina wins five gold medals out of five possible - for the all-around and all the finals. By the way, in the final with the ribbon, Averina shared the first step of the podium with her sister.

At international tournaments in Budapest and Sofia, Arina takes 3rd and 2nd places in the all-around, respectively.

In 2016, Arina and Dina Averinykh began to be called "the secret weapon of the Russian national team", which replaced the leaders of Russian rhythmic gymnastics. Dina and Arina are entrusted with additional responsibility, and throughout the season they prove their right to participate in tournaments along with the first numbers of the national team.

In the all-around at the Grand Prix stage in Moscow, Arina takes the third place in the all-around, becomes the second in clubs and the first in the ribbon. She is sent to the World Cup in Lisbon, where she is fifth in the all-around and second in the ribbon final.

2017 was a triumphant year for the Averin sisters.

At the World Games in Wroclaw, she took four medals, of which three were gold - she won in exercises with a hoop, ribbon and ball, and was also third in exercises with clubs.

At the European Championships in Budapest, she took three gold - in the team, as well as in exercises with the ball and clubs.

At the World Championships in Pesaro, Arina won five medals, two of which were of the highest standard (ball and ribbon). She was also the second in all-around and exercises with a hoop, the third - with clubs.

In the all-around (that is, in the absolute championship), she lost only to her sister Dina, who won with a total of 74,700 points, against Arina - 73,450.

Arina Averina - ball (World Cup in Pesaro 2017)

Arina Averina's height: 164 centimeters.

Personal life of Arina Averina:

Single. At the moment, the young athlete devotes herself entirely to rhythmic gymnastics.

Achievements of Arina Averina:

World Championships:

Gold - Pesaro 2017 - ball
Gold - Pesaro 2017 - ribbon
Silver - Pesaro 2017 - All Around
Silver - Pesaro 2017 - hoop
Bronze - Pesaro 2017 - clubs

European Championships:

Gold - Budapest 2017 - Team
Gold - Budapest 2017 - ball
Gold - Budapest 2017 - clubs

World Games:

Gold - Wroclaw 2017 - hoop
Gold - Wroclaw 2017 - ball
Gold - Wroclaw 2017 - ribbon
Bronze - Wroclaw 2017 - clubs

In the team championship, all-around and exercises in certain types. The sisters are always together - so it would be wrong to divide this conversation into two separate interviews. The Averins told R-Sport correspondent Elena Sobol what it is like to be similar and support each other in competitions, how they do not see relatives for a long time, about their relationship with coach Vera Shatalina and two-time Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva, as well as about their goals in sports career.

"I know my sister's program by heart"

- Did everything work out in the team championship?

Dina: It turned out more than planned. Of course, something did not work out, there is something to work on, we will fix it in the all-around. Probably incomplete or something else. The task is to do everything to the maximum, as set. The most important thing is to please the coach, the stage director and, of course, me.

- That is, your personal assessment is also important?

Dinah: Of course. She always has it herself, and the coach teaches it.

- Will personal all-around be the most important here?

Arina: Yes, of course, it will be a very important and responsible competition. This is a selection for the national team, you have to get into the eight. There is such a task.

- You always worry about each other so touchingly.

Dina: It's already a tradition - we go out to cheer for each other during the competition. Of course, if the exit is very close, don't go. But if not, then mentally all the same I am with my sister. When my sister performs, I don't even know what I think! I am very afraid, I recite her whole exercise to myself, I know it by heart. When Arisha was staging, I was present at the production, and I have it too. When I watch the exercise, I praise it to myself, and I scold. I experience such emotions as if it were me on the carpet, not her!

Arina: I have exactly the same feelings. And you worry more about your sister. You know for yourself - where you will throw, how you will catch. And when Dina speaks, I do not understand what she will do, how she will act. I'm worried about my sister.

- If you are doubly scared than others, then, probably, doubly joyful?

Arina: Yes, it's true.

- How difficult is it if one performed well and the other did not?

Arina: It's not that difficult, perhaps. The one of us who performed well, she will support, say important words to improve the next day.

- Are you always together?

Dinah: Yes! It helps a lot, and not only in training. We are always together in life. There is rarely free time at competitions, and there are days off at the training camp. Every year we have training camps in Croatia, in our free time we sunbathe there, swim, go somewhere or just walk. Now we were preparing for the Russian championship in Novogorsk, we arrived with the most combative mood.

Zhenya Kanaeva - an example

- Did you choose the music yourself?

Arina: With a coach and director.

Dina: We are already slowly looking for music for the new season, we will show the coach something.

Arina: We are preparing in advance.

- Do you like the process of staging?

Dinah: Yes! This is something new and interesting. For a year, the old gets boring, you learn new elements, you want to go to training with pleasure, even around the clock! Fatigue is not felt at all.

- Is it harder to compete at Russian or international competitions?

Dina: It's a little more difficult at Russian starts, we play at home.

Arina: Moreover, we have very serious competition in Russia, more difficult, of course.

- Do you feel that the level of the World Championship?

Dina: Yes, only among Russian women.

- Are the fans different?

Arina: They also support very well abroad, they are also suitable. I would like to perform for the audience again and again, you go out with pleasure.

- Does it bother you when a crowd of little girls comes up and asks to sign or take a photo as a souvenir?

Dina: No, on the contrary, it's very nice (smiles). But if they come up before the performance, then it may be a little confusing or even unnerving, because you are adjusting, preparing. We usually ask after the show and everyone comes up after.

- Who is your example and inspiration in rhythmic gymnastics?

Dina: Zhenya Kanaeva! She has always been hardworking, obedient, purposeful. She works as a trainer now in Novogorsk, sometimes she suggests something, makes some comments. Helps a lot! Zhenya recently retired, she remembers everything how to do, she tells me.

Arina: She told us a very valuable thing about the skill in the ribbon. How to throw it correctly, how to catch it, how to make it fly into your hand, how not to get confused.

- How did you improve this year?

Dina: In terms of emotions.

Arina: In emotions, in technology. Turns - we always try to turn three or more.

"Only new acquaintances are confused"

- Are you often confused?

Dina: Close ones - no. And new people and friends confuse at first, and then get used to it.

- Ever used the fact that you look alike? For example, did you go out for each other to the blackboard at school?

Arina: We didn’t go to school much, and there wasn’t such a thing, probably, I never wanted to.

- How is your relationship with your older sister Polina going?

Dina: We have a very good relationship, we are friends, we correspond every day. We see each other quite rarely, really. She and her mother came to visit us in Moscow before leaving for Sochi.

- Does she regret ending her career?

Dinah: No, she is now coaching little girls herself. So sometimes it can give us a hint. He always supports us in competitions, writes, but never scolds.

- Is it cool to be the same?

Dinah: We don't really notice it. But now we have begun to dress differently, we already want to be a little different, so that we know that we can be different.

Arina: Before, everything was the same. Probably tired.

- How does your mother feel about not seeing you for a long time?

Dina: Calm down, she's used to it. At first I cried when we left for Moscow. We got used to it, we got used to it, and then it became normal. But she had never watched a competition since childhood. We have such a tradition that she doesn't even watch us live. She cannot, she is very worried.

Arina: We also have some traditions, but which are secret.

About the coach, the Olympics and dreams

- You have a very warm relationship with your coach Vera Nikolaevna Shatalina.

Arina: Somehow it worked out right away.

Dina: She noticed us, took her to train. She immediately treated us like her daughters. She is like a second mother to us, it helps us a lot. Every year we are getting closer and closer to her.

- Is Vera Nikolaevna demanding?

Dinah: Yes.

- Does it happen that he swears?

Arina: All the coaches swear, you can't praise us for what we are doing wrong! (Laughs) And if everything is good, then he praises.

- What is the best way to work on yourself?

Dina: Probably criticism.

Arina: Yes, criticism. We are told mistakes, we fix them and get better and better.

- What is your goal in sports?

Dina: Probably go to the Olympics. And become an Olympic champion.

Arina: And me too.

- Do you think about the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro?

Dina: We don't really think about it, we just work, improve our results. And there - how it goes.

Arina: If they say - we must, we must always be ready.

- Is there a dream outside of sports?

Arina: Probably there is. Start a family (laughs).

Dina: And I have always dreamed of building a house so that we could live together with the whole family. In order not to be separated from my sister.

- Do you like to dream in general?

Dina: Yes, of course. Sometimes we dream about a vacation. When we finish sports, I want to take the whole family and go somewhere to relax, not to think about anything.

- You, of course, have a difficult schedule. Does it happen that you just want to lie and do nothing because of fatigue?

Arina: It happens. There are difficult days during preparation when you just want to lie down and lie down.

About chocolate and hobbies

- They say that in Novogorsk you can't even eat a piece of excess chocolate.

Arina: No, the coach allows us. She knows that we ourselves monitor the weight, she trusts us.

Dinah: It's generally not very difficult to keep track of your weight. Probably, we were lucky after all by nature.

Arina: Sweet? I don’t want a whole cake, I like marmalade more, I don’t really like chocolate.

Dina: I'm somehow indifferent to sweets.

- What did sport give you, what do you think?

Arina: First of all - character. Posture, figure.

Dina: If we didn’t go in for sports, we would always be at home, it would be hard to part with loved ones, parents. Sport made us independent.

- You are already studying at the university, despite the fact that you are only 17 years old.

Dina: We are already finishing the first year, we are studying to be a coach. Studying is not hard, there is time - we go to St. Petersburg to study, but no - we do our homework.

- In the future, would you like to work by profession?

Dina: At first I wanted to choose some other education, so that after sports I just work. And I really wanted to be a coach, but now I don't really want to. First of all, I want to get a higher education, then a family, a job. And if you have a family to work as a coach, it will be difficult.

Arina: Honestly, I don't really want to work as a coach. Because I understand how hard it is. Maybe I'll grow up and I want to. I love working with small children, I really like to prompt, explain. Perhaps someday ... In general, we have not thought about the future yet, what will happen after rhythmic gymnastics.

Arina: I love to draw. Especially tigers, I like them very much. I learned it myself, it's just my hobby. In general, now I'm trying to study English. We must learn. While the level is zero, from the fifth grade we stopped attending school normally, there was no time to study it. We focused on the main subjects for admission, and now we decided to study English.

Dina: We understand that English is very necessary, we often travel abroad. It's hard not to know English there, I want to communicate. Our older sister knows English, it is easy for her.

Arina: We want to do the same. My sister is studying with us.

Dina: We tried to talk to each other with Arisha, but every time we try, we start laughing. In addition, there are press conferences at international competitions, you need to understand what question you are being asked and answer yourself.