BEIJING, December 2 President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics (VFKhG) ) Irina Viner called the Chinese national team “our girls.”
Since 2022, the Chinese national team in group exercises has been coached by two-time Olympic champion Anastasia Bliznyuk.
““I root, of course, for Beijing, for China, because in China My student Anastasia Bliznyuk is currently working. She participated in three Olympics, winning two golds and one silver. She raised rhythmic gymnastics in group exercises to a very high level, their team took first place in certain events at the World Championships. She passed on to them everything that for three Olympics she received a team from me. Now she is doing a lot of work in China so that their team takes first place at the Olympics. Now I call them our girls,» said Wiener.
In July, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG ) announced the admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions in a neutral status from January 1, 2024. The FIG eligibility criteria were announced on November 10.
Russian athletes and members of delegations were given conditions under which they could only take part in competitions if they refused to support the SVO and had no ties to the armed forces. There should be no national symbols on the athletes’ uniforms; the national anthem and any verbal expressions of nationality are not allowed. In particular, the equipment should be light blue, and the apparatus in rhythmic gymnastics should be completely white. Athletes will be looking for signs of support for the CBO on social networks.