Russian – South African collaboration in Acrobatic Gymnastics
JOHANNESBURG (RSA) - LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 4, 2010: Russian gymnastics choreographer, Ekaterina Kalinina, is currently at Golden Lions Gymnastics Club in Newlands, Johannesburg (RSA), assisting South African top acrobatic gymnasts composing new routines.
Golden Lions Gymnastics
Golden Lions Gymnastics was established in 1988 when two young gymnasts, Ilse Roets and Heidi-Marie Oosthuizen decided that they would one day become coaches at their own club, GimSterre. Heidi-Marie’s father, photo journalist Wessel Oosthuizen, established the club on his credit card and as the two young gymnasts were at the beginning of their careers, the club opened its doors with one gymnast and three coaches.
The club has since obtained its permanent venue at 90 Italian Road in Newlands, Johannesburg, changed from Artistic Gymnastics to Acrobatic Gymnastics and obtained a sponsorship from a large developer, DreyProps. Its name changed to the Russian Gymnastics School of SA.
The services of top Russian coaches, Ludmila Kholina, and her son, Alexander and choreographer Tatiana Silchenko, all from Voronezh, were obtained.
Within 18 months, they succeeded in producing the South African Gymnastics Federation’s first ever world champions: Monique Steglen and Jolien Dryer won the Women’s Pairs (11 – 16) at the International Age Group Games in Lievin (FRA) in 2004.
The club’s name has since changed its name to Golden Lions Gymnastics and its coach is former Belarus team member and European Bronze medallist, Natalia von Willig.
Ekaterina Kalinina in South Africa
Russian gymnastics choreographer, Ekaterina Kalinina, arrived end of February in South Africa and will spend the next month at Golden Lions Gymnastics in Newlands, Johannesburg, assisting South African champions Matome Tshishonga, Natalie Friesling and the other top gymnasts composing new routines for them.
“I am so excited to be here. The past few days were hectic as my club competed in Novgorod. I spent a day in icy St Petersburg and also spent overnight in Moscow before I left for Johannesburg,” she said on her arrival.
She says she is excited to be able to work with African gymnasts and was impressed with DVDs she saw of their routines.
“I do not intend to change them to look like European acro gymnasts, because from what I saw, they are uniquely different and should stay that way,” she says.
Kalinina will work with Golden Lions Gymnastics head coach, Natalia von Willig, a former Belarus and European medalist. Other acro clubs have requested Kalinina for assistance and she is set for a busy month. South Africa’s top Women’s Artistic Gymnastics coach, Ilse Laing, also requested the 24 year-old Russian to assist some of her gymnasts.
Visit of the President
Gideon Sam, President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, made a surprise visit to Golden Lions Gymnastics to witness Ekaterina Kalinina, visiting Russian choreographer, at work.
“I asked her to supply me with a programme in order to assist our women gymnasts and also to return in the second half of this year,” Sam said impressed with Kalinina’s work.
Sam stated that he believes this is the way forward for South African gymnastics.
“We need experts here to help with development and Ekaterina is young and enthusiastic and I believe that she should come back on a fulltime basis in the middle of 2011 in order for us to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014.”
(Source: Golden Lions Gymnastics / adapt. FIG)
