By Maria Tretiakova
“No matter how tired I am before training, afterwards I always feel better.” These are the words of Anna Tretiakova, a Grade 10 Collingwood student. She was born in Russia and moved to Canada at six years old. As a rhythmic gymnast, when Anna isn’t at school or solving sudoku puzzles (her obsession), she is in the gym training. Since a very young age, Anna was always very involved in sports. She did martial arts starting from four years old, and also swimming in Grade One. Each week after swimming, Anna would walk past the gymnastics gym and see girls training. She was amazed, and she wanted to try it herself. Soon enough at 8 years old, Anna started rhythmic gymnastics and right off the bat surprised her coach with her natural flexibility.
As the years passed, Anna’s talent and passion unfolded in gymnastics. She started in a performance program but then moved to competitive. From being a four-time provincial champion in her category, to top four Westerns medalist, Anna is going for the gold. This year, she was invited to join the Nationals Team. “Being at the national level is different even though you perform on the same carpet,” Anna explains. “The competition is very intense, and every little mistake can cost you a place on the podium.”
Rhythmic gymnastics is arguably the most beautiful and difficult sport in the world. It combines strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and expression all paired with shiny costumes and apparatus. It is an Olympic sport but may be called an art form as well because of the emotion and expression that goes into each routine. Rhythmic gymnastics training is long and intense, but Anna loves this sport and has a strong motivation that pushes her to reach her goals.
Anna says her favourite apparatus is the ball, and her favourite routine this year is ribbon. She says, “Even though I get physically tired, I feel at ease when I do my routine. I love the feeling whenever I finish a clean routine, and that motivates me to work even harder.” Anna also loves to perform in competitions. Her routines are expressive, and she often smiles. She says that part of the reason she likes performing is because it gives you an adrenaline rush, and sometimes she’s surprised at the height of her jumps. While you’re on the carpet, you’re so focused, and time slows, so you notice every little detail.
In addition to her individual national senior program, Anna is also part of an AGG group called Aesthetic group gymnastics, which is a newer branch of gymnastics performed with no apparatus. With her team, she travels to international competitions. Her favourite destination so far was Tallinn, Estonia. As a natural-born leader, Anna was called the team captain. She’s also an assistant coach, helping to coach younger girls.
Gymnastics careers are quite short compared to other sports, and even though Anna’s gymnastics career may be nearing its finale, the life lessons and memories she gained will be with her all her life. As Anna’s coach says, “after rhythmic gymnastics, you can face any obstacle in life.” Anna shares, “you may lose your flexibility with age, but you will still have the will power of an athlete, and your muscle memory will actually remember most movements, like riding a bike.”
Once a gymnast, always a gymnast.
“No matter how tired I am before training, afterwards I always feel better.” These are the words of Anna Tretiakova, a Grade 10 Collingwood student. She was born in Russia and moved to Canada at six years old. As a rhythmic gymnast, when Anna isn’t at school or solving sudoku puzzles (her obsession), she is in the gym training. Since a very young age, Anna was always very involved in sports. She did martial arts starting from four years old, and also swimming in Grade One. Each week after swimming, Anna would walk past the gymnastics gym and see girls training. She was amazed, and she wanted to try it herself. Soon enough at 8 years old, Anna started rhythmic gymnastics and right off the bat surprised her coach with her natural flexibility.
As the years passed, Anna’s talent and passion unfolded in gymnastics. She started in a performance program but then moved to competitive. From being a four-time provincial champion in her category, to top four Westerns medalist, Anna is going for the gold. This year, she was invited to join the Nationals Team. “Being at the national level is different even though you perform on the same carpet,” Anna explains. “The competition is very intense, and every little mistake can cost you a place on the podium.”
Rhythmic gymnastics is arguably the most beautiful and difficult sport in the world. It combines strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and expression all paired with shiny costumes and apparatus. It is an Olympic sport but may be called an art form as well because of the emotion and expression that goes into each routine. Rhythmic gymnastics training is long and intense, but Anna loves this sport and has a strong motivation that pushes her to reach her goals.
Anna says her favourite apparatus is the ball, and her favourite routine this year is ribbon. She says, “Even though I get physically tired, I feel at ease when I do my routine. I love the feeling whenever I finish a clean routine, and that motivates me to work even harder.” Anna also loves to perform in competitions. Her routines are expressive, and she often smiles. She says that part of the reason she likes performing is because it gives you an adrenaline rush, and sometimes she’s surprised at the height of her jumps. While you’re on the carpet, you’re so focused, and time slows, so you notice every little detail.
In addition to her individual national senior program, Anna is also part of an AGG group called Aesthetic group gymnastics, which is a newer branch of gymnastics performed with no apparatus. With her team, she travels to international competitions. Her favourite destination so far was Tallinn, Estonia. As a natural-born leader, Anna was called the team captain. She’s also an assistant coach, helping to coach younger girls.
Gymnastics careers are quite short compared to other sports, and even though Anna’s gymnastics career may be nearing its finale, the life lessons and memories she gained will be with her all her life. As Anna’s coach says, “after rhythmic gymnastics, you can face any obstacle in life.” Anna shares, “you may lose your flexibility with age, but you will still have the will power of an athlete, and your muscle memory will actually remember most movements, like riding a bike.”
Once a gymnast, always a gymnast.
