In modern rhythmic gymnastics it becomes clear by the age of roughly 11 or 12 whether a young gymnast has a future in sport. So it’s at that age that she and her parents need to think very hard, take advice from a trainer and decide whether she should stay in professional sport or concentrate on her schooling and other things. It’s very important to decide your priorities in good time, because you can start developing skills and achieve success in another area. You can’t continue with gymnastics as a hobby. I personally had to take this decision at the age of 12 and was basically ready to accept that I might have to give up gymnastics. When Irina Alexandrovna (Viner) found out that I was 12, said that I was already “too old” for gymnastics. But when she saw me perform she changed her mind. So my final choice was in favour of rhythmic gymnastics.


Addition

Sometimes, when you’re in doubt, it’s worth going to see several trainers and listening to their opinions. But the most important thing is to listen to yourself, but to be very honest about it - without exaggerating your strengths or underestimating your weaknesses – and after that make your choice.

Once I saw someone bring a little girl to see my trainer (I.A.Viner). She was all stiff, hadn’t done any stretching and was totally unprepared for gymnastics lessons. “What am I supposed to do with her?” said Irina Alexandrovna. “Her muscles are made of wood, they’ve got no plasticity.” It looked like the child was totally unsuited for rhythmic gymnastics. But she had a very strong desire to get into that sport. She wouldn’t give up, and continued training. And when some time later she came back for another audition it was, as they say, “chalk and cheese”. And now that girl is in the team and has performed successfully in various competitions. Her stretching and are back are things to be envied. So that’s the kind of result a child can achieve through persistence, hard work and the support of an experienced trainer.