It was in Tashkent. I was only just over three years old when Mum took me to a rhythmic gymnastics section. She really loved that sport, and at one time even took it up herself, though in her case it was artistic gymnastics. My very first trainer was Margarita Samuilovna. She understood child psychology well and really loved children. She mainly just played with us, including games that involved elements of rhythmic gymnastics.

I used to really love those classes. I got enormous pleasure from them and used to look forward each time to Mum taking me to the next class.