Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Pirouetting to the top
A GRADE 8 pupil at Edgemead High School is pirouetting her way to the top.
Yulia Galukhin stole the show at the South African Gym Games in Durban last month.
The Cape Olympia Rhythmic Gymnastics Club student was crowned the overall winner in the girls rhythmic junior category. She also bagged gold for rope, clubs and ball. The 14-year-old walked away with a bronze medal for ribbon as well.
The Bothasig resident said she enjoyed performing in front of the audience.
“The competition made me feel at home because many other gymnasts from the Western Cape came to support me. I was not entirely happy with all my performances but in the end, my best was enough for first place. I could improve on my speed as therefore I can fit more elements into my routine, raising the difficulty and in result having a better chance of being on top,” said Yulia.
Last year, she finished second for ribbon and hoop in the junior category at the Spartacus “Emeralds” Cup-International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament in
Greece. In 2016, she competed at the
Dubai International Rhythmic Gymnastics DuGym Cup. “I would like to represent South Africa either in Africa, at the World Championships or the Olympics,” said Yulia, who looks up to former Russian gymnast Yana Kudryavtseva.
Kudryavtseva won silver overall for rhythmic at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
She was the overall winner at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships from 2013 to 2015. However, in 2017, the 22-year-old retired due to multiple leg injuries.
“I like the style of her routines as well as her flexibility. She also makes her routines seem so effortless,” Yulia added.
Her mother and coach Natasha said Yulia is a very cheerful and creative girl with a great sense of humour.
“She is very sociable and likes the company of her friends,” she said.