The 2000s in rhythmic gymnastics were the time of the rule of the three great K's - Alina Kabaeva, Evgenia Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova. Only Olympic awards are lacking in the heroine's collection of this article. However, Olga Kapranova will forever remain in the hearts of connoisseurs as one of the most spectacular and talented athletes. Having finished her career, she did not leave her favorite business and now she is training a new generation of champions.
Start shoulder to shoulder with sister
World sports might not recognize such a name as Olga Kapranova. Rhythmic gymnastics appeared in her life almost by accident.
Together with her mother in childhood, she met her sister Katya from school. At a stop of two girls the young trainer Elena Nefedova saw.
She immediately invited them to her section. Mom was surprised and somewhat discouraged, because Katya was already studying at the ballet school, but nevertheless decided to send both sisters to the sports section. So, at the age of seven, Olya begins a long journey in rhythmic gymnastics. Catherine subsequently will also achieve success in sports, will become a three-time champion of Russia, but will end her career early and switch to coaching.
Already in 1999, the scouts of Irina Wiener paid attention to Kapranova and were taken to her.
The rise of a new star
In 2002, Vera Shatalina became the coach of Kapranova. A year later, Olga falls into the national team. She received the first gold of the world championships in 2003 in team competitions.
Gradually, she became one of the best in rhythmic gymnastics. Olga Kapranova participates in all stages of the World Cup in 2004 and in the final held in Moscow, receives bronze medals in a number of disciplines.
A real breakthrough for her is the 2005 World Cup. She takes the first place five times, including in the main form of the program - personal all-around. After the departure of Kabaeva and Chashchina, everyone considers Olga to be the main star of the team. However, soon Evgenia Kanaeva appears , and Kapranova has to withstand competition with the future two-time Olympic champion.
The athlete is intensely preparing for the main tournament of her life - the 2008 Olympics. Successful and world championship 2007. Having received three gold medals, Olga Kapranova becomes a nine-time world champion.
Retirement
The Beijing Olympics is becoming one of the few failures in the life of a gymnast. There is nothing more offensive than falling a step behind the winners in the main tournament of your life. After that, Olga Kapranova is going to leave the sport, but Irina Viner persuades her to stay for a couple more seasons.
The swan song of the athlete becomes the world championship of 2009. In Japanese Mio, she becomes a ten-time champion of the planet, winning jubilee gold in team competitions. With a proudly raised head, Olga Kapranova ends her career. Personal life is now becoming a priority for the champion.
All experts note the great flexibility of the athlete, her technical equipment.
She performed elements that were not within the power of most gymnasts. Kapranova in this regard stood in the same row with Yana Batyrshina, Alina Kabaeva, Irina Chashchina.
After the Olympics in Beijing, London, changes were introduced to the rules of refereeing rhythmic gymnastics. In order to neutralize the hopeless lag in the technical skills of Russian athletes, a greater emphasis in the final assessments is put on choreography, dance elements. It already makes no sense to increase the complexity of the performance, and rhythmic gymnastics in many respects loses its sports component. Kapranova did not like all this. She was one of the last representatives of the generation of gymnasts who performed elements of the highest level of complexity.
School of Olga Kapranova
Having finished with an active career, the gymnast does not leave her favorite pastime. Her sister Ekaterina left sport early and immediately went on to coach at the Olympic Training Center Irina Wiener. Over 8 years of working with the best trainers, she has gained vast experience. In 2010, the sisters opened their own school of rhythmic gymnastics, named after the ten-time world champion.
Initially, it was located in the Iskra volleyball and sports complex near the city of Moscow.
Girls of all ages were recruited for classes, groups of all categories were created. Strengthened classes are not in vain, and already in 2011 young athletes of the "Olga Kapranova School" perform at many domestic and international tournaments.
To the sisters come the best specialists in rhythmic gymnastics and choreography, illustrious champions. “Olga Kapranova’s School” acquires branches in the Moscow and Leningrad Region. Today the general management is carried out by Catherine. Olga simultaneously works as a director of her own sports school.
So the circle closed, and the great gymnast continues to work where it all began.