RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

As a sports discipline, rhythmic gymnastics began to be formed in the ХIХ century. The first World Championships in rhythmic gymnastics was held in Budapest in 1963. In 1984, this sports discipline was included in the program of the Olympic Games. Starting from that year, rhythmic gymnasts began to participate in the Olympic Games. A French physiologist and teacher George Deneni (1850-1917) has played a significant role in the scientific substantiation of girl's physical training. He proved that dynamic exercises, exercises on muscles stretching and relaxation, dancing movements with various apparatus (a ball, a hoop, clubs, a ribbon) are rational as they result in flexibility, elasticity, as well as in beautiful body structure, emergence of fascinating and magical movements. The French teacher Francois Delsarte (1811-1871) has played a big role in preparation of the theory of expressive movements’ skills. Analyzing dramatic art, he came to a conclusion that each feeling and emotional experience of a human being may be expressed by body movement, thus, arousing spectators' excitement and delight. "Grammar of rhythmic movements" created by Delsarte began to be applied in the process of physical education, especially, in preparation of mass gymnastics performances with musical accompaniment. Principles and ideas developed by Delsarte were reflected in creative work of a well-known dancer Aisidora Dunkan (1878-1927). Her dancing and improvisations based on free plastic movements, in many ways, bears resemblance to modern rhythmic gymnastics. In the beginning of the last century, rhythmic gymnastics, perfected by rules of another French scientist Jacques Dalcrose, began to develop promptly. In the 50th of the last century, this sports discipline gained popularity all over the world.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS IN AZERBAIJAN

The history of foundation and development of rhythmic gymnastics in Azerbaijan dates back to the 40th of the last century. A great role in formation of this sports discipline in Azerbaijan has played Nadejda Merkulova who assembled a group of girls for the first time. The gymnasts achieved successes at all-USSR and international tournaments namely under her leadership. Larisa Zebina, Lina Vinnikova, Svetlana Senatorova, Nina Hajibayli, Mila Shibayeva and Elmira Hajiyeva were among those gymnasts. In 1961, Lina Vinnikova performed in the first rhythmic gymnastics world tournament in Germany in the composition of the USSR national team. It was the first performance of the Azerbaijani gymnasts on the international arena. She won a title of Champion at the World Students Spartakiad in Bulgaria in 1965. Having won a title of Champion of the USSR in the composition of the sports society “Burevestnik” several times, Lina Vinnikova was awarded with the “Miss Grace” title three times.

Following the Olympic Games in 1984, there was observed an influx of girls into rhythmic gymnastics in Azerbaijan. At that time, Yana Tsaplina was a bright star of home gymnastics. Having showed high results at the Union’s events, Yana Tsaplina was awarded with “Hope Cup” in 1985. Her successes would be continued by Dinara Nabiyeva and Natalya Bulanova in the years to come.

Dinara Nabiyeva, the two-time Azerbaijan Champion won the bronze medal at the International Children’s Festival in Antalya city (Turkey) in 1995. She also took the 3rd place at the International Tournament in Israel in 1996.

The five-time Azerbaijan Champion (1991-1995), Natalya Bulanova, participated in a great number of international tournaments as well and won the title of “Miss Press”.

Thanks to high level care shown by the government and dynamic activity of the National Olympic Committee, Azerbaijan has turned into one of the world’s sports centers. Along with other sports disciplines, attention was devoted to rhythmic gymnastics as well. In particular, a significant revival began to be felt in this sports discipline after Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva was elected the President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation in October, 2002. Today, gymnastics has truly entered into a new stage of its development in the country as a result of purposeful and effective activity. Strengthening of material and technical basis of all gymnastics disciplines, including rhythmic gymnastics, as well as work carried out in the direction of large-scale involvement in this sports discipline already bears its fruits. There is a new generation of promising gymnasts in Azerbaijan today, who are able to continue existing rich traditions of the country’s rhythmic gymnastics. Such gymnasts as a silver and bronze medalist of the European Championships Lala Yusifova, prize-winners of international events Laman Hajizada, Gulsum Shafizada, Aysha Mustafayeva, Nilufar Niftaliyeva, Yekaterina Prokopenko, Mansura Bagiyeva and others are the representatives of the growing generation in rhythmic gymnastics. At present, sections are opened and functioning in Azerbaijan not only in Baku but also in Sumgayit, Ganja, Goychay, Gusar, Kurdamir and Khirdalan.

Highly appreciating the work carried out by Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation within such a short period of time, International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) made a decision at its Congress in Athens to hold World Cup series of Category A in Baku on August 7-11, 2003. In this connection, the FIG President - Bruno Grandi, the FIG Secretary General - Norbert Bueche and Deputy Secretary General - Andre Gueisbuhler, as well as the President of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee - Egle Abruzzini visited Baku in April 2003. During the delegation’s visit to Azerbaijan, there was held a meeting with the President of the Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan and the deputy of Milli Majlis (National Assembly), Ilham Aliyev. The issue of further mutual cooperation was discussed at the meeting. The guests also visited the city’s sports complexes and took a great interest in equipment meeting world standards. Highly valuing material and technical facilities of rhythmic gymnastics in Azerbaijan, the FIG officials gave their consent to hold the World Cup and the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Baku in 2004 and in 2005 accordingly.

At the World Cup series in 2003, an Azerbaijani gymnast Dinara Gimatova won 3 awards: one silver and two bronze medals, thus, marking the beginning of successful performance on the international arena. Competing at the World Championships in Budapest the same year, Gimatova was qualified for the Olympic Games in Athens-2004 for the first time in history of national rhythmic gymnastics. In 2004, Baku hosted the World Cup series again, and Gimatova contented herself with one bronze medal in exercises with clubs this time. But a serious injury prevented her from participation in the Olympiad and Gimatova was replaced by another gymnast Anna Gurbanova who took the 14th place in Athens.

In 2005, Baku held AGF Cup which had a status of the Category A World Cup. Dinara Gimatova won 2 silver medals in exercises with clubs and a ribbon at the competitions. In autumn of the same year, Azerbaijan hosted the World Championships which was the first one both in history of independent Azerbaijan and on the whole post-Soviet space. At individual competitions, the country was represented by 3 gymnasts: Dinara Gimatova, Anna Gurbanova and Vafa Huseynova, as well as by the group team established at the beginning of the year. Azerbaijan took the 5th place in a team competition, Gimatova and Gurbanova were included into the list of top ten gymnasts, and the group collective reached the final where became the eighth with 5 ribbons.

Following the organization of the World Championships at the high level, Azerbaijan was entrusted to hold the European Championships in 2007. An Azerbaijani gymnast Aliya Garayeva won 2 medals there. She became the European Champion in exercises with a rope and took the third place in a team competition along with Dinara Gimatova and Anna Gurbanova.

The girls repeated this success at the World Championships in Patras again. They, as well as Zeynab Javadli took the third place in a team competition. In addition, Aliya Garayeva, Dinara Gimatova and group team qualified for the Olympic Games-2008. The Games in Beijing-2008 added a new page to history of Azerbaijan Rhythmic Gymnastics. Aliya Garayeva reached the all-around final and took the high 6th place. The group team, consisting of Vafa Huseynova, Anna Bitiyeva, Valeriya Yegay, Alina Trepina, Anastasiya Prasolova and Dina Gorina, also reached the final where became the 7th. Gimatova ranked the 11th.

The 2008 was concluded by the AEON CUP Worldwide RG Club Championships in Tokyo. “Neftchi” team consisting of Aliya Garayeva, Zeynab Javadli and a junior Samira Mustafayeva won the 3rd place.

In May, 2009, Baku hosted the European Championships for the second time in history. Aliya Garayeva and Anna Gurbanova took the 2nd place in a team competition this time. In an individual tournament, Gurbanova won the “bronze” in an exercise with a ball, and a junior group team consisting of Sabina Abbasova, Aelita Khalafova, Kamila Mammadova, Nigar Abdusalimova, Yevgeniya Zhidkova and Lala Maharramova won the silver medals. That year’s World Championships also left a medal trace for Azerbaijan. Aliya Garayeva, Anna Gurbanova, Zeynab Javadli and Samira Mustafayeva also took the 3rd place in a team competition. Moreover, Garayeva became the World vice-champion in an exercise with a ball, and the group team, under the leadership of a Bulgarian specialist Mariana Vasileva, won the 4th place in the all-around for the first time in history. At the European Championships in Bremen in 2010, Aliya Garayeva, for the first time, took the 3rd place in the al-around competitions. In addition, a 14-year-old Lala Yusifova became the European vice-champion with a ball in the juniors’ tournament for the first time in history of Azerbaijan rhythmic gymnastics as well, and a junior group team consisting of Aliya Pashayeva, Mansura Mehdiyeva, Irada Ahadzade and Madina Hasanova ranked the 3rd. It followed by the World Championships held in Moscow and the tournament turned out to be Aliya Garayeva’s real triumph. At first, she had won three bronze medals with a hoop, a ball and a ribbon, and, then, she became the bronze medalist in a team competition third time in a row along with Anna Gurbanova and Samira Mustafayeva.

Main events of 2011 were held in Minsk and Montpellier. The junior group team consisting of Lala Yusifova, Aysha Mustafayeva, Aynur Jabbarl, Mansura Bagiyeva, Siyana Vasileva and Sabina Garatova became the competitions’ bronze medalists at the European Championships in the capital of Belarus. And at the World Championships in France, Aliya Garayeva won the 3rd place in the all-around for the first time, as well as qualified for the London-2012 Olympic Games.