Rhythmic Gymnastics: Stretching into Mainstream Popularity?

Marin Mommies presents an article by guest contributor Barbara McVeigh.

Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport that Americans often don’t talk about or even know about, in contrast to Europe where it’s one of the leading competitive sports for girls. Also known as gymnastique moderne, the athletes perform floor routines to musical accompaniment using rope, hoop, ball, club or ribbon. They practice rigorously for years to achieve a high level of grace, balance and flexibility.

Despite the lackluster of local mainstream appeal, there is a growing, devoted group of families who find great value in a fairly new coach with Rhythmic Academy of Marin (RAM). Six years ago Coach Natalia Makrushina arrived from Russia, and she has families driving their children from across the San Francisco Bay Area many times a week for multiple hour practices, including intense stretching and ballet study. And, they are competing around the state and country, winning lots of awards.

"She’s firm, but she’s fair,” the girls say.

And, clearly they respond well to her coaching.

This month three of Natalia’s fifteen students will compete in the Junior Olympic National Championship in Orlando, Florida to represent Regional One California: Danielle Greenberg will compete as a Level 9 Junior, Haley Schrader Level 9 Senior, and Olga Sigmudson Level 8. Level 10 is the top level in this sport, so this is an amazing accomplishment for these athletes and coach. If they fare well at this competition, they will compete in the Visa National Championships late this month in San Jose, California.

“This sport helps girls become very disciplined and makes them stronger for life. If colleges supported this sport, there’d be much greater interest,” Natalia says.

In August, 22-year-old American Julie Zetlin competes in the Summer Olympics in London. In a recent interview with NPR, she said, even though she wants a medal from the Summer Olympics, she also wants more Americans to take her sport seriously. Some say rhythmic gymnastics just requires an athlete with charisma to kick start its popularity here in the United States. And, if it's not by Julie Zetlin, maybe Coach Natalia’s athletes will one day make that happen.

In any case, the beauty of rhythmic gymnastics can be enjoyed Saturday, June 2 at RAM’s Annual Summer Show in the gymnasium at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Gymnasts will present their competitive routines and perform new dances from 3:30–5:30 pm. It’s $5 at the door.

For more information about RAM, visit the website: www.marinrhythmic.com.