Mariana Vasileva's visit to OVO

Mariana Vasileva

An outstanding coach from Bulgaria paid a visit to OVO Mariana Vasileva, a well known Bulgarian coach for rhythmic gymnastics, coached 21 gymnasts from Olari Gymnastics Association (OVO) for one week at the end of July. The 9-12 year old girls from Fosforit team and Fotonit team enjoyed excellent rhythmic coaching for five hours a day. These girls started to practice rhythmic gymnastics along with group aesthetic group gymnastics only this year with their own coach Anneli Laine-Näätänen. Both individual and group rhythmic gymnastics are in the program.

Mariana has to gymnasts in the Bulgarian National team for rhythmic gymnastics. She believes that the 14-year old Filippa Siderova is well off to succeed in the European Junior Championships next year. Finns can see Filippa to compete in the SVoLi Games that take place in Helsinki already in October. Mariana’s own 5 and 9 year-old daughters follow her mother into gymnastics. The older one is doing group gymnastics.

Mariana is a highly respected international coach. She was coaching for two years in Turkey and she has also coached gymnasts from Australia, Serbia, Czech Republic and Ukraine. In August she is heading to a competition in Japan with her gymnasts. Mariana has visited Finland already three times before, twice Valkeakoski for a competition with her gymnasts in 1999 and 2000 and once in winter this year to coach Fosforit and Fotonit. Every year Mariana hosts Alegro Cup, an international rhythmic gymnastics tournament in Bulgaria. This June there were some 60 gymnasts from 13 countries including two gymnasts from OVO.     

For the upcoming competitions Mariana designed and trained Fotonit an individual routine with ribbon and another with clubs. Fosforit focused on an individual routine with hoop. In addition Mariana worked on the old programs with apparatus to include new and more difficult elements. OVO is organising OVO Cup, an international rhythmic gymnastics competition for children, in September. Thanks to Mariana, the routines are ready on time.

Mariana brought along to Finland Anastasia Kisse, her talented 10-year old gymnast from Ukraine. Anastasia helped Mariana by showing the exercises to Finnish gymnasts and by serving as “assistant coach”. She wants to become a coach when she grows up. Anastasia finished 4th in Alegro Cup among the 9-10 year old gymnasts and she will participate in the OVO Cup for Ukraine in September.

The heavy training was accompanied with some leisure. One night was spent in the Linnanmäki amusement park. Mariana and Anastasia really enjoyed themselves, although Mariana passes rollercoaster and other similar rides. The night was finished wit a big bawl of sweet Finnish strawberries with vanilla ice cream.

”I like Finland. I saw a lot in Helsinki. It’s so green and clean here everywhere. Food is fresh and it tastes good. Furthemore, it is nice to work with Finns. You girls were well motivated and made good progress during the week”, said Mariana when saying good-byes and promised to come back. Anastasia liked most her 10th birthday in Linnanmäki amusement park.

Anneli Laine-Näätänen regarded the week being quite successful although the girls have had two heavy weeks in a roe. The girls were also pleased. The week was very international as 11 English gymnasts from Canterbury paid a visit to OVO and stayed with Fotonit girls.