The past year hasn’t been easy for 12-year-old Yulia Ivanova, but her hard work has proven to be worth it. On May 14, she was named the Level 6 New York State Gymnastic Championship at Monroe Community College, beating out about 250 competitors to take home the top prize.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know what was happening when they called my name,” said Ivanova, a seventh grader at Eagle Hill Middle School.
Ivanova took top scores in all four individual events — 9.525 on balance beam, 9.6 on uneven bars, 9.775 on vault and 9.775 on floor exercise. This equates to an all around score of 38.675, making her the New York State Champion for level 6 and No. 30 in the country for United States of America Gymnastics level 6. Last year, Ivanova placed 63 out of about 250 competitors in the same competition.
“When I first got my score, I thought for sure someone was going to come in and nudge them,” said Ivanova.
“We were really surprised. I know Yulia was not as confident on some of her events, but in the end they were announcing her scores and they were great,” said Karina Moskaleva, Ivanova’s mother. “We are just so proud of her.”
Moskaleva and Ivanova’s father, Vladislav Ivanov, are the owners and instructors of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Fayetteville. Both of her parents have grown up competing in dance competitions, and Ivanova said dancing from a young age has helped her condition her gymnastic skills.
“My favorite event is floor. I really like it because you can express yourself and set yourself out from others … I think my participation in dancing definitely helps me out in that event,” said Ivanova.
To see a video of Ivanova’s beam routine, click here: MOV_0716
On a typical week, Ivanova said she will practice gymnastics about four hours a day for four days, a total of about 16 hours, something that is not so simple because her family must drive to Rochester for practices since she is a member of the Rochester Gymnastics Academy (RGA), a prestigious gymnastic center that often produces top talent in the sport.
But getting to be a member of the RGA team was not something that came easy. In May 2015, Ivanova decided after spending about six years practicing at a gym in the Syracuse area, she wanted to find a gym that would provide her with top-quality training and push her to excel in the sport. She decided to try out to be a member of the RGA, but did not make the cut the first time.
“My parents and I had a talk and we decided that if I was not going to make it to a team that would push me to do better, then I should not continue with gymnastics,” said Ivanova. So for the next two months, Ivanova starting going for runs with her family and working out to build her stamina. She also received a scholarship to attend a summer gymnastics training camp in Pennsylvania, Camp Woodward, where she got to meet and train with American gymnastic Olympian Shawn Johnson.
“When I first saw her I was freaking out, I couldn’t even believe it,” said Ivanova. “It was great to meet someone who I look up to and see that they’re just a normal person who worked hard to get where they are.”
In August 2015, Ivanova tried out a second time for the RGA, much stronger and more confident from two months of hard work, and made the team.
Ivanova said her dream is to someday qualify for the United States Women’s Gymnastics Olympics team. For now, she will continue to practice and refine her skills under the guidance of great coaches and supportive parents.
“I have a lot of favorite quotes that keep me motivated but one of my favorites is ‘I never lose, I either win or learn,’” she said.
