LA
Lights 2008 Tournament of Champions (Los Angeles, California)
LA
Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament of Champions hosted by Los
Angeles School of Gymnastics for 26 consecutive years was held on January
24-27, 2008. This is an America's premier rhythmic gymnastics event
attended this time by 380 athletes from 18 countries besides the USA,
including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Spain, Canada, Finland,
Australia, New Zealand and many more. Current world champion (Patras
2007) Anna Bessonova of Ukraine as well as other Beijing 2008 Olympic
qualifiers Inna Zhukova, Liubov Charkashina, Aliya Garaeva and Irina
Kikkas competed in the Level 10 Senior category.
London
RGC sent Sarah Molnar to compete in Level 9 Senior category - Sarah's
first performance in the new capacity of national canadian athlete.
We are very pleased to announce that Sarah showed excellent results
finishing 8th allaround among 18 competitors from 5 countries, and showing
as high as 5th result in her hoop routine.
At
the "American Girl Place" banquet hall from the right to the left:
Sarah Molnar, coach Inna Paliy and Anna - Sarah's friend who came along
to support her.
London
RGC president Kathryn and coach Inna in the anticipation of the reception
banquet .
Enjoying
the reception banquet: great gifts from "American Girl" and "Smash
Box" cosmetics, succulent food, photos and autographs with Anna Bessonova,
meeting top world gymnasts and coaches, famous sports photographers and
videographers, RG equipment company representatives, USA gymnastics officials.
Free time in
LA: Santa Monica park at the beach featuring tall palm and eucalyptus trees.
Santa Monica
beach.
A
dinosaur at the shopping Promenade.
Lots
of palm trees.
January
26, 2008. Sarah's First competition day in sunny California.
Competition
venue: Veterans Memorial Auditorium at 4117 Overland Avenue in Culver
City.
Sarah
is warming up for her first performance with hoop on Friday, Jan. 26.
Competition
facility is set up to highlight performances.
Level
10 Senior timed warm up on the competition carpet. Anna Bessonova is getting
ready for her rope routine.
World
Champion and Olympian from Ukraine Anna Bessonova shows her famous 240 degree
split leap in clubs routine captured by Tom
Theobald.
Anna
Bessonova's hoop routine is adored by everyone.
Level
10 Senior allaround podium: Anna Bessonova, a tournament champion, Eugenia
Kanaeva of Russia and Liubov Charkashina from Belarus.
Anna
Bessonova's coach Albina
Deriugina and LA Lights meet director Alla Svirsky exchange souvenirs
and warm greetings. 20 years ago, London RGC head coach Inna Paliy was
an athlete in Deriugins' school coached in part by Albina Deriugina who
continues to bring up world top athletes.
London
RGC expresses its greatest thanks to LA Lights meet organizing committee,
officials and volunteers for warm reception and the opportunity to experience
this outstanding tournament!
