“She seems to be like a fairy queen watching over the younger human women,” mentioned one netizen.
The 30-year-old, who’s 173 cm tall and has hanging blonde hair and blue eyes, is a legendary rhythmic gymnast.
Bliznyuk joined the Russian nationwide workforce in 2009, was a two-time group all-around champion on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and silver medallist on the 2020 Olympics.
Later, Russia was banned from collaborating in worldwide sports activities occasions resulting from state-sponsored doping and the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
Bliznyuk then determined to take her sports activities profession elsewhere.
She accepted an invite from the Chinese language rhythmic gymnastics workforce to change into a way coach in 2022, working alongside gymnast Solar Dan to educate the workforce.
Mainland reviews point out that she realized Chinese language inside three months and is ready to talk with the athletes fluently.
“Anastasia all the time demonstrates each transfer herself. Her sleek posture and exact management have change into a mannequin for our women,” Solar mentioned.
The star athlete has additionally fused the essence of Russian rhythmic gymnastics with conventional Chinese language tradition, comparable to utilizing tai chi to assist the athletes enhance physique management.
“She introduced new methods and concepts that allowed us to attain historic breakthroughs,” workforce member Wang Lanjing, 19, informed City Specific.
Within the Paris Olympics rhythmic gymnastics group all-around remaining on August 10, the Chinese language workforce captured gold by showcasing Chinese language conventional Han and Tang dynasty aesthetics with ribbons and balls.
“Within the flips of those Chinese language women, I may see echoes of the previous gymnastics queen, Anastasia,” an internet observer mentioned on Weibo.
Bliznyuk is strict throughout coaching however heat and delicate in day by day life, and the athletes regard her as an in depth good friend, in keeping with Xinmin Weekly.
“After I was an athlete myself, I needed for a coach who may determine with me. So I try to be somebody who’s each a good friend and a coach, mom, and large sister to those Chinese language women, “Bliznyuk mentioned.
She added that she admires Chinese language athletes for his or her diligence, humility, gratitude, and respect for his or her coaches, and has grown very keen on her workforce.
Bliznyuk has additionally explored many cities in China, together with Chongqing, the hotpot capital within the nation’s southwest, the place she developed a ardour for the dish and spicy meals.
The proficient and charming Russian coach has obtained widespread reward on mainland social media.
“Thanks to your contribution to the Chinese language workforce. Trying ahead to extra thrilling sparks between the Chinese language and Russian gymnastics tradition,” one Weibo consumer wrote.
“Anastasia has demonstrated what true sportsmanship and internationalism are,” mentioned one other.
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