"I really love China," said Maria, "Now I can speak some Chinese and understand other people more easily."
Of her Ukrainian-accent Chinese, Liaoning team manager Li Qinghua couldn't help laughing, but kept saying "we have chosen the best foreign coach".
"I was invited to Hangzhou, China," recalled Maria, "In my view, the short-term exchange would bring me different experiences and unforgettable memories and I thought it would be three months or no more than half a year."
Yet, things changed after her arrival and her visit in China and her talks with Chinese gymnasts. "They are strong. China gives me big surprise. Everyone likes Chinese gymnasts. They make big progress in these four years," said Maria.
In 2009, Maria went to Hangzhou, a southeastern Chinese city, under the framework of an exchange project of coaches between China and Ukraine. She became a coach for the northeastern Liaoning province team in the following year and kept coaching there since 2010.
Nowadays, her younger sister Victoria, who once ranked fifth in the world championship, also became a coach in the Chinese youth national team, and the sisters are living and working in Beijing as their disciples are all members of the Chinese teams.
The Ukrainian sisters enjoy their lives in China and hope to bring up more Chinese rhythmic gymnasts to the world arena.
A father posed nude at an art studio, to raise money for his children's medical expenses
Feedback
RSS
