How Darya Verenich Overcame Challenges to Shine in Professional Rhythmic Gymnastics

A member of the Belarusian national rhythmic gymnastics team and a medalist in international competitions, **Darya Verenich** recounted her journey into professional sports.

— Originally, my older sister was supposed to take up rhythmic gymnastics. She was taken to a club at the age of four, but our mom was told it was too early. I started my gymnastics training at eight. They initially didn’t want to accept me, suggesting I try acrobatics or trampoline instead, but my mom insisted, and a great coach, Victoria Viktorovna Vnuchkina, agreed to take me on. During my first year, I participated in the training but didn’t handle the apparatuses (rope, ball, hoop, ribbon, clubs — Editor’s note) at all. Eventually, I had to catch up with the other girls who had started much earlier than I did.

— To improve flexibility, girls are stretched and trained to do the splits. Many say this can be quite painful. Did you experience this as well?
— Absolutely. Because I started later, I had to stretch for longer than the others. How did it work? I would place my legs on two chairs while the coach would position another chair and push my legs down. It was uncomfortable, occasionally brought me to tears, but it was bearable. Starting with the apparatuses proved much more challenging. I picked them up late and was only doing basic moves with the hoop when I needed to master advanced techniques. A week later, I was already competing. Let’s just say it was an unforgettable experience: I kept losing the hoop. However, I gradually got used to it and ended up enjoying it.

At 14, I was moved to Minsk. They could have taken me earlier, but my parents chose a different path. In August 2020, I finally arrived. I was placed in a dormitory at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Palace and enrolled in the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture. You know, if I were a coach, I wouldn’t have accepted myself. Why? Well, the difference between me five years ago and who I am now is like night and day. I was scared to compete and struggled with the apparatuses. But now, everything has changed. I am extremely grateful to my coaches, Yulia Olegovna Bichun-Komarova and Irina Yuryevna Leparska, for helping me improve so significantly, — quotes Verenich Onliner.

Nineteen-year-old Darya Verenich is a bronze medalist in rhythmic gymnastics team events at the BRICS Games (2024), a silver medalist of the Belarus Cup, and the national junior champion (2021).