From 30.08 to 03.09.2017. the pre-junior Olympic squad training camp was held at our national teams' base in the Rakovski Hall.
The aims were to raise the gymnasts' sport and technical skills; to discuss the World Championships with the gymnasts – trends and the Code of Points; and to increase motivation for top-level sporting excellence.
Dara Krasteva and Valentina Georgieva made a good impression on the Coaches' Committee, showing excellent discipline, engagement, effort, eagerness to learn new exercises and interest in the training sessions.
At the end of the camp there was a test, including a general physical preparation circuit and body and apparatus exercises. The selected exercises were fundamental for gymnasts in the pre-junior age group. Performing them correctly makes it possible to build on their technical abilities in future with a large volume of exercises.
The members of the Coaches' Committee selected 11 gymnasts born in 2005 and 10 born in 2006 to be monitored during 2018 and, where possible, invited to training camps.
The gymnasts were assessed on the following criteria:
– anthropometric measures;
– motivation shown during the camp (effort to follow the coaches' instructions, focus, engagement);
– sport and technical skills;
– artistry and dance ability;
– flexibility.
Our girls made a good statement of intent for future success and places in our national squads. They competed against 48 of Bulgaria's best gymnasts born in 2005/2006.
Dara Krasteva achieved a very good result in the test and placed 5th among the top 10 selected for monitoring in the 2006 age group. Her teammate Valentina Georgieva also showed good skills in general physical preparation and body exercises, but because of small inaccuracies with the apparatus, Valya finished 13th in the 2005 age group – also a big success for her and our small club, given the high level of all the participants and the strong competition.