Tamara Yerofeyeva is one of gymnastics’ most recognisable athletes.
A four-time world champion, World Cup winner, and Olympic finalist, the rhythmic gymnast has done it all, and is now a performer with the Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States.
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 4, 1982, the now 41-year-old Yerofeyeva said she never expected to be performing into her 40s.
“When I started gymnastics, I never knew that I would still be active at this age,” said Yerofeyeva, who was in Malaysia last week to help launch the inaugural Piala Puteri Championship, a youth tournament to be held in December.
“I love this sport so much and would like to continue Cirque Du Soleil as long as possible. I feel so blessed that my body is capable of doing this at 41.”
As part of the launch of the Piala Puteri, Yerofeyeva held a power talk with gymnasts from the Sarina Rhythmic Gymnastics Club (SRGC), besides conducting two Master Class sessions last weekend.
Over 60 young girls had the chance to learn from Yerofeyeva, who said she loves meeting with the sport’s future stars.
“I have a deep love, and knowledge of this sport, and would like to share that with gymnasts from around the world. I enjoy teaching because I like to have a positive impact on students’ lives, helping them learn and grow,” said Yerofeyeva, who also has one silver, and eight bronze medals, from various World Championships.
“The best moments of my career were representing my country at the 2000 Olympic Games, winning the individual gold medal at the 2001 World Championships, and the group title, a year later. It is very unique to be competing in both events at the world level.”
Yerofeyeva, who suffered several injuries during her career, said her mental strength helped her bounce back each time.
That was part of her message to the gymnasts from SRGC, who were eager to learn about what it took to be a world champion.
“I told the girls that to succeed in gymnastics, they need confidence. Confidence is key,” said Yerofeyeva.
“Next, they need to set clear, achievable goals. Aiming for the stars is great, but breaking your objectives into smaller, manageable steps will make the journey less difficult.
“Most importantly, they need to celebrate each of their achievements, no matter how small, as it moves you forward.”
She added that she told the youngsters to embrace failure, as every loss can be a stepping stone to learn and grow.
“The power of the mind is incredible. See yourself making a beautiful and clean performance. Your mind can make the way for your body to follow,” she said.
“Finally, remember that sports is not just about winning. It is about personal growth and the joy of competition. Strive for excellence, but never lose sight of the love for gymnastics.”
Separately, SRGC founder, Sarina Sundara Rajah, said she was delighted with the power talk, which also saw Niloy Banerjee, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, speak to the gymnasts.
“At SRGC, we want our girls to expand their minds, to see how they can be better human beings,” said the former national gymnast.
“The talk and Master Class are part of our activation programme for the Piala Puteri Championship.
“We have worked hard for the past four years to organise the youth championship, and we hope to turn it into a league in the future.
“But this year, it will be one tournament. We expect several foreign talents to grace the event.”
