Vera Sessina

Summary

Vera Valeryevna Sessina (Russian: Вера Валерьевна Сесина, born 23 February 1986) is a Russian individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2007 World All-around silver medalist, the 2006 European All-around Champion, two time (2006, 2005) Grand Prix Final All-around champion and three time (2008, 2007, 2003) Grand Prix Final All-around silver medalist. She was known for her high releve during her pivot.

Vera Sessina
Personal information
Full nameVera Valeryevna Sessina
Alternative name(s)Sesina
Country represented Russia
Born (1986-02-23) 23 February 1986 (age 38)
Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
HometownMoscow, Russia
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
ClubMGFSO
Head coach(es)Irina Viner
Assistant coach(es)Natalia Gorbulina
ChoreographerVeronica Shatkova
Retired2009
Medal record
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Budapest Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Baku Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Baku Ribbon
Gold medal – first place 2007 Patras Team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Patras Rope
Gold medal – first place 2007 Patras Ribbon
Silver medal – second place 2007 Patras All-around
Silver medal – second place 2007 Patras Hoop
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Patras Clubs
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Granada Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Moscow Team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Moscow All-around
Gold medal – first place 2007 Baku Clubs
Gold medal – first place 2007 Baku Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Baku Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Baku Rope
Silver medal – second place 2009 Baku Rope
Silver medal – second place 2009 Baku Hoop
Silver medal – second place 2009 Baku Ribbon
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Baku Hoop
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Baku Ribbon
World Cup Final
Gold medal – first place 2006 Mie Ball
Gold medal – first place 2006 Mie Clubs
Gold medal – first place 2006 Mie Ribbon
Gold medal – first place 2008 Benidorm Rope
Silver medal – second place 2006 Mie Rope
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Stuttgart Rope
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Benidorm Ribbon
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2003 Innsbruck Clubs
Gold medal – first place 2003 Innsbruck Ball
Gold medal – first place 2005 Berlin All-around
Gold medal – first place 2006 Berlin All-around
Gold medal – first place 2006 Berlin Rope
Gold medal – first place 2006 Berlin Ball
Gold medal – first place 2006 Berlin Clubs
Gold medal – first place 2006 Berlin Ribbon
Gold medal – first place 2007 Innsbruck Ribbon
Gold medal – first place 2007 Innsbruck Rope
Gold medal – first place 2008 Bratislava Hoop
Silver medal – second place 2003 Innsbruck All-around
Silver medal – second place 2003 Innsbruck Hoop
Silver medal – second place 2005 Berlin Ball
Silver medal – second place 2005 Berlin Clubs
Silver medal – second place 2005 Berlin Ribbon
Silver medal – second place 2007 Innsbruck All-around
Silver medal – second place 2007 Innsbruck Hoop
Silver medal – second place 2007 Innsbruck Clubs
Silver medal – second place 2008 Bratislava All-around
Silver medal – second place 2008 Bratislava Rope
Silver medal – second place 2008 Bratislava Clubs
Silver medal – second place 2008 Bratislava Ribbon
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Innsbruck Ribbon
World Games
Gold medal – first place 2005 Duisburg Ribbon
Silver medal – second place 2005 Duisburg Rope
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Duisburg Ball
Summer Universiade
Silver medal – second place 2007 Bangkok Rope
Silver medal – second place 2007 Bangkok Clubs
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Bangkok All-around
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Bangkok Ribbon

Career edit

Sessina began training in rhythmic gymnastics in 1993 and eventually moved to the Russian training center in Novogorsk. At the 2002 European Championships in Granada, she performed only one routine, but was noticed because of her flexibility, stability and clean performance. The same year, she took part in an international event in Thiais (France) and won some medals on various apparatus. In 2003, she performed well on the Grand Prix circuit.

In 2005, Sessina competed at the 2005 World Championships. She placed fifth in all-around qualifications but did not advance into the finals because teammates Olga Kapranova and Irina Tchachina placed ahead of her. She was also sent to the 2005 European Championships.

In 2006, Sessina won the all-around competition at the 2006 European Championships in Moscow,[1] beating teammate and Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva. She won the 2006 Grand Prix Final all-around in Innsbruck and won three events of the FIG World Cup Final in Mie, Japan.

 
Sessina at the 2009 European Championships

Sessina continued to do well in 2007, winning the all-around silver medal at the World Cup series in Ljubljana as well as silver in all-around at the 2007 Grand Prix Final. At the 2007 European Championships in Baku, she won the gold medal in clubs, a silver for rope, a pair of bronze medals for ribbon and hoop for the individual event finals. At the 2007 World Championships, Sessina won the all-around silver medal behind Ukrainian Anna Bessonova and then took the all-around bronze medal at the 2007 Summer Universiade behind Bessonova and Kapranova.

Sessina competed for a spot at the 2008 Olympics but struggled due to injury and was beaten by compatriots Evgenia Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova. She won a gold medal in rope and bronze in hoop at the 2008 World Cup Final in Benidorm and ended her season with silver in the all-around at the 2008 Grand Prix Final.

Sessina won silver medals in All-around, rope, hoop and ribbon at the 2009 European Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. She retired from competition following the event.

After her retirement, Sessina was elected to the FIG Athletes Commission as a rhythmic gymnastics representative.[2]

Routine music information edit

Year Apparatus Music title [3]
2009 Hoop Theme from 'Pique Dame' by Tchaikovsky
Ball John Nineteen: Forty One/Superstar/Overture music from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Rope Back in the U.S.S.R.
Ribbon Yesterday music from Imagine by Ofra Harnoy
2008 Hoop Concerto in F by Gershwin
Rope "Beetlejuice" Music For A Darkened Theatre Vol. 1 by Danny Elfman
Clubs The Firebird/ The Carnival of the Animals by Igor Stravinsky / Camille Saint-Saëns
Ribbon Cadenza / Rondo by Alfred Schnittke
2007 Hoop Music from Chess by Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson
Rope Russian Sailor Dance music from The Red Poppy by Reinhold Glière
Clubs The Firebird/ The Carnival of the Animals by Igor Stravinsky / Camille Saint-Saëns
Ribbon Fantasy for Violin & Orchestra music from Ladies in Lavender by Nigel Hess & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
2006 Rope Islamey (The Oriental Fantasy) by Mily Balakirev
Ball Leyanda by Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz
Clubs Aragon Hunt by Michael Ivanovich Glinka
Ribbon Requiem by Mozart
2005 Rope Tango de los Exilados by Vanessa Mae
Ball Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor: 3rd Movement by Maksim Mvrica
Clubs Theme / The take over / Battle in the boneyard music from Con Air
by Trevor Rabin, Mark Mancina
Ribbon Love Story by Arthur Fidler & Boston Pops Orchestra
2004 Hoop Straight to Number One / Big Beat / Tango in Harlem by Touch 'n Go
Ball Piano Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement by Tchaikovsky
Clubs Act 1 Scene 2 music from Pique Dame / Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky
Ribbon ?
2003 Hoop Ninkou Latora music from Cirque du Soleil: Dralion by Violaine Corradi
Ball ?
Clubs At the Circus / Adagio music from Spartacus by Aram Khatchaturian
Ribbon Theme music from Giselle by Charles Adam Adolphe
2002 Hoop Would You... (Radio Edit) and (Long Dance Mix) by Touch and Go
Ball Scene d'amour by Sarah Brightman
Clubs Hey Pachuco! by Royal Crown Revue
Rope Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, for violin & orchestra in A minor, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns

References edit

  1. ^ "22nd European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics ... All gold medals went to Russia!". GYMmedia.de. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  2. ^ "Swift and efficient!". fig-gymnastics.com.
  3. ^ "Sessina RG music list". rgforum.no.

External links edit