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Beginning
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It was the end of September and wonderful "Old Wives' summer". I had maternity leave staying in the country, mushrooming and spending several hours in the forest every day.
The day before I walked 10 kilometers and returned happy. I knew that it's the time!
She woke me at 6 a.m. and we left…
It was midday when she has drawn the first breath.
I wanted to name her Nasten'ka, but when she appeared I have got a real shock, that's why I named her Iree-Shock. But I have been always calling her Irinushka.
I felt into sleep and when I woke up, all outside the windows was brilliant white, it was snowing, and there were not simply big snowflakes but some snowballs. It was so deliciously! So wonderful! I was so happy that I did not notice cold in my ward and snow on the windowsill, which succeeded to leak in.


 

                       

     

 

Irina was a silent and smiling child in her first 8 months. Then she began her "activity". And when she was 10 months she didn't go but took off at a run. She has been always running, never walking. And I was following her. All mothers gathered about playgrounds and their children played there. Except Irina…
She was running far and for a long time, reclaiming more and more space.

   


After 5-year race I tried day camp. At that time Irina had been studying a year in the "Intelligence School", there were rhythmic and aerobics besides usual classes and English. She sang, danced and played in tales there. We came out to different Moscow scenes. At the age of 5 we went to the rhythmic gymnastics school. Classes were on Sundays as well. We have been going there whole autumn till winter. Then we couldn't continue - it was too difficult to get to home, because there was animal market not far. We had to stop with serious classes.

   


When Irina reached 6, we go to the children sport school at Taganka again. All comers were welcomed. And we started to work with Zinaida Nikolaevna Chagina.
We had to take Irinka away from day camp. The reason was her "punishment": this very agile girl was enforced to "sit on a chair" because of her scurry. It was the most powerful punishment. Nobody has ever devised something worse for her before and after that. After that chair the child stopped to talk. Although she has always been talking aplenty and perfectly. She began to construct phrases when she was 1.5. She had yet been saying nothing for about twenty-four hours when I knew nothing to do and promised to don't walk her to day camp. It helped! She started to talk again!

       


School time came at last. At the same time there was choreographic one, in the same building. Every evening Irinka was doing Swedish drill, which was in the same 8 square meter room with her bed, table and toys.
Before she reached 12 her best result was a membership of Moscow team. Irina was among of 6 best gymnasts. She was often noticed, she was called as promising. But to our mind she would stay "promising" forever staying in rhythmic gymnastics at that time.