Status: For Nano Wrimo, finished November 28, 2012 at 51,214 words
The New Queen
Krugloe
The year is 2005. Adnan Zogu, Anna’s Albanian father, is arguing with the local gymnastics coach at this very small gym in South Africa. In Anna’s family only two people know English; Adnan and Anna. Anna didn’t know much English but she understood what they were arguing about.
Anna’s mother, Alina was cursing in Russian behind Adnan. All the Zabrikova/Zogu children knew what she was saying.
Anna and her little siblings Mikhail, Oleg and Lubov were all listening closing to the conversation. Anna was translating what her father was saying to the coach and what her coach was saying back. Alina was breast feeding their newest sibling, Dasha during this whole altercation.
“Fine!” the coach exclaimed. “Anna can no longer train here if you’re so unhappy with her progress!” the coach stormed away while Adnan told Alina the news. Anna was shocked.
“What did he say?” Mikhail asked.
“Nothing major” Anna lied. But in reality Anna was watching her Olympic dreams explode and fall around her.
Anna started gymnastics three years ago, and the year before was the Athens Olympics. She watched the Olympics in awe of all the athletes and fell in love with Anna Pavlova. She wanted to be just like Pavlova. So after the Olympics she asked to train for the Olympics. Alina didn’t hesitate; she wanted everything for her children. It was hard for her to get attention since she could mostly do things on her own; her younger sister, Dasha, who was only two months old needed more attention.
…
The family went home after that. While the other three kids played, Anna watched her parents talk by the dinner table. They were both speaking English, they didn’t think Anna understood English since she was home schooled and taught primarily the Russian language.
“We really can’t tell Anna she can’t do it” Alina said. “She was so happy watching the Olympics and I can tell she really loves gymnastics”
“I know she does” Adnan said. “But he can’t coach her at such a level and I don’t think there’s a coach around here who can”
“What if we move back to Russia?” Alina asked. “You business is on it’s feet now” she said. “We have the house back home we can afford to sell the house and move home” she said.
“But this is our home” Adnan said. “And the business needs a stable president”
“Adnan” he sighed. Anna started to tear up. She didn’t want her parents to fight over her. “I’ll take the kids to Russia and you can stay here” she said.
“But…”
“It won’t be pleasant” she said. “But I have never had the opportunity to live out my dreams, and in Russia we can give Anna the chance to live hers out. Even if she doesn’t make it or gives up” she said.
“Ok”
…
Within a few months Alina and her five children were packing up and moving home. She took a plane with just her, a nanny and five kids all under the age of eight. It wasn’t ideal but Anna wanted it.
At first Anna didn’t seem so excited since it meant breaking up her family but things changed.
Alina took Anna to Lake Krugloe right outside of Moscow. It was one of the biggest training facilities for gymnastics. An old friend recommended Alina to take Anna their on an open house so they could see where Anna was at and then place her I another gym.
The first time she stepped in she was in complete awe and seemed to freeze up but after a little nudge by some of the coaches she preformed wonderfully.
One of the newer coaches to the scene, Evgeny Grebenkin, spotted Anna as she practiced compulsory routines. They seemed to hit it off really well and Alina could see the dynamic between the sweet new coach who had a son of his own and the cheeky, energetic side of Anna.
Evgeny had a gym of his own a few hours away and Alina begged him, literally begged him to coach her. At first Evgeny was hesitant since he had other students to take care of but he saw something special in Anna, she had the passion. She wasn’t forced into it like others.
At the same time Anna was at Lake Krugloe she also met Anna Pavlova and Svetlana Khorkina.
“She’s going to be great one day” Svetlana said to Leonid Arkaev. Arkaev was on his way out of Russia to get a new coaching job somewhere else. Anywhere that didn’t start with Rush and end with Ah. He could see a bit of it, he saw what Khorkina had and could see it in Anna, but he couldn’t stay. He was going to see it happen, though.
…
A few months after arriving in Russia with her family, Anna finally started training with Evgeny. At first it was really hard since Anna wasn’t used to the every day type of thing, but she got used to it. Evgeny learned her strength and weaknesses and together they put a plan in action to help her get to the olympics. Unfortunately Anna thought London 2012 was her time. Evgeny didn’t believe it was, she was too young.
Anna’s mother, Alina was cursing in Russian behind Adnan. All the Zabrikova/Zogu children knew what she was saying.
Anna and her little siblings Mikhail, Oleg and Lubov were all listening closing to the conversation. Anna was translating what her father was saying to the coach and what her coach was saying back. Alina was breast feeding their newest sibling, Dasha during this whole altercation.
“Fine!” the coach exclaimed. “Anna can no longer train here if you’re so unhappy with her progress!” the coach stormed away while Adnan told Alina the news. Anna was shocked.
“What did he say?” Mikhail asked.
“Nothing major” Anna lied. But in reality Anna was watching her Olympic dreams explode and fall around her.
Anna started gymnastics three years ago, and the year before was the Athens Olympics. She watched the Olympics in awe of all the athletes and fell in love with Anna Pavlova. She wanted to be just like Pavlova. So after the Olympics she asked to train for the Olympics. Alina didn’t hesitate; she wanted everything for her children. It was hard for her to get attention since she could mostly do things on her own; her younger sister, Dasha, who was only two months old needed more attention.
…
The family went home after that. While the other three kids played, Anna watched her parents talk by the dinner table. They were both speaking English, they didn’t think Anna understood English since she was home schooled and taught primarily the Russian language.
“We really can’t tell Anna she can’t do it” Alina said. “She was so happy watching the Olympics and I can tell she really loves gymnastics”
“I know she does” Adnan said. “But he can’t coach her at such a level and I don’t think there’s a coach around here who can”
“What if we move back to Russia?” Alina asked. “You business is on it’s feet now” she said. “We have the house back home we can afford to sell the house and move home” she said.
“But this is our home” Adnan said. “And the business needs a stable president”
“Adnan” he sighed. Anna started to tear up. She didn’t want her parents to fight over her. “I’ll take the kids to Russia and you can stay here” she said.
“But…”
“It won’t be pleasant” she said. “But I have never had the opportunity to live out my dreams, and in Russia we can give Anna the chance to live hers out. Even if she doesn’t make it or gives up” she said.
“Ok”
…
Within a few months Alina and her five children were packing up and moving home. She took a plane with just her, a nanny and five kids all under the age of eight. It wasn’t ideal but Anna wanted it.
At first Anna didn’t seem so excited since it meant breaking up her family but things changed.
Alina took Anna to Lake Krugloe right outside of Moscow. It was one of the biggest training facilities for gymnastics. An old friend recommended Alina to take Anna their on an open house so they could see where Anna was at and then place her I another gym.
The first time she stepped in she was in complete awe and seemed to freeze up but after a little nudge by some of the coaches she preformed wonderfully.
One of the newer coaches to the scene, Evgeny Grebenkin, spotted Anna as she practiced compulsory routines. They seemed to hit it off really well and Alina could see the dynamic between the sweet new coach who had a son of his own and the cheeky, energetic side of Anna.
Evgeny had a gym of his own a few hours away and Alina begged him, literally begged him to coach her. At first Evgeny was hesitant since he had other students to take care of but he saw something special in Anna, she had the passion. She wasn’t forced into it like others.
At the same time Anna was at Lake Krugloe she also met Anna Pavlova and Svetlana Khorkina.
“She’s going to be great one day” Svetlana said to Leonid Arkaev. Arkaev was on his way out of Russia to get a new coaching job somewhere else. Anywhere that didn’t start with Rush and end with Ah. He could see a bit of it, he saw what Khorkina had and could see it in Anna, but he couldn’t stay. He was going to see it happen, though.
…
A few months after arriving in Russia with her family, Anna finally started training with Evgeny. At first it was really hard since Anna wasn’t used to the every day type of thing, but she got used to it. Evgeny learned her strength and weaknesses and together they put a plan in action to help her get to the olympics. Unfortunately Anna thought London 2012 was her time. Evgeny didn’t believe it was, she was too young.