Over four years ago, juniors Monica and Jenny Rokhman moved over 2,000 miles to their new home in Northbrook. The twin sisters had previously lived in San Diego, Calif., but moved in order to further their rhythmic gymnastics careers. The Rokhmans, however, were not the only rhythmic gymnasts to move to Northbrook.
Junior Natalie McGiffert moved from Topanga, Calif., and alumni Laura Tutunikov (‘13) and Alisa Kano (‘13) moved to Northbrook as well for gymnastics. They joined senior Sharon Dassouli, who was already living in Northbrook, to form the United States national team senior group, the highest level group in the nation.
“We were all [competing as] individuals, and we got a letter from [USA Gymnastics] asking us if we wanted to join [the] group,” said Jenny Rokhman. “We saw it as an opportunity.”
Head Coach Natasha Klimouk has served as the girls’ main coach since USA Gymnastics formed the group.
“[Klimouk] has high expectations,” said McGiffert. “She always says that she won’t lower her bar to meet with ours, so we have to raise our bars.”
In Aug. 2013, the group traveled to compete in the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. This competition, said McGiffert, served as a “build-up” for their next competition, the 2013 World Championships, just ten days later in Kiev, Ukraine.
According to McGiffert, the World Championships is the biggest rhythmic event until the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The group placed 14th all-around, which McGiffert said is the best the United States has ever placed.
As a result of its success in Ukraine, the group was invited to compete in the GAZPROM World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany in March. There, the group will compete in Group A, which McGiffert said is designated for the best teams worldwide.
But McGiffert said she is used to traveling. At the age of 16, she has already competed in nations such as Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Canada, Italy and Portugal.
The competition in Germany is just the precursor to what the group considers its ultimate goal: the Olympics.
“We are already the U.S. senior national team group, so if we do qualify, it is us that [are going to Rio de Janeiro],” Monica Rokhman said.
On Oct. 2, 2009, before the group had even been assembled, it encountered an obstacle in its journey to the Olympics.
“It is just really hard for us because [the Olympics are] not in Chicago where it would have been much easier for us to qualify,” Monica Rokhman said.
If the Olympics were held in the United States, the group would have received an automatic bid into the rhythmic competition as the representatives of the host nation. But, according to Jenny Rokhman, when Chicago, a finalist in the bidding process, was eliminated from contention, that removed their automatic bid, forcing the girls to qualify in the top 12 at a World Championship event.
“If we improve then we could place in the top 12,” said Jenny Rokhman. “It is a chance. It is a possibility. We’re all hoping for it.”
McGiffert has had her sights set on the Olympics since even before she started rhythmic gymnastics.
“It’s been a lifetime dream, honestly,” McGiffert said. “Even starting when I was seven [years old] I was just like, ‘Oh I’m gonna go to the Olympics,’ but now it’s more realistic.”
Since the group’s formation, McGiffert says the group has grown close to one another.
“They’re like family to me,” said McGiffert. “I mean we’ve only known each other for like a year and a half, but they’re like my closest friends.”
The group usually trains six days a week with a day off on Sunday. Each practice day, they spend four to five hours training at the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center located in both Glenview and Deerfield.
McGiffert said that practicing for long hours can be challenging, especially when trying to pay such close attention to detail.
“[We need] to make sure [we’re] working for the cleanest routines [we] can possibly do,” McGiffert said.