men’s junior team coach. “He very
much loves gymnastics and his
work, but family remains his top
priority,” Kovalyova says.
When she’s not tending to her
son, Kovalyova, 28, works as a fit-
ness instructor in Moscow.
“Konstantin is very mobile and
vigorous, and he cannot sit in one
place for a minute,” she says. “We
will watch, he will grow up, and
we will start him in gymnastics. If
it goes OK, he will remain in gym-
nastics. It could be that he wants
to try other sports. I would like
him to get into sports, but for me,
the main thing is his health.”
Like her husband, Kovalyova
has stayed closely tied to sports
since her teenage success. After
graduating university, she began
her current career. “I am very
happy with my work,” says Koval-
yova, who leads group classes
(power, step aerobics and spin-
ning) and is also a personal train-
er. “I train people and bring health,
advantage and beauty to them.”
Perseverance is a bond that
Kryukov and Kovalyova share, and
something they hope to instill in
Konstantin. “Sports make us
strong in character,” Kovalyova
says. “We can overcome problems
and difficulties with ease from a
young age.” —John Crumlish
