Penza, 23 October 2014. PenzaNews. All-Russian rhythmic gymnastics tournament “Volga District Starlets” in memory of the double Olympic champion Natalia Lavrova will be held at the “Burtasy” sports palace in Penza from October 31 to November 2.

Over 190 gymnasts from 19 regions of the country will take part in the tournament.

The competition will gather both juniors — girls born in 1999-2001 — and seniors — athletes born in 1998 and older.

As the Internet service “Penza-Sport” reports, the awards will be given in individual competition and group exercises.

Natalia Lavrova was born in Penza, August 4, 1984. She graduated from Penza school No. 75, and mastered the basics of gymnastics in specialized youth school of Olympic reserve under the guidance of distinguished Russian coaches T. Vasilyeva and O. Stebeneva.

In 1998, she was enrolled in the high sports school.

She became a world champion in the group exercises in rhythmic gymnastics in 1999, 2002 and 2003, a European champion in 2001 and 2003, won the international Grand Prix tournaments in Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and other countries.

The pinnacle of her sports career were the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. She became a two-time Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics group exercises.

On April 23, 2010, Natalia Lavrova and her sister Olga Popova died in a car accident on “Penza—Shemysheyka” road.

On April 25, 2010, a farewell ceremony was held in the “Burtasy” sports palace. Both the sportswoman and her sister were buried on the Walk of Fame of the Novo-Zapadnoe cemetery in Penza.