From Kazakhstan to the International Stage
From a school in Kazakhstan to the international stage, from Artistic Gymnastics to Aerobic Gymnastics: the journey of an Olympic gold medallist and World Champion who turned her experience into inspiration for new generations of gymnasts.
There are stories where gymnastics is not simply a sport. It becomes a home, a language, a path that follows you throughout life. Natalia Ilienko-Jarvis has been living one of those stories.
During an interview on Aerobic5 Live, Natalia looked back on her journey in Artistic Gymnastics, her transition into Aerobic Gymnastics, and the special meaning of the Heathrow International Championships, which in 2026 celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The Beginning of a Dream
Her first encounter with gymnastics happened when she was just seven years old. A coach visited her school looking for young girls with talent, flexibility and strength. Natalia received an invitation to attend a trial session at the gym. From that moment, everything changed.
“As soon as I stepped into the gym and saw the apparatus, the beam, the floor, the trampoline and the bars, I knew I wanted to be a gymnast,” she recalled.
That was the beginning of a journey made of training, ambition and goals that kept growing step by step. Natalia explained how, in the life of an athlete, targets change as you progress: first learning the basics, then becoming stronger, then dreaming of a national team, a title, an international competition.
“I think goals need to be challenging but achievable. Every time you achieve something, you move the goalpost again.”
Artistic Gymnastics at the Highest Level
Her Artistic Gymnastics career took her to the highest level. Among her most meaningful achievements, Natalia remembers her World title on floor, becoming Soviet national champion, and above all making the Olympic team in 1984.
However, that Olympic dream was never fully realised, as the Soviet team did not participate in the Los Angeles Olympic Games due to the boycott. Instead, an alternative Olympic competition was organised, where Natalia won the gold medal.
“For me, that is the equivalent of my Olympic achievement,” she explained, showing with emotion the Olympic medal she received, which remains deeply precious to her.
The Team Behind Every Medal
But behind every medal, Natalia was keen to underline the importance of shared work. Her success was not the result of an individual journey alone, but of a whole team of people: coaches, choreographers, acrobatics specialists, teachers and family.
She remembered with gratitude her main coach Natalia Tsapenko, her choreographer Natalia Markova, and her acrobatics coach Alexander Grebeniukov.
Training with the national team was extremely demanding: up to three sessions a day, almost eight hours daily, six days a week. And after training, there was still school. Because, as Natalia said, even when you live for gymnastics, you still have to prepare for the life that comes after.
“It was hard, but I have no regrets. I am grateful for everything I was able to achieve.”
A New Chapter in the United Kingdom
After the end of her competitive Artistic Gymnastics career, and after graduating from university in 1988, a new chapter began.
In 1992, Natalia moved to the United Kingdom. Heathrow Gymnastics Club’s president, Vincent Walduck, who has been her boss ever since, hired her to coach Artistic Gymnastics. At first, she was supposed to stay for only six months. But those six months became one year, then another, and eventually a new life.
Artistic Gymnastics continued to be her main focus, while Aerobic Gymnastics became a new challenge.
Discovering Aerobic Gymnastics
It was also at Heathrow that her connection with Aerobic Gymnastics began. Together with Gary Jarvis, who became her husband, Natalia attended one of the first national aerobic competitions in Great Britain.
They participated in this first competition, which was created to attract clubs, introduce them to Aerobic Gymnastics and help develop the discipline in Great Britain. When they arrived, they saw that there were only eight athletes, each performing twice; otherwise, the competition would have finished in just 20 minutes.
At that time, the discipline was still at an early stage: only a few athletes, long routines, fast music, sixteen elements and a lot of energy.
Natalia looked at Gary and said: “I think we could do this.”
The Birth of Aerobic Gymnastics at Heathrow
From that idea, a new journey started. In 1996, the club opened its Aerobic Gymnastics section with just five gymnasts and organised an international competition in the very first year.
Today, almost eighty athletes practise aerobics at Heathrow, some at international level and others simply for the joy of being part of the sport.
Competing to Understand the Discipline
Before becoming a coach, Natalia wanted to understand for herself what it felt like to compete in Aerobic Gymnastics. She started at age 27 and competed until the age of 31, becoming Senior British Champion in the individual women’s category.
She also competed at two World Championships, including Catania, in Italy, and at the European Championships in Birmingham.
“I wanted to know what it felt like. If I was going to teach aerobic gymnastics to my gymnasts, I needed to understand the body, the effort, the stamina and the rhythm of this discipline.”
From Artistic to Aerobic
The transition from Artistic to Aerobic Gymnastics was not automatic. Natalia openly explained how different the movement was.
In Artistic Gymnastics, there is time to breathe, to pause, to prepare for an element. In Aerobic Gymnastics, everything is continuous, fast and without rest.
The biggest challenge was stamina: the ability to keep moving with energy, control and precision without getting tired too quickly.
The Birth of the Heathrow International Championships
And then came the Heathrow International Championships.
Today, the competition celebrates twenty years, but its beginning was simple, almost handcrafted. In the early days, they did not even have a proper aerobic floor. Natalia and her team bought wood, sanded it, varnished it and placed it on top of the Artistic Gymnastics floor.
That is how the first competition was born.
From that handmade floor, the Heathrow International Championships has grown into an international event capable of welcoming gymnasts, clubs and nations from across the world.
For its 20th anniversary edition, 700 athletes from several countries are expected, including Great Britain, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Switzerland and China.
An Open and Welcoming Competition
But for Natalia, the value of the event is not only technical. Its mission has always been to create a competition that is open, welcoming and able to give opportunities not only to elite athletes, but also to those taking their first steps in the discipline.
“We wanted to create something open to any club in the world. It does not matter what level you are. Even a basic level gymnast can come, live an international experience, meet other countries, make friends and grow in Aerobic Gymnastics.”
This is perhaps the true identity of the Heathrow International Championships: a competition where the experience matters as much as the result, and where every athlete can feel part of something bigger.
A Legendary Moment
Among the most emotional moments, Natalia recalled the participation of Lucas Barbosa, World Bronze Medallist and Mixed Pair Gold Medallist, a special Brazilian athlete who came to Heathrow with Katia Lemos.
After an outstanding routine, the crowd stood up, clapping and cheering. The energy was so powerful that Natalia asked him if he could perform the routine once again for the audience, even without all the difficulty.
Lucas went to ask his coach, who replied: “Yes, you can do it. But you do all of it.”
And he did. Once again, with all the difficulties.
“That is what consistency is all about,” Natalia remembered. “Being put on the spot, being asked to do it again without being scored, just for the enjoyment of the crowd, and still doing it.”
Every Gymnast Has a Different Journey
Her words reveal a deep vision of sport. For Natalia, every gymnast has a different journey.
Some work towards the FIG Code of Points, some dream of major international events, and some take part at recreational level. But each one deserves attention.
“For some gymnasts, the Heathrow International may be their Olympics. It may be the biggest event they ever do.”
This sensitivity is what makes her role as a coach so special. Natalia does not look only at technical level, but at the person.
When she walks into the gym, she asks herself what she can do for each athlete: how she can help them improve, overcome an obstacle and believe a little more in themselves.
Today, Natalia’s legacy continues not only through the Heathrow International Championships, but also through the gymnasts she coaches every day. Among them is Alia Leat, Senior GBR National Squad member, All-Around British Champion last year, Bronze medallist this year and British Senior Beam Champion. She also coaches two Junior GBR gymnasts, Elisabetta Cardeli and Jenitha Johnson, with Jenitha recently winning Junior All-Around bronze. Through them, Natalia’s experience as an Olympic gold medallist and World Champion continues to inspire a new generation of British gymnasts.
A Message to Young Gymnasts
At the end of the interview, her strongest message was dedicated to young gymnasts.
Natalia spoke about the difficulty of accepting mistakes, about tears, and about those moments when it feels like the whole world is crashing down. But she also spoke about the need to breathe, pause, stand up again and try once more.
“Crying is not going to help. Take a breath, pause for a few seconds, take a step back and then try again.”
A Legacy That Continues
Her story is the story of a champion, but also of a woman who has reinvented herself more than once without ever losing the thread of her passion.
From Artistic Gymnastics to Aerobic Gymnastics, from Kazakhstan to Great Britain, from World medals to a handmade competition floor, Natalia Ilienko-Jarvis continues to prove that gymnastics is much more than a career.
It is a legacy.
And today, through the Heathrow International Championships, that legacy continues to live in every athlete who steps onto the floor, whatever their level, their country or their dream.
Heathrow International Championships 2026
The Heathrow International Championships will take place at Bracknell Leisure Centre from 22 to 24 May 2026.
Tickets are available here:
https://www.heathrowaerobicsgymnastics.co.uk/tickets