Made history: Karaganda residents won the World Championship in sports dancing

Karaganda residents Maxim Zhilenkov and Arina Molochnikova became the winners of the World Championship in sports dancing among young people. Members of the national team of Kazakhstan are recognized as the best dancers from 32 countries.

Kazakhstanis have achieved such a high result in the world championship for the first time.

The World Sports Dance Championship was held on November 19 in the city of Salaspils (Latvia). Maxim Zhilenkov and Arina Molochnikova presented European and Latin American dances – five in each form. And they became the best in all ten.

The couple is engaged in the dance and sports club "Sofia" under the guidance of an experienced coach Kirill Akatiev.

– Maxim and Arina went to this victory long and hard. This is a triumph for the entire Kazakh dance sport. After all, this is the first victory at the World Championship in sports dancing in the history of Kazakhstan. They have been practicing in our club since they were six years old," says Ksenia Akatieva, the head of the Sofia Dance Sports Club. – For almost 13 years, as a couple, the guys have become 18-time champions of the country and the Kazakhstan Accredited Sports Dance Federation, multiple holders of the Cup of the Republic of Kazakhstan, finalists, prize-winners and winners of international competitions. They are also four-time Asian champions. At the World Championships in Romania in 2019, the dancers won a bronze medal.

Last year, during the performance at the World Championships, athletes were literally one step short of the final.

– Maxim and Arina are real fighters, they train hard, constantly improve their skill level, take private lessons from venerable coaches in Europe. Parents also help in the realization of their goals," Ksenia Akatieva noted. – The guys have several important starts a year. And now, upon their return from Latvia, they leave for Almaty.

Maxim and Arina also have singles performances ahead at the World Championships in Italy and Croatia.