Rhythmic gymnast Polina Macfarlane has been selected for three international competitions in Belgium and Portugal.
Rhythmic gymnast Polina Macfarlane has been selected for three international competitions in Belgium and Portugal.
When Polina Macfarlane steps into her competitions, she carries a handwritten reminder from her late mother: “Trust your training.”
Now the 16-year-old Tauranga gymnast is taking that message to the world stage, with selection for three international competitions across Europe.
A year after stepping into the senior ranks of rhythmicgymnastics, she will compete in Belgium at the beginning of May before two competitions in Portugal, including the Portimao International and the World Challenge Cup.
“I love having something to work towards,” Polina told the Bay of Plenty Times.
Polina started gymnastics at 4 years old in toddler classes, and dabbled in artistic gymnastics until she was 7, but ended up picking rhythmic gymnastics.
“I really liked the leotards, the music, and how pretty all the girls looked, so I wanted to be like that.”
She said rhythmic gymnastics was “more dancey”, using apparatus like hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons, showcasing flexibility, strength, and ballet-like elegance.
“I love dancing with music, and I love being able to perform.”
After doing gymnastics for nearly 10 years, Polina was selected to represent New Zealand in 2023, competing at the Singapore Open.
In 2024, she claimed her biggest achievement yet — the Level 9 New Zealand National Championship title.
She said the win was “really emotional” and was something she had always wanted.
“I’m very grateful for all the opportunities I’m given, and being able to represent New Zealand is really exciting.”
Polina Macfarlane was selected to represent New Zealand in 2023, competing at the Singapore Open.
Polina leapt into senior international competition in 2024 during an incredibly difficult year, marked by the loss of her mother to a long battle with cancer.
She honours her with small touches in her routines, using Russian-inspired music and writing words on her ribbon, including the quote: “Trust your training.”
“Every time I see it, I remember her, and it makes me feel like she’s close to me.”
Polina said the hardest part of rhythmic gymnastics was “the mindset of it all” and staying in the right headspace.
“I try to think as positively as I can, just believe in everything and trust in my training and coach.”
Her sights are now set on the global stage after being selected for a series of international competitions, including events in Belgium and Portugal.
She will compete at the VIP Trophy in Brussels, Belgium, from May 1–3, followed by the Portimao International in Portugal from May 8–10.
Both events serve as lead-up competitions to the World Challenge Cup, which will also take place in Portimao, from May 15–17.
“I’ve always wanted to be where I am now, and I feel like that’s already so incredible in itself that it motivates me to keep going and make the most out of all the opportunities I’m given.”
She said her goals this year were to gain as much international experience as she could and learn from other gymnasts around her.
Polina Macfarlane, 16, has been doing gymnastics for almost 10 years.
“I see myself continuing to work hard, hopefully achieving all my goals and being the best version of myself.”
The New Zealand senior coach for rhythmic gymnastics and head coach at Future Gymnastics Tauranga, Nicky Pow, said Polina had been through a lot for a 16-year-old.
“She’s always willing to train hard, has that motivation, has that belief in herself, and that resilience to really push through when she needs to.”
Pow said Polina “flourishes” on the international stage.
“Anytime we’ve been overseas, she’s always really stepped up her game, compared to a lot of gymnasts who, once we move out of our comfortable space of here in New Zealand, find that the pressure is too much.”
Pow said that was a “real attribute” of Polina’s and was something that could not be trained.
“That’s really exciting to know that when the time comes for these big moments, we can rely on her, and we can be excited by that, because we know that that’s where she shines.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
