Personal Information

Name Poulina Minaev
Birthday January 31, 2005
Hometown Smithtown, New York
Parents Natalya and Anatoly Minaev
School Smithtown High School West
Grad Year Class of 2023
GPA 4.25 GPA - High Honor Roll

Gym Information

Gym Apex Athletics
Coaches Rob Wing and Amanda Depaola
Level Level 10 (2018-Current)
Choreographer Donagene Jones 
Floor Music Revolution (Custom Mix) 
Hours Trained 22 hours per week
Gym Goals JO Nationals & College Scholarship


Poulina followed her older sister into gymnastics when she was four years old at a local gym in Maspeth, NY. By the age of six, she started competing level 5, skipping level 4. As a level 6 gymnast in 2013, Poulina was named to America's Top 100 on uneven bars with a 9.775. Following her level 6 season, Poulina’s family moved from Queens, NY to Long Island, NY, so Poulina started training at Gold Medal Gymnastics. She attended the US Olympic Training Center in Huntsville, TX in November 2014 and TOPS National Testing Qualifier in 2015.

As a level 7 gymnast in 2014, Poulina placed fourth on uneven bars and sixth in the all-around with a 37.050. In 2015, she placed in the top ten in the all-around with a 37.175 and fourth on uneven bars at the Level 8 State Championships. She qualified to the Region 6 Championships where she placed sixth in the all-around with a 37.750 and seventh on balance beam. Poulina moved up to level 9 for the 2016 season where she placed seventh on vault and ninth on balance beam at the Region 6 Championships. Poulina qualified to the Level 10 State Championships in 2018 and 2019. Following her 2019 season, Poulina began training at Apex Athletics in St. James, NY. She qualified to the 2020 Level 10 State Championships but was unable to compete due to COVID-19. Her 2020 season was highlighted with gold medals on vault (9.725), floor exercise (9.475) and in the all-around (37.150) at the Saratoga Winterfest.

In 2021, Poulina placed fourth in the all-around and second on uneven bars at the Region 6 Championships. This qualified Poulina to the Junior Olympic Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL where she placed tenth on floor exercise out of 56 gymnasts. Poulina placed fourth in the all-around with a 37.150 and second on floor exercise at the 2022 Level 10 State Championships. At the Region 6 Championships, she finished fourth in the all-around and second on uneven bars. Poulina qualified to the Level 10 Nationals in Mesa, AZ.

When Poulina isn't busy training over 20 hours each week in the gym, she enjoys drawing, baking and hanging out with her friends. She is the daughter to Natalya and Anatoly Minaev and she has an older sister, Alyssa. Currently, Poulina is an honor student at Smithtown High School West and she will graduate in 2023. She has earned multiple school awards, such as 2018 Student of Distinction Award, 2018 American Mathematics Competition Second Place and 2019-2020 school year Excellence in Studio in Art Award.