Concerned mother makes half-shoes to protect gymnast daughters' feet from injury

A gymnast’s feet are their foundation. Every pivot, leap and landing begins there, says Antonina. Photos: Antonina Yuri

When Antonina Yuri, 48, first saw her daughters’ feet bleeding after rhythmic gymnastics practice, something inside her broke.

“Even though they were wearing proper footwear for the discipline, their feet were badly injured,” she recalls.