Antropova's New Role: Yoga, Reading, and Volleyball Focus
Listen to the story
Italian volleyball player Ekaterina Antropova has taken on a new role within the national team, according to a recent report.
Away from the court, Antropova has a special routine. She begins her mornings with yoga and stretching, which help her body and mind get ready for the day. She also enjoys reading literature in her free time as a way to relax.
Teammate Paola Egonu spoke about playing alongside Antropova. Egonu said that having Antropova on the court makes every match more enjoyable for the whole team.
Egonu also spoke about the team's mindset going forward. She said the players now need more lucidity, meaning a clear and calm way of thinking during games.
According to Egonu, every upcoming match will be decisive. This means each result could strongly affect the team's chances in the wider competition.
The comments suggest that Italy's volleyball team is entering an important stage of the season, where both individual habits, like Antropova's morning routine, and team mentality are seen as important parts of their preparation.
Vocabulary10 words
- role
- the job or part a person has in a group
- routine
- a set of things you do regularly, often in the same order
- yoga
- gentle exercise that connects body and mind
- stretching
- moving the body to loosen the muscles
- literature
- written works like novels and stories
- mindset
- the way someone thinks about something
- lucidity
- a clear and calm way of thinking
- decisive
- having a strong effect on the final result
- competition
- a series of games or events where teams try to win
- national team
- a team made of the best players from one country
Quiz
Answer key
1. Yoga and stretching 2. It makes matches more fun 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italian volleyball player Ekaterina Antropova has taken on a new _____ within the national team.
Antropova begins her mornings with _____ and _____, which help her body and mind get ready for the day.
She also enjoys reading _____ in her free time as a way to relax.
Teammate Paola Egonu said that having Antropova on the court makes every match more _____.
Egonu said the players now need more _____, meaning a clear and calm way of thinking during games.
According to Egonu, every upcoming match will be _____ for the team's chances in the _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you have a morning routine like yoga or stretching? Why or why not?
- How can reading books help athletes relax before competitions?
- Why might a 'clear mind' be important in sports?
- Do you think teammates influence how much a player enjoys the game? Why?