Feature
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Just 14 years old at his first Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, Koudinov stood waiting backstage moments before marching into the arena. The hallway leading from the warm-up gym was completely dark, lit only by faint blue lights running along the ceiling.
Ahead of him, thousands of spectators filled the stadium. Through a small opening in the darkness, he could see flashes of light from the arena floor.
At that age, Koudinov had already competed internationally, but this was different. This was his first taste of a pinnacle event.
The pressure felt even greater knowing the risks involved in gymnastics. Athletes constantly push the difficulty of their routines to gain points, often performing skills that are not fully consistent yet.
“In some cases, it’s 50/50" he says. "There's massive risk involved."
Now, more than 20 years later, the memory still feels vivid. He laughs that he has never stood in a pitch-black room before competition since and hopes he never has to again.
But perhaps that moment also shaped the athlete he would become.
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Over the next two decades, Koudinov would go on to build one of New Zealand gymnastics’ longest and most respected careers. A third-generation gymnast who moved to New Zealand at six years old, he grew up with the sport all around him.
“The gym has always been my second home.”
Raised in what he describes as a tough, disciplined environment, he credits much of his success to the lessons learned growing up.
Specialising in the parallel bars and high bar, Koudinov became known for his creativity and willingness to push boundaries which eventually earned him one of gymnastics’ rarest honours, having a skill officially named after him in the Code of Points.
Known simply as “The Koudinov,” the skill involves flipping forward over the horizontal bar, adding a full 360-degree twist and catching the bar again on the other side.
Ironically, even that moment almost did not happen.
The first time he attempted the skill in competition, he missed it. The second try was close, but still unsuccessful. Ready to move on, Koudinov says the crowd convinced him to attempt it one more time.
“Third time’s a charm.”
This time, he caught it cleanly, officially etching his name into gymnastics history.
Remarkably, he still has not seen another gymnast land the skill in competition since.
For Koudinov, the greatest satisfaction has never been medals or recognition. It is the process of figuring things out.
“Taking the feeling of ‘I can’t do this’ and turning it into ‘I get it now’ that for me is the most fun.”
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That mindset has evolved significantly since the nervous teenager standing in the tunnel at Melbourne 2006. Where younger Misha worried about mistakes and image, the older version sees failure differently.
“When you fall now, it’s a learning experience.”
The same philosophy shapes his coaching. Alongside competing, Koudinov now coaches up and coming young gymnasts and helps people of all ages master difficult movement patterns.
Because he is still actively competing himself, he says he understands how mentally and physically demanding the process can be.
That empathy is something he hopes never to lose.
“You have to have infinite patience and compassion for people to grow at their own pace.”
Despite the nerves, pressure and unpredictability that come with elite gymnastics, representing New Zealand still brings moments he treasures deeply.
One tradition that stands out above all others is the NZ Team haka in the athletes’ village.
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“At 14, I wouldn’t have known how to act receiving something like that. I’m grateful now to understand what it means.”
Now one of the senior figures in New Zealand gymnastics, Misha Koudinov is passionate about helping younger athletes navigate the same journey he has experienced. His message to the next generation is simple:
“Don’t be fooled by stereotypes about what you think you’re supposed to become. Think instead about what you want to do and accomplish through sport to fulfil yourself and the rest will follow.”