18 nations secure Youth Olympic participation in Rhythmic Gymnastics

The European rhythmic gymnasts aimed to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games yesterday in Moscow (RUS)

On the eve of the first Grand Prix event of the year, UEG organised the qualification event for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (ARG) in October. Moscow hosted an excellent event which saw 56 gymnasts from 33 countries battle it out for 18 quota places. Only gymnasts born in 2003 were eligible and each country could earn only 1 spot.

2016 European junior Champion Polina Shmatko (RUS) pulled out last minute because of a toe injury suffered in training. She was replaced by teammate Anastasia Sergeeva who easily won the all-around with 62.300. More than a point ahead of Ukraine’s Khrystyna Pohranychna who did post the highest score of the competition, a 16.900 with hoop.

The places earned are non-nominative, meaning that the federation can still decide which gymnast to send to the Games. Countries that qualify 1 gymnast are:  Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel, Bulgaria, Italy, Armenia, Finland, Azerbaijan, France, Romania, Spain, Georgia, Cyprus, Germany, Norway, Greece and Estonia. Congratulations!

Top 8 all-around

1. Anastasia Sergeeva (RUS) 62.300
2. Khrystyna Pohranychna (UKR) 61.150
3. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 60.200
4. Anna Kamenshchikova (BLR) 59.850
5. Valeriia Sotskova (ISR) 59.050
6. Daria Trubnikova (RUS) 58.550
7. Anna Kelman (BUL) 57.600
8. Talisa Torretti (ITA) 57.000