2019 EUROPEAN GAMES - Rhythmic Gymnastics

After a spectacular Opening Ceremony, the gymnastics competition kicked off today at the Minsk Arena. 12000 enthusiastic fans supported the rhythmic and acrobatic gymnasts competing for the first medals of the Games.
In Rhythmic Gymnastics, 12 individual gymnasts competed for the all-around crown and a place in the four apparatus finals tomorrow.
Russian superstar, the reigning World all-around Champion Dina AVERINA overcome problems in her hoop and clubs routine to take the all-around gold, following in the footsteps of her compatriot Yana Kudryavtseva who won gold at the inaugural Games four years ago in Baku. Israel’s Linoy Ashram who led the competition going into the last rotation, lost her chance at the gold medal when her ribbon flew out of the floor area, bumping her to second place. Home town hero Katsiaryna Halkina delighted the crowd with her elegant performances en route to the bronze medal, ahead of Italy’s Alexandra Agiurgiuculese.

* F I N A LS:
* ueg-report - - : In Rhythmic Gymnastics, the individual gymnasts battled for the titles in the apparatus finals while the groups made their entry, competing for both the apparatus and all-around medals.
Linoy Ashram more than made up for her costly mistakes with ribbon yesterday. The Israeli star visibly enjoyed her time on the carpet and claimed two gold medals: with ball and clubs!
“I think I started not so good, but the rest was better. Yesterday was a little bit disappointing, but today I'm very proud of getting two gold medals, and I'm so excited. I plan to keep working hard."
With ribbon she showed what she’s actually capable of doing, clinching the silver medal just 0.250 behind Russia’s Dina Averina who also won the hoop title, silver with clubs and bronze with ball. Minsk star Katsiaryna Halkina clinched the silver with hoop while Ukraine’s Vlada Nikolchenko and Bulgaria’s Katrin Taseva returned home with two medals each.

Individual apparatus finals

Hoop

1.  Dina Averina (RUS) 22.850
2.  Katsiaryna Halkina (BLR) 21.750
3.  Vlada Nikolchenko (UKR) 21.450

Ball

1.  Linoy Ashram (ISR) 22.500
2.  Katrin Taseva (BUL) 21.400
3.  Dina Averina (RUS) 21.300

Clubs
1.  Linoy Ashram (ISR) 22.700
2.  Dina Averina (RUS) 22.600
3.  Vlada Nikolchenko (UKR) 21.750

Ribbon
1.  Dina Averina (RUS) 21.350
2.  Linoy Ashram (ISR) 21.100
3.  Katrin Taseva (BUL) 20.450
    ► App. Finals, All

The group competition was exciting until the very last routine. Russia showed the best 5 balls routine, beating Bulgaria and Belarus. The home nation staged a stunning return though, claiming the victory in the 3 hoops and 4 clubs final and edging Bulgaria by just 0.050 for the all-around crown.
GROUPS  - All-around final
1. Belarus 52.600   2.  Bulgaria 52.550
3.  Russia 51.700
    ► Detailed results

* FINAL: 5 balls final
1.  Russia 27.300
2.  Bulgaria 26.800
3.  Belarus 26.150

* FINAL: 3 + 2 final
1.  Belarus 26.450
2.  Ukraine 26.375
3.  Bulgaria 25.570
    ► Groups by App.