Victorious squad: the triumph of Russian gymnasts

Kremlin today

Russian gymnasts triumphantly completed their performance at the World Championships in Japan by winning the medal standings. Of the 13 awards received, seven were gold medals. In the final round of the tournament, held on 31 October, the athletes performed with five balls, as well as clubs and hoops. On that day Russian performers were Anastasia Proyunyuk (two-time Olympic champion), Maria Pushcheva (2016 Games winner), Angelina Shkatova and Alisa Tishchenko (Games winners in Tokyo) and Polina Orlova, who made her team debut.

Source: Yandex

After their mistake in the hoop and mace exercise, which cost Russian gold, the girls won a decisive victory in the ball discipline, defeating Italian women by 0.4 points. This victory ensured first place in both the medal and team competitions.

At the end of the championship, the president of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics Irina Wiener-Usmanova gave her comment to TASS: “The girls performed brilliantly on Friday in a group exercise, and now – it was a wonderful miracle. Because it is their and our selfless work for nine hours a day, despite the fact that there were serious injuries. Plus, there was a girl (Polina Orlova), who had never competed in group exercises in tournaments and survived everything. It’s true, she made a mistake in one kind of program and today she also made a mistake, but only one”. 

Dina’s Averina triumph

The past season has been a real test of Averina’s strength. After a controversial silver medal at the Olympic Games, when many people, including Dina’s couch, accused the judges of unfair assessment, the athlete had a chance to show herself at the World Cup. 

Source: Yandex

Averina performed without mistakes in the all-around and in the individual exercises, losing only in the ribbon exercise. However, the head of VFH once again stated that the attitude towards Russian athletes was not impartial. After winning the team tournament on October 30, Dina Averina became the first 18-time world champion. 

According to Yana Batirshina, a multiple World Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics, “this Championship passed under the name of the Russian team and Dina Averina“.

“A very good end to a very difficult Olympic season, –  the athlete concluded.