Thursday August 8th
Rhythmic Individual All-Around Qualifications
The Individual All-Around Qualifications have begun, marking an exciting start for Australia’s Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva in her Olympic debut. Competing alongside 23 other talented rhythmic gymnasts, Alex faced intense competition as only the top 10 would advance to the finals.
Simply qualifying for the Olympics is a remarkable achievement, and each gymnast showcased their skills and dedication, performing in front of judges, an enthusiastic audience, and viewers from around the globe.
Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva | Source: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Recap:
The qualifications consisted of four rotations, each corresponding to a different apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. Gymnasts were evaluated based on body difficulty, apparatus difficulty, artistry, and execution.
Here are the top 10 gymnasts who advanced to the finals:
Sofia Raffaeli (ITA): Sofia led the pack with a total score of 139.100, excelling in hoop (35.700) and ribbon (33.950) while maintaining impressive scores in ball (34.450) and clubs (35.000).
Raffaeli leads Qualifications | Source: FIG
Darja Varfolomeev (GER): Darja came in second with a score of 136.850. Despite a modest start with hoop (32.500), she dominated in ball (36.450) and clubs (35.250), finishing strong with a ribbon score of 32.650.
Boryana Kaleyn (BUL): Boryana secured third place with a score of 136.450, delivering solid performances across all apparatuses, including a standout hoop routine scoring 35.350.
Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR): With a score of 135.750, Taisiia claimed the fourth spot, showcasing her skills with a particularly strong ball routine (35.250).
Margarita Kolosov (GER): Margarita earned a total of 131.500, thanks to consistent performances, especially her hoop routine, which scored 34.550.
Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO): Ekaterina secured her place in the finals with a score of 130.800, highlighted by her hoop score of 34.150.
Daria Atamanov (ISR): Daria’s balanced performance across all apparatuses earned her a score of 130.450, placing her among the top finalists.
Barbara Domingos (BRA): Barbara impressed early on with a hoop score of 34.750, finishing the qualifications with a total score of 129.750.
Milena Baldassarri (ITA): Milena finished ninth with a score of 129.250, thanks to strong performances in hoop (33.300) and ribbon (32.300).
Zilu Wang (CHN): Zilu rounded out the top 10 with a total score of 128.100, earning her spot in the finals with consistent scores across all four apparatuses.
Alex’s Performance | Recap:
Alex began her Olympic journey with a ball routine, earning a score of 28.550. Her breakdown included a body difficulty of 8.2, apparatus difficulty of 5.4, artistry at 7.500, execution at 7.500, and a minor -0.05 penalty.
In the next round, she stepped up with an impressive Hoop routine, set to the track "Fate of Clockmaster" by Eternal Eclipse. Her score here was 30.050, with a notable body difficulty of 10.0, apparatus difficulty of 4.9, artistry at 7.600, and execution at 7.550.
Next, Alex began a routine with Ribbons to the song “Where is My Mind” by Chroma where she scored 28.900. Her body difficulty scored 8.8, an apparatus difficulty of 5.0, artistry of 7.600 and an execution of 7.500.
Wrapping up her qualification, Alex performed a Clubs routine to "Higher" by Michael Bublé. Despite a dropped apparatus, she scored 26.850, with a body difficulty of 7.6, apparatus difficulty of 5.3, artistry at 7.500, execution at 6.750, and a -0.30 penalty.
At 22 years old, Alex finished her qualifications in 22nd place, and while she didn't advance to the finals, her overall score of 114.350 in her Olympic debut is an achievement to be proud of.
Friday 9th August:
Individual All-Around Finals
Highlights:
The 2024 Rhythmic Gymnastics events at the Paris Olympics had some electric, standout performances.
Darja Varfolomeev from Germany made history by winning the gold medal in the all-around final, becoming the first German rhythmic gymnast to achieve this feat. She excelled with multiple scores above 36, setting herself apart as the only competitor to do so. This victory marks the first Olympic medal for Germany in Rhythmic Gymnastics since 1984, showcasing her remarkable skill and dedication.
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Varfolomeev wins individual Gold | Source: REUTERS / Mike Blake
Varfolomeev scored 142.850 point overall, her best apparatus score was 36.500 for ball. Other performances included hoop where she scored 36.300, ribbon, where she scored 33.700, and 36.350 for clubs.
Bulgaria's Boryana Kaleyn and Italy's Sofia Raffaeli made it to the podium with Kaleyn clinching the silver with a score of 140.600 and Raffaeli earning 136.300 and taking home the bronze.
Source: EPA / BGNES
