like. The Russian Olympic Committee won the team gold in women’s rhythmic gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics, capitalizing on the loss of American Simone Biles, who retired due to a “medical problem” after the first rotation in the colt.
Russia’s Lilia Akhimova, Victoria Listonova, Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova collected a total of 169,528 points, beating the Americans who took the silver with 3.5 fewer points (166,096), while the British took the bronze with 164,096 units.
The victory of the Russians came just a day after the men’s team climbed to the top of the podium. The country — which cannot use its name, flag or anthem at the Games after a systematic doping scandal — won the team gold, two of the most coveted medals of the Summer Games.
Gymnasts hung their medals amongst themselves, and Russian composer Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 sounded like a hymn.
It is the first gold medal for a Russian team in the field since shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Barcelona’s 1992 men and women crowned the unified team, after decades of drought that followed.
Although the history books point to Tuesday’s victory with an asterisk due to Biles’ early retirement, the Ross’ impressive performance is the result of a turnaround that began to unfold when they finished second, although a way away from the U.S. team that won the 2019 World Cup.
Their performance on Tuesday wasn’t perfect: two of them fell off the balance beam in a row. But they recovered and became the first team in 11 years to defeat the United States in competition.
Gymnastics is a specialty of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Gymnastics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern movement at the 1896 Athens Games, and is one of the most popular sports. The events are divided into artistic taking place from July 24-29 and August 1-3; Rhythmic, August 6-8; and trampoline, July 30-1, at Ariake Gymnastics Center. Via Graphic News.
Calendar and medal table Toys the Olympics Tokyo 2020 was held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. Via Graphic News.
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