Russian team victorious at Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Kazan

          Russian team victorious at Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Kazan


 The Russian team has triumphed in the group competition at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series finals in Kazan. The Russian athletes won gold in the clubs event, having scored 18,600 points, and came in third in the ball and ribbon events, with 17,600 points, leaving their rivals behind. The silver medal went to the Belarusian team (17,650 points in the ribbon event and 17,650 in clubs), with the Bulgarians winning the bronze (17,550 and 17,650 respectively). Russian gymnasts led in the individual competitions too. Margarita Mamun came in first with the hoop, scoring 18,500 points, with her compatriot Yana Kudryavtseva coming in second (18,450 points) and South Korea's Son Yeon-jae coming in third (18,000). For her part, Kudryavtseva won the gold in the ball event (19,000), leaving behind Mamun (18,950) and Belarus's Melitina Staniouta, who came in third with 18,000 points. Kudryavtseva also triumphed in the clubs and ribbon events, leaving behind Belarusians Staniouta and Katsiaryna Halkina. The winner's score was 19,000 and 18,450 respectively.

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Rhythmic Gymnastics News

About 1,500 athletes from all across the United States will be coming to Louisville to compete in the USA Gymnastics Championships -- which showcases the national championships for acrobatic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling. 

Six of the top athletes from rhythmic gymnastics and tumbling will be in Louisville this week, promoting the upcoming five-day championships.

"It's only growing. Trampoline and tumbling has always kind of been in the shadow of artistic because they're so amazing in the U.S., but slowly we are turning that around and trying to grow the sport every year," said gymnast Alex Renkert.

Jazzy Kerber has been performing rhythmic since she was 4 years old.

"We perform with four different apparatus, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon and we do turns, balances, jumps, tosses, dancing steps and other tricks with the apparatus," Kerber said.

Now 17, she's the youngest of the five Team USA members to visit Louisville this week in preparation of the big event.

"It's a big time commitment. I train six days a week, during the school year it's four hours a day. During the summer, more around six," Kerber said.

Renkert's training schedule is also rigorous as a full-time college students and veteran member of Team USA.

"I train usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday, which doesn't seem like a lot of training, but it is 3  1/2 hours and then I also condition on my off days," Renkert said.

The group is hoping their hard work pays off in the form of a National Championship title and a big fan base to watch.

"Rio 2016 is a goal, so I'll just try my best and see how that works," said Kerber.

The event will be held July 15-19 at both the Kentucky International Convention Center and the KFC Yum Center.

A single day pass at the convention center costs $25.

Tickets at the KFC Yum Center are $20 to $25.

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