Averinas double up on World titles in the 2017 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

PESARO, August 31, 2017: Identical twins Dina and Arina Averina completed a Russian sweep of the individual apparatus titles on the second day of the World Championships Thursday, confirming themselves as the emerging queens of the discipline in the post-Olympic year (2017 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS).

Gold rush continues for Averinas
Having already harvested one World title apiece in Pesaro, each twin added a second gold to her cache during finals with the Clubs and Ribbon.

Though Dina won the Clubs, her preferred apparatus, by a wide margin, she left the door open after a shakier than usual performance with the Ribbon. Arina, whose Clubs routine netted her a bronze, did not miss the opportunity for another gold, reserving the top rung of the podium for herself with an on-point performance to Hungarian folk music.

Even with a few imperfections, Dina’s Ribbon routine merited a silver medal, a testament to the difficulty of her exercise.

First World medals for Halkina, Ashram
After a chocolate medal with the Hoop and a fifth place finish with the Ball, Katsiaryna Halkina broke finally through to take silver with the Clubs. Belarus’s top gymnast has graced numerous World Cup podiums throughout her career, but Pesaro is the first time she has claimed an individual medal at a World Championships.

The same goes for Linoy Ashram, whose bronze with the Ribbon is Israel’s second individual World medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics, coming six years after Neta Rivkin gave the country its first.

All-around field set in Pesaro
Dina and Arina Averina top the list of competitors with the best combined scores taking all four apparatus into account following the conclusion of the qualification rounds Thursday.

The top 24 gymnasts have advanced to Friday’s All-around final, which will determine the new World champion. The long reigns of Evgenia Kanaeva (World All-around champion 2009/10/11) and Yana Kudryavtseva (World All-around champion 2013/14/15) mean Friday’s winner will be only the fourth woman in a decade to wear the All-around crown. —- FIG