FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Deriugina Cup 2012 Kiev

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 14, 2012: Some seventy gymnasts representing 31 different countries responded to an invitation extended by the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation to participate at the 5th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Kiev (UKR) on March 16 – 18, 2012. An international tournament for juniors and seniors held for the 21st time in Kiev, the Deriugina Cup – Naftogaz 2012 is scheduled to take place parallel to the World Cup.

41 Individual gymnasts and six rhythmic Groups will launch their World Cup season in Kiev, amongst them numerous gymnasts whom we will see at London’s Wembley Arena this summer. Their preparations for the Olympic Games are already well underway. The host country registered members of the 2011 World Bronze medal winning team, Alina Maksymenko and Anna Rizatdinova in Individuals, and the Group that qualified for London 2012.

Check out the complete line-up:

Individuals

Groups

Traditionally scheduled early in the international season since its launch in 1992, the Deriugina Cup – Naftogaz gives elite gymnasts an opportunity to check their readiness and allows up and coming junior athletes to test the waters on an international stage.

The event will also serve as a backdrop for the 80th anniversary celebration of a Rhythmic Gymnastics legend, Albina Deriugina (UKR), the world-famous coach who worked with numerous past and current Rhythmic stars. Among guests expected in Kiev are FIG President Bruno Grandi (ITA), FIG General Secretary Andre Gueisbuhler, FIG official delegate and RG Technical Committee President Maria Szyszkowska (POL) and UEG Technical Committee President Heide Bruneder (AUT).

Kiev organisers continue to prepare for the 32nd World Championships to be held September 14 – 24, 2013, for which the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation considers this year’s competition a test event.

History of the Event

Past Olympic medallists, including Ukraine’s Aleksandra Timoshenko, Oksana Skaldina, Ekaterina Serebrianskaya, Elena Vitrichenko and Anna Bessonova, Russia’s Alina Kabaeva, Yulia Barsukova, Evgenia Kanaeva and Irina Tschaschina as well as Belarusian Yulia Raskina and Inna Zhukova, all took part in the Deriugina Cup at some point during their carreers.

It was at the Kiev Sports Palace arena that 1989 World Champion Aleksandra Timoshenko and 1991 World Champion Oksana Skaldina presented the routines that only months later would bring the Deriugina School gymnasts a Gold and Bronze medal respectively at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Over the following years, future Olympic Champion Ekaterina Serebrianska dominated the competitions in Kiev. Deriugina Cup 1996 held special meaning with participants presenting their Olympic programmes and the Deriugina School celebrating its 35th anniversary.

In 1997 the tournament underwent a major and important change. The Grand Prix Organising Committee decided to include Deriugina Cup into the Grand Prix Series, the first such competition on the grounds of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This change increased the level of competition and ensured participation of the world’s best gymnasts. Elena Vitrichenko of Ukraine, a clean performer and an artist on the rhythmic floor, was an unparalleled leader in the sport from 1997-1999.

In 2000 and 2001, the competition’s most important trophy in the form of a bronze statue was awarded to the celebrated Alina Kabaeva (RUS).

In 2002, Ukraine celebrated a triple anniversary: 10 years of the tournament, 50 years of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Ukraine and the 70th birthday of Albina Deriugina, President of Ukrainian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation. A substantial number of spectators filling the grandstands of the Kiev Sports Palace were the icing on the cake. An All-around victory was celebrated by 2001 World Champion Tamara Yerofeeva (UKR).

The host country’s Natalia Godunko, 2001 World Team Champion and 2002 World Group Champion, celebrated victory twice at the Deriugina Cup – in 2005 and 2006 – an important stepping stone in the career of the 2005 European Champion. And since 2007, the Deriugina Cup has run under the prestigious World Cup label and the supervision of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

A winner in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009, Anna Bessonova is the absolute record-holder of the Deriugina Cup. One of the most celebrated students of the Deriugina School, Bessonova was Olympic Bronze medallist in 2004 and 2008 and became the World All-around Champion in 2007. Her carrier took off in Kiev, where she performed in Gala events; and it was at the Kiev Sports Palace where spectators witnessed her farewell in 2010. In 2010 and 2011, All-around victories were celebrated by Russia’s Daria Dmitrieva and Daria Kondakova respectively.

About 2012 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Series

The 2012 FIG World Cup circuit in Rhythmic Gymnastics includes one category A event (Sofia) and six category B events. Apart from Corbeil-Essonnes (Individuals only), all events include both Individual and Group competitions, with All-around competitions serving as qualifiers for the Apparatus Finals.

With stopovers on two continents, the competitions are slated for March 16 – 18 in Kiev (UKR), April 13 – 15 in Pesaro (ITA), April 28 – 29 in Penza, May 5 – 7 in Sofia, May 11 – 13 in Corbeil-Essonnes, May 18 – 20 in Tashkent and July 13 – 15 in Minsk (BLR).

The world ranking points collected by competitors at their best four events of the circuit will add up to a total, and the top scorers in each discipline will be crowned the winners of the overall series at the ultimate event in Minsk.

Participation in A World Cups is limited to a maximum of two Individual gymnasts and one Group per federation, while invitations are restricted to federations with Individual gymnasts among the top 18 (C I, All-around) and the best 12 Groups from the 2011 World Championships, with an additional wild card for the host country if not represented. B World Cups are open to all FIG member federations. Countries with gymnasts in the top 40 at the 2011 World Championships are entitled to participate with two Individual gymnasts; all other federations are allowed one gymnast only. All federations can participate with one Group. The current All-around champions of the Olympic Games, World and Continental Championships are invited to A and B World Cups and are in addition to the places listed above.

At category A and B World Cups, both Individuals and Groups qualify the best eight during the All-around competition for the Apparatus Finals. In the event of failure to qualify, the host federation may participate in one Individual Final of its choice. The world ranking points collected by competitors at their best four events of the circuit will add up to a total, and the top scorers in the All-around and per Apparatus will be crowned the winners of the overall series at the ultimate event in Minsk.