JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli gymnast Linoi Ashram won Israel’s second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics and only its third gold medal of all time. Ashram beat out fierce competition from identical Russian twin sisters Dina and Arina Averina and ended two decades of Russian dominance of rythmic gymnastics to take the gold medal. In Saturday’s final, Dina Averina, who is three-times world champion, took the silver, while Belarus’s Alina Harnasko bagged bronze.
Ashram, the 2018 world all-around silver medalist, had been in good form this season, but was not expected to beat the twin sisters who between them had won every major championship all-around title they had competed for since the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Rhythmic gymnastics, which has been a recognized Olympic sport since 1984, sees athletes perform exquisite contortions and maneuvers to music while using hoops, balls, clubs or ribbons.
Despite dropping her ribbon in the final round of the final, Ashram was able to score more than her opposition and gain the gold medal.
“It’s an amazing feeling to stand in this place, at this time, on the podium and in first place,” said the 22-year-old gymnast who has now been picked to carry the flag at the closing ceremony.
“It’s a crazy experience that I still haven’t fully digested and with peak levels of excitement,” Ashram said.
The Israeli team has also attained two bronze medals during a successful Olympic run in Tokyo.
Source: VINNews