In first, Israeli wins bronze at world gymnastics championships

Israeli gymnast Linoy Ashram finished third in the all-around competition at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, making her the first Israeli to ever win a medal in the category.

Prior to Ashram’s performance Friday in Pesaro, Italy, the best result for an Israeli in the category was Neta Rivkin’s seventh place finish at the 2015 world championships.

The all-around competition includes hoop, clubs, ball and ribbon.

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Following her third-place finish, Ashram said the significance of the historic result is “slowly” starting to sink in.

“I am slowly beginning to comprehend what I did, but on the other hand I must be focused and quickly return to my routine in order to work on my next goals,” the 18-year-old Rishon Lezion native told the Yedioth Ahronoth daily in an interview published Sunday.

Asked about the possibility of winning a medal in the 2020 Olympics, Ashram said “in the meantime I am not thinking about that.”

“There are three years of hard work waiting for me, and slowly we’ll get there,” she said.

“In the meantime I want to thank everyone for the support — the team of coaches, Hapoel Rishon Lezion [sports club], the Olympic committee and the people of Israel,” she added.

Finishing first and second in the all-around competition were Russian identical twins Dina and Arina Averina.