Israeli gymnast Linoy Ashram sets world record at World Cup, wins gold

Ashram receives score of 20.65 for her clubs demonstration, surpassing previous record holder, goes on to clinch first place in all-round phase

By ToI Staff 18 August 2018, 6:18 pm 3 Edit

Linoy Ashram of Israel performs her clubs routine during in 2017 (Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP)

Israeli gymnast Linoy Ashram on Saturday broke the world record in the clubs-handling round at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Minsk, and went on to win the gold medal in the all-round phase of the competition.

The 19-year-old Ashram received a score of 20.65 for her clubs demonstration, surpassing the 20.05 record set at the 2018 European Championships by Russian Dina Averina.

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

Ashram went on to receive a final score of 77.800 in the all-round stage, winning the gold medal.

The Israeli Olympic Committee noted that Ashram is the first person in the history of the Challenge Cup to win two gold medals in one season, after she won a gold in the competition in Spain in May.

Ashram hopes to improve her results later this year at the World Championships in Bulgaria. Last year she finished third in the all-around competition at the Championships in Italy, 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.