Israeli team takes home gold at rhythmic gymnastics European Championships

Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team took the gold in the group all-around category at the European Championships in Kyiv Friday.

The category included performances using hoops, clubs and balls.

The members of the team are Yuliana Telegin, Yana Kramarenko, Ofir Dayan, Shai Ben Ruby, Bar Shapochnikov and Karin Vexman. The coach is Ira Vigdorchik.

Several teams did not participate in the competition, including from Russia, Italy and Belarus, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Saturday will see finals in individual events.

Israel’s team competes in the rhythmic gymnastics group clubs and hoops during the 36th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Rhythmic gymnastics is one of Israel’s stronger sports. Gymnast Linoy Ashram has won numerous medals in recent years and is seen as one of the country’s leading hopes in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the 2016 games in Brazil, Israel finished sixth in the group all-around, and Neta Rivkin, previously considered Israel’s best rhythmic gymnast, finished 16th in the individual competition.

Saturday saw Israel’s Peter Paltchik win the gold medal at the 2020 European Judo Championships. Paltchik defeated Russia’s Arman Adamian to finish first in the under-100 kilogram weight class at this year’s tournament in Prague.