Evgeniya Kanaeva wins all-around title in London 2012 rhythmic gymnastics

Evgeniya Kanaeva found one thing besides sparkles and sequins to assist her stand out from the competition.

A second Olympic Gold Medal

The Russian became the primary periodic jock to win 2 Olympic comprehensive titles, defensive her prize from national capital on Saturday. It caps a spectacular four years for Kanaeva, United Nations agency additionally won the last 3 world titles, and offers Russia the last four Olympic individual titles. The Russians have an opportunity for an additional four-peat in Sunday's cluster event, too.

Kanaeva announce the very best score in 3 of the four events and finished with 116.90 points. That was over 2 points before associate Daria Dmitrieva. Liubou Charkashnya of Republic of Belarus won the decoration.

Kanaeva gave a bright smile once the ultimate standings were proclaimed, waving at the big contingent of jingoistic Russian fans United Nations agency had been serenading her with chants and cheers all afternoon.

That Kanaeva would win a second prize was ne'er very in question. No one's comparable to difficult her since national capital, and he or she was therefore dominant ultimately year's world championships that she won all four individual events, too, and additional a sixth gold within the team competition. although a rare mistake left her trailing Dmitrieva when the primary day of qualifying, she created it clear from the beginning Saturday that nobody else was reaching to have an opportunity.

Kanaeva performs with such swish magnificence, the instrumentality usually looks like a part of body - not some ribbons, balls, hoops and clubs she's agitated around. Her ribbon looked virtually lifelike as she twirled it, dance and moving in good time to music by Chopin. Her milklike pink ball looked as if it would be moving on its own as she rolled it on her arm.

And the hoop, the supply of her issues Thursday? She flicked the golden - would it not be the other color? - ring high into the air along with her foot, and did a walkover before grabbing it with a swish wave.

Dmitrieva was joyous along with her silver - no surprise, considering she wasn't even purported to be at the London athletic competition. solely additional to the Russian team earlier this month when Alexandra Merkulova withdrew with associate injury, the 19-year-old showed that the Russian sept in periodic athletics will not finish with Kanaeva.

Contortionists would envy the flexibleness Dmitrieva showed throughout her ball routine, doing the splits along with her legs high within the air whereas cradling the ball within the back end of her euphemism. and he or she need to accept hanging onto her club routine for urban center, the samba-ish program absolute to be hit.