In February 2018 Moscow hosted the European qualification event for the rhythmic gymnastics competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. It was held on the eve of the first Grand Prix of the season, so many of the best junior coaches in Europe were already in the city.
The rules
Only gymnasts born in 2003 were eligible, and each country could earn just one place. Fifty-six gymnasts from 33 countries competed for 18 quota places. The places were non-nominative: a federation that qualified could still choose which gymnast to send to Argentina.
The competition
Russia’s original entry, 2016 European junior champion Polina Shmatko, withdrew at the last minute with a toe injury. Her replacement, Anastasia Sergeeva, won the all-around with 62.300, more than a point ahead of Ukraine’s Khrystyna Pohranychna. Pohranychna posted the single highest score of the event, 16.900 with hoop.
The 18 qualified nations
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel, Bulgaria, Italy, Armenia, Finland, Azerbaijan, France, Romania, Spain, Georgia, Cyprus, Germany, Norway, Greece and Estonia.
Why the format matters
– One place per country spreads the Games across many nations, which is the purpose of the Youth Olympics. – A single qualifying event means one bad routine can cost a country its place. – Non-nominative places give federations time to pick the gymnast in best form by October.
The artistic gymnastics qualifier for the same Games was held in Baku in June 2018; see Busse and Bachynska top the Youth Olympic qualifier.
