Games of the XXX Olympiad
London (GBR), July 27 – August 12, 2012

LONDON (GBR), FIG Office, August 9, 2012: Daria Dmitrieva's (RUS) meticulous, elegant performances earned her a narrow lead over Beijing 2008 champion Evgeniya Kanaeva (RUS) at the end of the first day of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Qualifications at Wembley Arena on Thursday.

Individual All-around

DMITRIEVA established herself as a favourite for Gold in the first rotation where she scored 29.000 for her stately ball routine. She added 28.800 for her hoop routine in the second rotation to finish with a two-routine score of 57.800 points.

DMITRIEVA's ball routine featured multiple, controlled pirouettes in various positions. The highlight of DMITRIEVA's hoop routine was a risky combination during which she tossed the hoop, performed two side rolls before catching the apparatus behind her back and spinning it around her wrists.

KANAEVA dropped her hoop in her first routine, and her total score of 28.100 on this apparatus reflected an uncharacteristically low 'execution' score of 9.100. KANAEVA regained her composure during her exquisite ball routine in the second rotation, however. On this apparatus she received field-topping scores of 9.900 for 'difficulty', 9.900 for 'artistry' and 9.725 for 'execution'. She finished second to DMITRIEVA with a two-routine total score of 57.625 points.

Liubou CHARKASHYNA's (BLR) soft, melodic ball routine in the second rotation earned 28.400 points, and helped her secure third place with a two-routine total score of 56.450 points. Among her more daring skills, CHARKASHYNA tossed the ball and initiated a front walkover, at the peak of which she caught the apparatus behind her knees before finishing the skill.

Intermediate results

Group All-around

All groups performed one routine with five balls, and in contrast to many of their rivals' routines, Russia utilised a classical, balletic style to showcase their technical precision and ease of apparatus exchanges. Their total score of 28.375 points included the highest 'artistry' score (9.625) and the highest 'execution' score (9.350) of the field.

Italy, seeking their first Olympic Gold after winning the last three world titles, matched Russia's 'difficulty' score (9.400) but failed to do so with their other two scores and finished second. Italy performed with a modern, intense style to Black Gold for a total score of 28.100 points.

Competing first of the 12 groups, Belarus showed clarity and synchronicity in their error-free performance to L'Inverno from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. They finished third with 27.900 points.

Qualifications will conclude on Friday when individual gymnasts will perform their remaining two routines, with clubs and ribbon, and groups will perform their remaining routine, with three ribbons and two hoops.

The top 10 individual gymnasts will advance to the Individual All-around final on Saturday August11. The top eight groups will advance to the Group All-around final on Sunday August 12.

Intermediate results

Fore more information go to http://www.london2012.fig-gymnastics.com.

(ONS)