LEFT:
Aliya Garayeva
(Azerbaijan) won
bronzes for team,
hoop, ball and ribbon.
RIGHT:
Alina Maksimenko
(Ukraine), a former
group gymnast,
placed fifth all-around.
BELOW:
Italy’s gold for the
group all-around pre-
vented a Russian
sweep.
It was, indeed. While the majority of the groups,
including Russia, suffered big mistakes and/or
drops of the apparatus, “The Butterflies,” as they
are known in their home country, did not flinch
once. Elisa Santoni (captain), 22, Elisa Blanchi, 23,
Angelica Savrajuk, 21, Romina Laurito, 23,
Daniela Masseroni, 25, ( 3 ribbons/2 ropes) and
Gulia Galtarossa, 19, ( 5 hoops) presented two
amazingly structured compositions with very
sophisticated collaborative work, along with perfect
synchronization and precision of performance. But
most importantly, they did not err.
One can now speak about the Italian school in
rhythmic groups, not only because of their three
world titles in the all-around (Madrid ’75, Mie ’09
and Moscow ’ 10); two gold medals in the apparatus finals (Baku ’05 and Mie ’09); and nine silver
and the five bronze medals they have won in world
championships so far. But Italy’s contribution to this
discipline is based on its creative interpretation of
artistic ideas through the means of the sport. Italy
also has proved that a country without the might
and size of Russia can win, if it knowss how to cre-
ate and maintain its own high level system of preparation.
Italy is indeed the most experienced team at the
moment. Its gymnasts all live and train together at
the Federal Centre in Desio, near Milan. As well as
their training, some of the girls have completed the
“Communications and New Media” course at the
University in Bergamo. If the coaching staff of the
group led by Emanuela Maccarani (a former Italian
champion and participant in the world and
European championships from 1982-84), manages
to keep the rejuvenation of the team intact, as she
has in the last four years, then Italy’s success will be
maintained for a long time.
After the Beijing Olympics, the 5 ropes routine
was replaced by 5 hoops, which obviously has
caused problems for many of the teams, including
Russia (two drops in the all-around). Also, big mistakes were suffered by traditionally strong groups,
such as Spain (0.80 penalty for apparatus outside
the boundary and 15th place) and China (silver
medalists from Beijing). Japan, on the other hand,
continued to move upward (10th in Beijing, eighth
in Mie and sixth in Moscow), along with Germany
(eighth) and Switzerland (ninth).
But of all the medalists among the groups,
Bulgaria seemed happiest for its bronze with the 5
hoops.
“Yes, we are really happy, because this is a new,
very young team with only one gymnast left from
the group after Mie ’09,” Raeva said. “We have
three 16-year-old debutantes. To hold their nerves
and present two fluent routines with hoops was
really an extraordinary achievement for less than a
year’s work together. What’s more, the idea to
compete in Russia with a routine choreographed to
Russian music (soundtrack from the film “Anasta-
sia”) worked well. The audience responded enthusi-
astically and I received many congratulations from
much respected colleagues. However, we are now
going back home to begin from zero.”
All the challengers are certainly full of plans. But
for now, Russia’s reign is leading to most of the
gold medals. IG
Vera Marinova Atkinson was a group world champion for
Bulgaria in 1969 and ’71.
