Predictions for the 2020 Olympics

This year’s Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 16th to September 22nd at the National Gymnastics Arena. The competition is on its 37th consecutive year, which is a marker of just how recently rhythmic gymnastics has become a popular, worldwide sport. In fact, rhythmic gymnastics was only recognized as an Olympic sport until 1984. Today, though, rhythmic gymnastics is a fan-favorite in the Olympics. It is followed by many people who have no real, vested interest in gymnastics, but simply enjoy the sport for its entertainment value.

Due to the fact that the sport is still relatively new, the rhythmic gymnastics programs in many countries are still developing. However, most Eastern European countries have very advanced programs and consistently win medals at worlds and in other important competitions like the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, the Grand-Prix series, and of course, the Olympic games.

This year, the world championships was an especially high-stakes event for the competing gymnasts because next year,2020, is an Olympic year. Many of the gymnasts who took home medals this year will be top contenders to do the same at next year’s Olympics, and, based on the current standings, it looks like Russia will be the favorite to take home gold in 2020.

Dina and Alina Averina pictured (left),Ashram pictured (right)

Russia took first place in every single individual event, the all-around, the team all-around, and two out of the three group all-around at this year’s worlds. Israel came in second in the team all-around and racked up some silver and bronze medals as well, so they could also be serious contenders in next year’s Olympics. Based on the 2019 worlds results, Bulgaria, Japan, Belarus, Italy, and the Ukraine also seem like they could be in competitive shape to win some medals at the next Olympics.

However, nothing is set in stone. Injuries happen frequently. One day, a gymnast could be the favorite to win a whole competition, and the next day, she could sustain an injury that forces her to stop competing for the rest of the season. In addition, there are several talented gymnasts who are not of age right now, but will be sixteen, and therefore eligible to compete in the Olympics, within the calendar year. There could easily be an upcoming champion among that group. There could even be a rising star among the current competitors who will surprise us all next year.

Keeping all of these factors in mind, here are my top five picks for the individuals/teams that I think will do well in the 2020 Summer Olympics:

1. Dina Averina

Averina, of Russia, is the obvious pick to win gold at the Olympics because she took first place in four out of five of the individual events at the 2019 worlds and has been the all-around world champion three years running. She is 21 years old, and she has been very successful in competition since the beginning of her senior debut. She generally performs very well in all events because she is very versatile. Therefore, it will not be a surprise to see her take the gold for all-around at the Olympics.

2. Linoy Ashram

Ashram, of Israel, has maintained her place in the rankings amongst the most elite Russian gymnasts in this season’s circuit of international competitions. At worlds, she came in third in the all-around and received silver medals in the individual hoops, club, and ribbon finals. She consistently places in all four individual events. At the 2019 European Games, she edged out Dina Averina for gold in the ball and clubs finals and placed second in the all-around. Ashram,20, is the star of Israel’s program, and she will almost definitely win several medals for her country at next year’s Olympics.

3. Lala Kramerenko

Kramerenko ,of Russia, has not competed in any senior level competitions yet, but she will be making her senior debut in the coming year. She has done extremely well in the junior division, coming in first in two of four of the individual apparatus finals at the junior world championships. She shows the capability to not only make the Russian team for the Olympics in 2020, but to earn medals in the ball and clubs event finals for her country.

4. Aleksandra Soldatova

Soldatova has been competing in the senior division for five years now. She missed her chance to go to the Olympics four years ago because, as a newer competitor among the plethora of seasoned rhythmic gymnasts in Russia, she was outranked. However, she has consistently placed first in the individual and all-around events in international competitions since 2017. She did not compete in worlds this year, but still did relatively well in the 2019 World Cup and European Championships. If she can get herself back into competitive shape for 2020, she will most certainly make the Olympic team.

5. Japanese Team

There are some countries, like Japan, whose programs are more geared toward rhythmic gymnastics as a group sport. Japan does enter individual gymnasts into competition, but they usually do better in group events. At the 2019 Worlds, Japan beat Russia for first in the group event with five balls and won second place in the three hoops, four clubs event as well as the group all-around. It is likely that, going into the next Olympics, Japan will be Russia’s biggest competition in the group all-around.