This week in gymnastics: Russia, Belarus athletes able to compete in 2024, rhythmic and trampoline world cups continue

This week in gymnastics covers the latest happenings in the Olympic gymnastics disciplines, including artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline.

A decision that impacts all: FIG paves way for Russia, Belarus to compete in 2024

On July 19, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Executive Committee (EC) announced the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to FIG-sanctioned competitions starting in 2024.

The FIG’s decision is in line with a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March to allow individuals, not teams, from Russia and Belarus to compete as “individual neutral athletes” while not actively supporting the war and abiding by anti-doping requirements.

The specific requirements that the nations’ athletes will have to meet will be described in “Ad-hoc Rules” in the coming weeks. Any athlete wishing to obtain and compete under the status of “individual neutral athlete” will have to apply with the FIG after the rules are issued. Those approved will be eligible to compete in FIG-sanctioned events starting January 1, 2024.

This decision is FIG-specific and is separate from the decision of whether to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That responsibility falls on the IOC, with the organization saying earlier this month, “[We] will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions.”

Russia and Belarus will not receive formal invitations to the 2024 Games when they are sent to 203 NOCs on July 26 – a year out from Paris – but this is a formality and has no impact on athletes. The National Organizing Committee of Guatemala is also not receiving an invitation since it is currently suspended.

The current stipulations laid out by both the IOC and FIG do not allow for Russian or Belarusian teams to enter competitions when the ban is lifted. Even if teams were allowed, the nations would not be able to qualify teams in artistic gymnastics since all berths will have been awarded by the end of qualifying competition at the 2023 world championships, which begin September 30. Therefore, the IOC would have to make a special exception that is not in line with the qualification timeline or rules.

For rhythmic, group qualifying continues into 2024 but would still require the lifting of the ban on teams, if the nations are deemed eligible for Paris.

There is also the consideration of athletes actively supporting or associated with the war.

Some blatant cases have spread on social media, including Ivan Kuliak wearing the Z symbol at the Doha World Cup in 2022. Currently, 43 artistic gymnasts, including Kuliak and all athletes on the men’s and women’s teams that won gold in Tokyo – with the exception of Lilia Akhaimova – have been sanctioned by Ukraine for supporting the war. In rhythmic, the dominant Averina twins, Dina and Arina, have also been sanctioned, along with three others.

In January, the men’s artistic team that won gold at the Tokyo Games reportedly donated a drone to Russian soldiers. Nikita Nagornyy, who was part of that team and won the 2019 world all-around title, is the head of Russia’s Young Army, which trains adolescents for future military service.

Ukraine has threatened a boycott of the Paris Games but not formalized any plans. The Ukrainian sports minister said in April that 262 athletes have died in the attack.

The ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from FIG competitions began in March 2022, soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the prior month. The ban was extended in early March, prior to the IOC’s recommendations. Both decisions were made by the EC, which is composed of 24 members and includes the FIG President Watanabe Morinari.

Other news from the FIG Executive Committee

• The 2026 World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics will take place in Berlin, Germany from September 30 – October 4.
• The 2027 World Championships in Trampoline Gymnastics will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from November 10-13.
• Some events in the 2024 world cup series and world challenge cup series for all three disciplines were allocated (Note: * means event is subject to ratification by the FIG Council):
  • 2024 Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup Series
    • March 29-31: Antalya (TUR) *
    • April 4-7: Osijek (CRO) *
    • May 23-26: Varna (BUL)
    • June 2 – May 30: Koper (SLO)
    • October 4-6: Szombathely (HUN)
  • 2024 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup Series
    • May 10-12: Portimão (POR) 
    • June 26-28: Jerusalem (ISR) 
    • July 12-14: Cluj-Napoca (ROU) 
  • 2024 Trampoline World Cup Series
    • February 23-25: Baku (AZE) / Qualifying Event for Paris 2024 Olympic Games * 
    • March 12-14: Alkmaar (NED) 
    • March 22-24: Cottbus (GER) / Qualifying Event for Paris 2024 Olympic Games 
    • April 27-28: Varna (BUL) 
    • June 28-29: Arosa (SUI) 
    • July 6-7: Coimbra (POR) 
• The 2024 Palaio Faliro (GRE) World Cup in rhythmic gymnastics will now take place March 22-24 instead of March 15-17.
• The two ambassadors for the 2023 Gymnastics World Championships in artistic will be Daniela Silivas (ROU) and Iordan Iovtchev (BUL).
• The following nationality changes were approved:
  • Bashar Alturk – trampoline – Former: Great Britain / New: Jordan 
  • Goncalo Morais de Sousa Alves – trampoline – Former: Portugal / New: Switzerland

Artistic

Women’s junior and senior required qualification scores for 2023 U.S. Championships lowered

At the July meeting of USA Gymnastics’ Women’s International Elite Committee, the issue was raised of the number of athletes who have qualified to the 2023 U.S. Championships, which will take place at the end of August in San Jose, California.

After a “general” discussion “without any comment on specific individual scores of athletes in competition”, a lowering of the all-around qualification score requirements was approved. The new junior women’s qualification score is 49.50, and the new senior women’s qualification score is 50.50.

The decision came after a previous meeting was held July 10 that saw its votes nullified at the start of the July 18 meeting due to individuals with conflicts of interest not recusing themselves from deliberations and/or voting. In the most recent meeting, Kelli Hill (Hill’s Gymnastics) and Marnie Futch (Metroplex) declared “actual or potential conflict” and recused themselves.

Read the meeting minutes here.

Shilese Jones teases exceptional connection on bars

Three-time world medalist Shilese Jones will make her return to elite competition at the Core Hydration Classic in August, and she’s teasing big skills ahead of the meet.

The 2022 world uneven bars silver medalist teased a stalder laid-out Tkatchev (unnamed) connected to a Pak full (Bhardwaj) on social on July 21.

It’s not the first time Jones has teased the unnamed skill, but it is the first mention of it since last season. Whether it is something she’ll attempt at Classics or wait is to be seen, but if she were to successfully compete the skill in FIG-sanctioned competition, it would be named the Jones.

ICYMI: Core Hydration Classic 411, Heath Thorpe left off Australia worlds team, and Simone Biles competes Yurchenko double pike at camp

Check out some of our most recent artistic stories!

• Brian Carey joins Oregon State gymnastics as assistant coach
• Core Hydration Classic 411: Field, draws, schedule, and how to watch
• Reigning Australian champion Heath Thorpe left off world championships team
• Simone Biles competes Yurchenko double pike, bests field at US camp
• Gabby Douglas makes comeback official, eyeing Paris 2024
• When gymnastics worlds collide: Fred Richard has gold medal dreams

Rhythmic

Cluj-Napoca World Challenge Cup previews worlds showdowns

European all-around champion Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) won the ball and clubs titles at the Cluj-Napoca World Challenge Cup, held July 14-16, priming her for next month’s rhythmic world championships in Spain after missing the 2022 edition due to illness.

Kaleyn’s biggest competition at worlds will undoubtedly be the reigning world champion five times over – Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli. The 19-year-old won the all-around, hoop, ball, and ribbon world titles last year, along with team gold. In Cluj Napoca, Raffaeli bested the field in the all-around and with the hoop.

The 22-year-old Kaleyn finished second to Raffaeli in the all-around in Cluj Napoca. She’ll need to improve her hoop score, specifically, to have a chance of usurping the reigning world champion next month.

Darja Varfolomeev (GER) rounded out the individual titles at the meet, winning the ribbon event.

In the team competition, Italy, Bulgaria, and Brazil topped the all-around podium, respectively. Italy also won the 5 hoop final, while Brazil was victorious in the 3 ribbon and 2 ball final. Notably, Mexico won the bronze in the 5 hoop as well.

According to the FIG, no nation from the Americas (and only three outside of Europe) has ever won a medal in group competition at the world championships.

Americans Lili Mizuno and Alexandria Kautzman were 13th and 23rd all-around, respectively. Mizuno also finished eighth in the hoop final and fifth with the ball.

The American group was 10th all-around.

Final world cup of 2023 sees Darja Varfolomeev emerge as contender, Daria Atamanov makes anticipated return

Germany’s Varfolomeev won three titles at the Milan World Cup – held from July 21-23 – showing she is ready to contend with the likes of Raffaeli and Kaleyn next month at worlds.

Varfolomeev won the all-around, ball, and clubs titles and tacked on bronzes with the hoop and ribbon at the final world cup of the year. Her efforts were superior to Raffaeli, who finished second in the all-around and with the clubs but won the hoop final.

Kaleyn had a quieter meet, finishing fourth in the all-around and winning two silvers in the ball and ribbon.

Ukraine’s Viktoriia Onopriienko rounded out the individual winners with a superior performance with the ribbon.

Israel and China made their way to Milan in preparation for worlds, besting Bulgaria to ascend the podium in the all-around. Israel tied with Italy for the top spot on that podium, with Italy winning the tie-breaker. China was third. In the five hoops, it was once again Italy and Israel in first and second, followed by Bulgaria. Israel was triumphant in the 3 ribbons and 2 balls final, with China second and Italy third.

2022 European all-around champion Daria Atamanov (ISR) made her return to competition in Milan – 10 months after breaking her leg just moments before competing at last year’s worlds. She was sixth all-around in her return, finishing fifth with the hoop and eighth with the clubs.

Final 2023 Rhythmic World Cup series standings announced

The 2023 Rhythmic World Cup series came to a close over the weekend in Milan, with the final standings announced by the FIG on Tuesday.

Per the FIG, “Gymnasts accrued ranking points from each world cup they competed in, with their best three results counting towards their final total. 50 points are awarded for first place, 45 for second and 40 for third place. Further points are allocated all the way down to one point for 18th place.

“In addition, the top three ranked All-Around Individuals and All-Around Groups received prize money according to their final positions, adding to their earnings from each of the separate competitions.”

A tie-break was required to separate Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) and Italy’s Raffaeli after both sat atop the rankings with 145 points apiece. Raffaeli emerged victorious.

In the group competition, Israel edged China while Bulgaria was third.

With the world cup over, rhythmic now shifts its attention to the world championships, which are set for August 23-27 in Valencia, Spain.

Trampoline

Next up: Palm Beach World Cup

The first week of August will feature not one, but two gymnastics events stateside: the Core Hydration Classic (artistic) and the Palm Beach World Cup for trampoline.

The second-to-last trampoline world cup of 2023 will take place August 3-5 at Palm Beach County Convention Center. It’s the first time the FIG has awarded the U.S. a world cup event since 2020.

The world cup will feature individual trampoline (the Olympic event) as well as synchro, tumbling, and double mini divisions. Up to 250 athletes from 30 countries will descend on Florida for the meet.

Tickets are available here and range from $25 (podium training) to $100 for an all-session pass.

The world cup is expected to be streamed on NBC’s Peacock.