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Ukraine's Yelena Vitrichenko takes '97 world title, plus three golds and a silver in finals
POETRY. This is the only way to describe the feelings, emotions and excitement created by the artistry on display at the 21st World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics, held at the Max-Schmeling-Hall in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 23-27.
It was really a poetry of movements, the top of art. Music is an art, dancing is an art, juggling is an art, performing is an art. Add the element of competition and it transcends art. So rhythmic gymnastics is the top of art.
The team competition featured 50 nations, each offering 12 routines with the top 10 scores counting. The top eight countries advanced to the team final, where all 12 scores contributed to the total score. From the team preliminaries, 30 individuals qualified to the all-around final.
Unfortunately, the organization of the competition had its shortcomings. The performances with each apparatus in preliminaries were conducted simultaneously in different gymnasiums, which meant that many gymnasts were not able to view their competitors, nor to compete in the main hall before the largest crowds. This arrangement forced spectators, coaches and gymnasts to wander from gym to gym in search of their favorite performers.
Also, more than 140 gymnasts and their coaches, who had prepared for this competition for many months, finished their competition after...