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FTER years looming just out of the all-around medals in world rhythmic competition, France's Eva Serrano is finally a confirmed - and comfortable - member of the sport's elite hegemony.
The Nimes native began training at age 8, and competed in her first world championships in 1992. Serrano's inauspicious finish (26th) that year and her 19th place in '93 were her last world rankings out of the top 10 to date. She finished seventh in '94 and '97, and ninth in '95. At the '96 Olympics, she was a solid sixth.
Although lauded for her artistically intense, technically ample performances, Serrano was unable to secure objective recognition in world championship hardware until '97, when she earned France's first medal - a bronze with hoop. At the '98 Europeans, Serrano reinforced her medal-worthiness by taking a silver...