Russia Dominates Rhythmic European Finals

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Russia won eight medals in the event finals at the Rhythmic European Championships which concluded Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Vera Sesina, who led Russia to the team title in Baku, was the only gymnast to win a medal in each of the four event finals. She placed first with clubs, second with rope, and third with hoop and ribbon.

First-time winners included Azerbaijan's own Aliya Garayeva with the rope, and Russian Yevgenia Kanayeva with the ribbon.

Russian Olga Kapranova, the 2005 world all-around champion, won a medal of every color. Ukraine's Anna Bessonova won two silver medals and one bronze medal.

Russia added an additional gold medal from its junior group, which topped Bulgaria and Belarus in the exercise with the five ribbons.

2007 Rhythmic European Championships
July 1, Baku, Azerbaijan

Clubs
1. Vera Sesina RUS 18.000
2. Olga Kapranova RUS 18.000
3. Anna Bessonova UKR 17.850
4. Aliya Garayeva AZE 17.750
5. Natalia Godunko UKR 17.475
6. Svetlana Rudalova BLR 17.125
7. Simona Peycheva BUL 16.975
8. Anna Gurbanova AZE 16.750

Hoop
1. Olga Kapranova RUS 18.325
2. Anna Bessonova UKR 18.050
3. Vera Sesina RUS 17.600
4. Simona Peycheva BUL 17.475
5. Natalia Godunko UKR 17.350
6. Svetlana Rudalova BLR 16.875
7. Irina Risenson ISR 16.850
8. Almudena Cid ESP 16.150

Ribbon
1. Yevgenia Kanayeva RUS 18.275
2. Anna Bessonova UKR 18.100
3. Vera Sesina RUS 17.825
4. Aliya Garayeva AZE AZE 17.675
5. Natalia Godunko UKR 17.375
6. Simona Peycheva BUL 17.275
7. Dinara Gimatova AZE 16.975
8. Irina Risenson ISR 16.325

Rope
1. Aliya Garayeva AZE 18.150
2. Vera Sesina RUS 18.050
3. Olga Kapranova RUS 17.750
4. Natalia Godunko UKR 17.700
5. Anna Bessonova UKR 17.400
6. Almudena Cid ESP 16.900
7. Anna Gurbanova AZE 16.550
8. Svetlana Rudalova BLR 16.125

Junior Group - Five Clubs
1. Russia 26.575
2. Bulgaria 25.875
3. Belarus 24.975
4. Azerbaijan 24.500
5. Israel 24.475
6. Ukraine 24.400
7. Spain 23.975
8. Hungary 22.800

International Gymnast Magazine Related Features
Kapranova on cover, 2005 World Championships coverage (December 2005)
"Hoop Dreams" - Peycheva profile (March 2002)
"Putting Her Best Foot Forward" - Gimatova profile (January 2005)