Rhythmic Gymnastics Day 3 Preview: Show-stopping Individual finals

  2008-08-23 02:58:14 GMT    2008-08-23 10:58:14 (Beijing Time)    BOCOG

  (BEIJING, August 22) -- Day three of the Olympic Rhythmic Gymnastics competition will be a show-stopping day as attractive and graceful Individual All-Around finalists will put on their finest displays at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

  The ten highest ranked gymnasts from the qualification round enter the finals, where they will perform four routines with Rope, Hoop, Clubs and Ribbon. The points earned in the previous round do not carry over.

  European All-Around champion Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia was the top qualifier ahead of her teammate and decorated former world champion, Olga Kapranova. They are bidding for the third consecutive Olympic gold for their country.

  Ukraine's Anna Bessonova rounds off the top three in the qualification round. As the Athens bronze winner and reigning world champion, she is favored to make the podium again in Beijing.

  Inna Zhukova of Belarus is also liable to gain a medal. She placed seventh at Athens and finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships.