Tokyo Olympics: Rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram wins Israel’s third-ever gold medal
Ashram ends two decades of Russian dominance of the sport and caps off a strong Olympic Games for Israel
Israel won its first medal in Olympic rhythmic gymnastics and continued a strong Tokyo Games overall as Linoy Ashram took gold in the individual all-around on Saturday.
Russian Dina Averina, three-times world champion, took the silver, while Belarus's Alina Harnasko bagged bronze.
Ashram edged out Averina to end two decades of Russian Olympic dominance and claim her country's third-ever Olympic gold medal.
The 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of sailor Gal Fridman and Artem Dolgopyat, who won men's floor gold in the artistic gymnastics in Tokyo.
Ashram, the 2018 world all-around silver medalist, had been in good form this season, but was not expected to beat identical twin sisters Dina and Arina Averina.
The twins, between them, had won every major championship all-around title they had competed for since the 2016 Rio Olympics.
An Olympic medal event since 1984, rhythmic gymnastics sees athletes perform exquisite contortions and maneuvers to music while using hoops, balls, clubs or ribbons.
Ashram particularly dazzled in the clubs performance, which her scored 28.650 points.
"I'm so happy that I did it - I came here and did my best," said Ashram, who sobbed as she was announced the victor.