Yevgeniya kanayeva biography of barack

Russian gymnasts were clear favourites to win the individual title, having won the last four Olympic individual titles, and the star of their squad was unquestionably the 18-year-old Yana Kudryavtseva, who had won the last three all-round world titles and one of only four gymnasts to win the title three years in succession. When she won in 2013, she was the youngest ever rhythmic gymnastics world champion. With two-time Olympic gold medallist Yevgeniya Kanayeva now retired, the way was open for Kudryavtseva to add to her successes, but not without stiff opposition from her team-mate Margarita Mamun, who was the 2014 and 2015 World Championship runner-up.

Any chance to spoil the Russian domination came from Ukraine, Bulgaria and Belarus, who had the impressive pair of Melitina Stanyuta and Katsiaryna Halkina in their squad. Son Yeon-Jae was hoping to become the first Korean to win a rhythmic medal. Fifth in London in 2012 and ranked number five in the world goin