GYMNASTICS: Russia’s Soldatova sweeps first World Challenge Cup

Russia's 2018 World Ribbon gold medalist Aleksandra Soldatova

The headline star coming into the first FIG Rhythmic World Challenge Cup of the season was Russia’s double 2018 World Championships medal winner, Aleksandra Soldatova. And she performed like it.

Soldatova started by winning the All-Around title by more than three full points ahead of teammate Ekaterina Selezneva and went on to win all four apparatus finals for a five-event sweep of the event.

None of the apparatus scores were especially close, as Soldatova won by 0.700, 2.150, 0.500 and 0.750 points, large margins in gymnastics. Selezneva won three apparatus medals and Italy’s Alexandra Agiurgiuculese – third in the All-Around – also won three apparatus medals.

Laura Zeng of the U.S. was sixth in the All-Around and made the finals in three apparatus events, with a best of fourth in Hoop. Summaries:

FIG Rhythmic World Challenge Cup
Guadalajara (ESP) ~ 3-5 May 2019
(Full results here)

All-Around: 1. Aleksandra Soldatova (RUS), 84.000; 2. Ekaterina Selezneva (RUS), 80.850; 3. Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 77.300. Also: 6. Laura Zeng (USA), 75.000; … 11. Nastasya Generalova (USA), 71.250.

Hoop: 1. Soldatova (RUS), 21.750; 2. Khrystyna Pohranychna (UKR), 21.050; 3. Selezneva (RUS), 20.950. Also: 4. Zeng (USA), 18.600.

Ball: 1. Soldatova (RUS), 21.550; 2. Yeva Meleshchvk (UKR), 19.350; 3. Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 19.200. Also: 5. Zeng (USA), 18.550.

Clubs: 1. Soldatova (RUS), 21.000; 2. Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 20.500; 3. Selezneva (RUS), 20.200. Also: 8. Zeng (USA), 15.850.

Ribbon: 1. Soldatova (RUS), 18.950; 2. Selezneva (RUS), 18.200; 3. Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 18.150. Also: 7. Generalova (USA), 15.700.

Group All-Around: 1. Italy, 50.250; 2. Bulgaria, 49.100; 3. Russia, 46.950. Also: 6. United States, 40.950.

Group/5 Balls: 1. Russia, 25.850; 2. Italy, 25.000; 3. Bulgaria, 22.950. Also: 5. United States, 20.800.

Group/3 Hoops + 2 Clubs: 1. Bulgaria, 25.300; 2. Russia, 25.200; 3. Italy, 24.950. Also: 7. United States, 19.400.