© John Cheng

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 13, 2022) – Evita Griskenas (Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) and Lili Mizuno (Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) both advanced to the ribbon final Wednesday as The World Games rhythmic competition concluded at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena.

The pair of 2020 Olympians qualified in the sixth and seventh spots, respectively, behind scores of 30.700 and 30.300. Griskenas’ 30.650 in the final bumped her into the fifth spot, while Mizuno maintained her seventh-place ranking with a 28.250. Israel’s Daria Atamanov, who captured the silver medal on ribbon at last month’s European Championships, led the way in Birmingham with a 32.750. She finished just ahead of reigning European ribbon champion Boryana Kaleyn of Bulgaria, who claimed the runner-up spot with a 32.650. Ukraine’s Viktoriia Onopriienko (31.750) was third.

In the clubs competition, Griskenas (29.850) was 11th, and Mizuno (28.100) was 18th. The 2022 European champion on clubs, Sofia Raffaeli of Italy, clinched gold with a 33.050. Atamanov was second with a 32.650, and Slovenia’s Ekaterina Vedeneeva rounded out the top three with a 32.200.

For more than 40 years, The World Games have taken place the year following the Summer Olympics and serve as the equivalent to the Olympic Games for non-Olympic disciplines and events. In a departure from the Olympic program, which only awards a rhythmic all-around champion, The World Games contests the individual rhythmic hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon apparatus. Gymnastics competition at the event also includes acro, parkour, and trampoline and tumbling divisions.

Three days of T&T and acrobatic gymnastics action will kick off Friday afternoon with the men’s double mini and women’s pair competitions. Learn more and access live scores on the event’s official website. A breakdown of U.S. participants along with competition dates and times is also available here, and fans can stream the event on The World Games 24/7 Channel at Olympics.com.