Israeli gymnast Ashram wins four medals

The 18-year-old took four bronzes in the FIG World Challenge Cup competition in Kazan, Russia, finishing all four apparatus finals in third place.

By ALLON SINAI
Linoy Ashram (photo credit: AMIT SHUSSEL / COURTESY)
Linoy Ashram
(photo credit: AMIT SHUSSEL / COURTESY)
Israel’s Linoy Ashram picked up four more medals on Sunday in her final tune-up event before the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships later this month.
The 18-year-old took four bronzes in the FIG World Challenge Cup competition in Kazan, Russia, finishing all four apparatus finals in third place.
Ashram, who ended the all-around event in Kazan in fourth place on Saturday, registered a score of 16.9 points in the hoop final on Sunday, finishing behind identical Russian twins Arina and Dina Averina, who claimed the top two spots in three of the four finals.
Ashram ended the ball final with a score of 16.2, the clubs with 16.3 and the ribbon with 16.2.
Ashram will be brimming with confidence ahead of the World Championships, which begin in Pesaro, Italy on August 29, with her success on Sunday coming on the back of a breakthrough summer.
The gymnast won two medals at the recent World Games, taking a silver in the clubs and a bronze in the hoop. She dominated the Maccabiah’s rhythmic gymnastics competitions last month, sweeping all five gold medals.
Ashram also took two medals at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary in May, finishing third in the hoops and club finals.
Ashram will now be looking to become the second Israeli to win a medal at the World Championships. Neta Rivkin, who retired following the Rio Olympics last summer, won a bronze medal in the hoop final at the World Championships in 2011.