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The elegance of rhythmic gymnastics

emily mclanahan
  • <p>Australia’s Danielle Prince performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
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    Danielle Prince

    Australia’s Danielle Prince performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP)

  • <p>Varvara Filiou (GRE) of Greece competes using the ribbon. (Reuters) </p>
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    Varvara Filiou

    Varvara Filiou (GRE) of Greece competes using the ribbon. (Reuters)

  • <p>Belarus’ Melitina Staniouta performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
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    Melitina Staniouta

    Belarus’ Melitina Staniouta performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP)

  • <p>France’s Kseniya Moustafaeva performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
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    Kseniya Moustafaeva

    France’s Kseniya Moustafaeva performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP)

  • <p>Azerbaijan’s Marina Durunda performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
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    Marina Durunda

    Azerbaijan’s Marina Durunda performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP)

  • <p>Romania’s Ana Luiza Filiorianu performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
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    Ana Luiza Filiorianu

    Romania’s Ana Luiza Filiorianu performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP)

  • <p>Margarita Mamun of Russia competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
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    Margarita Mamun

    Margarita Mamun of Russia competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty)

  • <p>Katsiaryna Halkina of Bulgaria competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
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    Katsiaryna Halkina

    Katsiaryna Halkina of Bulgaria competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty)

  • <p>Yana Kudryavtseva of Russia performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Get </p>
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    Yana Kudryavtseva

    Yana Kudryavtseva of Russia performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Get

  • <p>Marina Durunda (AZE) of Azerbaijan competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
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    Marina Durunda

    Marina Durunda (AZE) of Azerbaijan competes using the hoop. (Reuters)

  • <p>Laura Zeng of USA performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
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    Laura Zeng

    Laura Zeng of USA performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty)

  • <p>Sabina Ashirbayeva (KAZ) of Kazakhstan competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
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    Sabina Ashirbayeva

    Sabina Ashirbayeva (KAZ) of Kazakhstan competes using the ball. (Reuters)

  • <p>Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ribbon. (Reuters) </p>
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    Laura Zeng

    Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ribbon. (Reuters)

  • <p>Jana Berezko-Marggrander of Germany in action during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
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    Jana Berezko-Marggrander

    Jana Berezko-Marggrander of Germany in action during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty)

  • <p>Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
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    Laura Zeng

    Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ball. (Reuters)

  • <p>Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
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    Yana Kudryavtseva

    Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters)

  • <p>Melitina Staniouta (BLR) of Belarus competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
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    Melitina Staniouta

    Melitina Staniouta (BLR) of Belarus competes using the ball. (Reuters)

  • <p>Danielle Prince (AUS) of Australia competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
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    Danielle Prince

    Danielle Prince (AUS) of Australia competes using the hoop. (Reuters)

  • <p>Natalia Gaudio (BRA) of Brazil competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
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    Natalia Gaudio

    Natalia Gaudio (BRA) of Brazil competes using the hoop. (Reuters)

  • <p>Margarita Mamun (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
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    Margarita Mamun

    Margarita Mamun (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters)

<p>Australia’s Danielle Prince performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
<p>Varvara Filiou (GRE) of Greece competes using the ribbon. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Belarus’ Melitina Staniouta performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
<p>France’s Kseniya Moustafaeva performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
<p>Azerbaijan’s Marina Durunda performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
<p>Romania’s Ana Luiza Filiorianu performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP) </p>
<p>Margarita Mamun of Russia competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
<p>Katsiaryna Halkina of Bulgaria competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 19, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
<p>Yana Kudryavtseva of Russia performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Get </p>
<p>Marina Durunda (AZE) of Azerbaijan competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Laura Zeng of USA performs during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
<p>Sabina Ashirbayeva (KAZ) of Kazakhstan competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ribbon. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Jana Berezko-Marggrander of Germany in action during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around on August 20, 2016 at Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
<p>Laura Zeng (USA) of USA competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Melitina Staniouta (BLR) of Belarus competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Danielle Prince (AUS) of Australia competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Natalia Gaudio (BRA) of Brazil competes using the hoop. (Reuters) </p>
<p>Margarita Mamun (RUS) of Russia competes using the ball. (Reuters) </p>

Rhythmic gymnastics doesn’t get near the attention as artistic gymnastics as it deserves (thanks a lot Simone Biles). Check out these stunning photos that showcase the elegance and athletic ability of rhythmic gymnastics.