Local Rhythmic Gymnasts Set For Olympic Team Competition Friday

TOKYO — With individual rhythmic gymnastics starting one day earlier, the team competition is set to get underway. Featuring nine gymnasts from the North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, the United States team will be part of the qualifying round. It will air between 11 a.m and 4 p.m. on NBC and at 8 p.m. on the USA Network.

For the United States, the Tokyo Summer Olympics represent the first time since the sport debuted in 1984 that a full team has qualified.

Evita Griskenas, of Orland Park, and Laura Zeng, of Libertyville, both qualified as individuals as well as members of the team. Local group competitors are Elizaveta Pletneva and Camilla Feeley, of Wheeling; Lili Mizuno, of Northbrook; Yelyzaveta Merenzon, of Buffalo Grove; and Nicole Sladkov, of Vernon Hills. Isabelle Connor of Manhattan Beach, California, is also competing. Gergana Petkova of Barrington, is the reserve athlete.

"Our Olympic dream 16 years ago was to send two individual athletes and Group to the Games," said Natalia Klimouk, USA Gymnastics national team coach and director of North Shore Rhythmics, last month. "It's the first time the U.S. has qualified the maximum number of rhythmic gymnasts — an incredible accomplishment and testament to the dedication of our coaches and to the perseverance and commitment of our athletes."

In rhythmic gymnastics, athletes perform on a mat with a hoop, ball, clubs or ribbon. The sport, which requires flexibility, strength, and hand-eye coordination, combines elements of gymnastics and dance. See the event schedule here.

"NSR is honored to so fully represent the United States in Tokyo," Klimouk said. "Rhythmic gymnastics is a beautiful sport, and we're thrilled it continues to gain popularity in the U.S."

The North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center is located at Sachs Recreation Center, 455 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield.

North Shore Rhythmics coaches Angelina Yovcheva and Margarita Mamzina are also part of the USA delegation. Dani Takova is co-director of NSR.

The rhythmic gymnastics group final is set to air live at 9 p.m. Saturday on USA Network.

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