The Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit is an annual series of tournaments in rhythmic gymnastics open to gymnasts from all over the globe. The series consists of a number of stages in different countries in Europe and is the most important series of competitions outside of those organized by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) or European Gymnastics, and the competitors include the world's top gymnasts.[1]

Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix
SportRhythmic gymnastics
Founded1994
CountriesWorldwide
Most titles Russia

Each Grand Prix stage is held as an all-around qualification competition, followed by four apparatus finals with hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.[2] The final event in the circuit is commonly referred to as the Grand Prix Final. The focus in each stage is on individual performances, though groups have also been allowed to compete in some stages since, at least, 1995.[3]

The Grand Prix circuit should not be confused with the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup series, which is a competition officially organized by the FIG, whereas the Grand Prix is neither organized nor promoted by the FIG.[4]

History

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The Grand Prix circuit was established in 1994. The then vice-president of the International Gymnastics Federation, Hans-Jürgen Zacharias, and Robert Baur, came up with the idea of a series of events held in different cities, and the rules were drafted in the course of many meetings with European Gymnastics. The objective was to bring together and rank the elite of international rhythmic gymnastics.[5] Prize money was also provided, which was a first for rhythmic gymnastics competitions.[6] Nations which have hosted Grand Prix stages include Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, and Ukraine.

Grand Prix circuit

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Gymnasts at the 2019 Moscow Grand Prix

Each year, a number of stages that go from a minimum of three to a maximum of twelve, are staged across different countries in Europe. Individual gymnasts perform in an all-around competition that also serves as qualification for apparatus finals.[2] In the early editions of the Grand Prix, a separate all-around final was also staged. The closing event of the circuit is commonly referred to as Grand Prix Final. Until 2005, gymnasts earned points in each stage, and only the highest ranked gymnasts were allowed to compete in the Grand Prix Final.

Grand Prix events are invitational events. Although the competition is not officially organized by the FIG, all gymnasts must have valid FIG licenses and be age-eligible for senior competition.[2]

Events

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Year Number of stages Grand Prix Final Location
1994 4 Vienna Grand Prix   Vienna
1995 4 Alfred Vogel Grand Prix   Deventer
1996 5 Vienna Grand Prix   Vienna
1997 6 Alfred Vogel Grand Prix   Deventer
1998 6 Grand Prix Linz   Linz
1999 7 Grand Prix Korneuburg   Korneuburg
2000 5 Alfred Vogel Grand Prix   Deventer
2001 6 Alfred Vogel Grand Prix   Deventer
2002 8 Grand Prix Innsbruck   Innsbruck
2003 9 Grand Prix Innsbruck   Innsbruck
2004 7 Alfred Vogel Grand Prix   Deventer
2005 8 Berlin Masters   Berlin
2006 9 Berlin Masters   Berlin
2007 10 Grand Prix Innsbruck   Innsbruck
2008 8 Grand Prix Slovakia   Bratislava
2009 8 Berlin Masters   Berlin
2010 8 Berlin Masters   Berlin
2011 5 Brno Grand Prix   Brno
2012 5 Brno Grand Prix   Brno
2013 5 Berlin Masters   Berlin
2014 6 Grand Prix Innsbruck   Innsbruck
2015 5 Brno Grand Prix   Brno
2016 5 Grand Prix Eilat   Eilat
2017 7 Grand Prix Eilat   Eilat
2018 6 Grand Prix Marbella   Marbella
2019 6 Brno Grand Prix   Brno
2020 4 Deriugina Grand Prix   Kyiv
2021 3 Grand Prix Marbella   Marbella
2022 4 Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup   Brno
2023 4 Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup   Brno
2024 4 Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup   Brno

All-time medal table

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Yana Kudryavtseva at the 2015 Moscow Grand Prix

What follows is a table containing the total number of medals earned by individual gymnasts representing their nations in every stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit from 1994 to 2023. The results accounted for include only senior medalists in the regular stages of the circuit, as well as the Grand Prix Final. Group events, either at official Grand Prix competitions or international tournaments held alongside Grand Prix stages, are not included.

Senior individual events (1994–2024 after Brno Grand Prix)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Russia (RUS)6234232181,264
2  Ukraine (UKR)162164181507
3  Belarus (BLR)54141188383
4  Bulgaria (BUL)296575169
5  Israel (ISR)133573121
6  Slovenia (SLO)73616
7  Italy (ITA)41611
8  Kazakhstan (KAZ)3153048
9  Germany (GER)34815
10  Georgia (GEO)33612
11  Azerbaijan (AZE)2144157
12  France (FRA)261523
13  Uzbekistan (UZB)25512
14  Spain (ESP)2147
15  Hungary (HUN)1225
16  Greece (GRE)1124
17  Brazil (BRA)1001
18  South Korea (KOR)0279
19  United States (USA)0246
20  Canada (CAN)0167
21  Czech Republic (CZE)0123
  Poland (POL)0123
23  Estonia (EST)0101
24  Austria (AUT)0044
25  Latvia (LAT)0033
26  Japan (JPN)0011
Totals (26 entries)9128918892,692

Group events

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Israeli group at the 2014 Moscow Grand Prix

Organizers of Grand Prix events are also allowed to hold extra events for groups in the same venue. In the early editions, the group competitions were staged as parallel events (usually in the form of international tournaments) that were intertwined with individual performances during the Grand Prix competitions. In 2003, an official Grand Prix event especially for groups was held in Sofia, Bulgaria.[7] Since 2016, organizers can also organize a group competition, although they are not required to do so.[2] Nations which have earned at least one group medal on senior level, either in international tournaments or official Grand Prix stages, since 1995, include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Grand Prix der Rhythmischen Gymnastik Innsbruck 2014 - Event". Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  2. ^ a b c d "Regulations for Grand Prix Events in Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2020" (PDF). www.csmg.cz.
  3. ^ "DTB-Pokal / Grand Prix in Karlsruhe, Deutschland (29.-30. April 1995)" (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Technical Regulations 2023" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  5. ^ "Histoire du Grand Prix" (in French). Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "GRAND PRIX of Rhythmic Gymnastics, History". Archived from the original on 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  7. ^ "Grand Prix Group: Sieg für Bulgarie". gymmedia.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  8. ^ a b c d "Internationaux de Thiais Résultats - Results" (PDF). grandprixthiais.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. ^ a b c d e "GYMmedia.com". gymmedia.com. Archived from the original on 2005-12-18. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  10. ^ a b "Grand Prix Marbella 2023 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. ^ a b c "Miss Valentine Grand Prix Tartu 2020 – Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  12. ^ "Moscow GP 2017 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  13. ^ a b "Thiais GP 2019 – Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  14. ^ a b "Ukrainian gymnasts dominated 2004 Grand Prix series". gymmedia.de. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  15. ^ a b c "Grand Prix Thiais 2023 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  16. ^ "Holon GP 2008 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  17. ^ "10. DTB-Pokal / Grand Prix in Bochum, Deutschland (17.-18. April 1998)". rsg.net. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  18. ^ a b c "Kiev GP 2017 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). 17 March 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  19. ^ "Moscow GP 2011 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  20. ^ a b "Alfred Vogel Cup / Grand Prix in Deventer, Netherlands (13.-15. September 1996)". rsg.net (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  21. ^ @gymwikipedian (March 31, 2024). "2024 Grand Prix Thiais" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Berlin GP 2009 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  23. ^ "Thiais GP 2011 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-01.