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]
| Sport | Rhythmic gymnastics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Countries | Worldwide |
| 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
editThe 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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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
edit| 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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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.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia (RUS) | 623 | 423 | 218 | 1,264 |
| 2 | Ukraine (UKR) | 162 | 164 | 181 | 507 |
| 3 |  Belarus (BLR) | 54 | 141 | 188 | 383 |
| 4 |  Bulgaria (BUL) | 29 | 65 | 75 | 169 |
| 5 | Israel (ISR) | 13 | 35 | 73 | 121 |
| 6 |  Slovenia (SLO) | 7 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| 7 |  Italy (ITA) | 4 | 1 | 6 | 11 |
| 8 |  Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 3 | 15 | 30 | 48 |
| 9 | Germany (GER) | 3 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| 10 |  Georgia (GEO) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| 11 |  Azerbaijan (AZE) | 2 | 14 | 41 | 57 |
| 12 |  France (FRA) | 2 | 6 | 15 | 23 |
| 13 |  Uzbekistan (UZB) | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 14 | Spain (ESP) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 15 |  Hungary (HUN) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 16 |  Greece (GRE) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 17 |  Brazil (BRA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 |  South Korea (KOR) | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 19 |  United States (USA) | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 20 |  Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 21 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Poland (POL) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 23 |  Estonia (EST) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | Austria (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 25 |  Latvia (LAT) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 26 |  Japan (JPN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (26 entries) | 912 | 891 | 889 | 2,692 | |
Group events
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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:
Azerbaijan[8]
Belarus[9]
Brazil[9]
Bulgaria[10]
Canada[11]
China[9]
Egypt[12]
Estonia[13]
Finland[14]
France[15]
Georgia[16]
Germany[15]
Greece[17]
Hungary[18]
Israel[13]
Italy[8]
Japan[19]
Latvia[18]
Lithuania[20]
Mexico[21]
Moldova[14]
Netherlands[20]
Norway[18]
Poland[9]
Portugal[10]
Russia[9]
Spain[15]
Sweden[22]
Switzerland[23]
Turkey[11]
Ukraine[8]
United States[8]
Uzbekistan[11]
See also
edit- List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (1994–2003)
- List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (2004–2013)
- List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (2014–2023)
- List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (2024–2033)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup
References
edit- ^ "Grand Prix der Rhythmischen Gymnastik Innsbruck 2014 - Event". Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b c d "Regulations for Grand Prix Events in Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2020" (PDF). www.csmg.cz.
- ^ "DTB-Pokal / Grand Prix in Karlsruhe, Deutschland (29.-30. April 1995)" (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Technical Regulations 2023" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Histoire du Grand Prix" (in French). Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "GRAND PRIX of Rhythmic Gymnastics, History". Archived from the original on 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Grand Prix Group: Sieg für Bulgarie". gymmedia.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ a b c d "Internationaux de Thiais Résultats - Results" (PDF). grandprixthiais.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b c d e "GYMmedia.com". gymmedia.com. Archived from the original on 2005-12-18. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b "Grand Prix Marbella 2023 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b c "Miss Valentine Grand Prix Tartu 2020 – Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ^ "Moscow GP 2017 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ a b "Thiais GP 2019 – Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ^ a b "Ukrainian gymnasts dominated 2004 Grand Prix series". gymmedia.de. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b c "Grand Prix Thiais 2023 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ "Holon GP 2008 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- ^ "10. DTB-Pokal / Grand Prix in Bochum, Deutschland (17.-18. April 1998)". rsg.net. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b c "Kiev GP 2017 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). 17 March 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ "Moscow GP 2011 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ a b "Alfred Vogel Cup / Grand Prix in Deventer, Netherlands (13.-15. September 1996)". rsg.net (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ @gymwikipedian (March 31, 2024). "2024 Grand Prix Thiais" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Berlin GP 2009 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- ^ "Thiais GP 2011 - Results". morgoth.blog.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-01.