One day after Russian gymnast Margarita Mamun edged countrywoman Yana Kudryavsteva for gold in women’s individual, Russia claimed the team gold in rhythmic gymnastics for the fifth-straight Games.
Russia posted the third-best score in 5 ribbons on the way to the top score in 3 clubs + 2 hoops, and rode out on top in Rio with a 36.233 on Sunday.
The team -- comprised of Anastasia Bliznyuk, Anastasia Maksimova, Anastasiia (two i’s, not a typo) Tatareva, Maria Tolkacheva, and Vera Biryukova -- has never failed to medal in an Olympics. Bliznyuk is just the third Russian woman to appear on consecutive gold medal winners.
Ganna Rizatdinova of Ukraine took bronze in the individual, but her country failed to medal in team.
Instead, Spain and Bulgaria took silver and bronze, respectively.
