Israel breaks Russia’s 24-year dominance over rhythmic gymnastics to win Olympic gold

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Israel’s Linoy Ashram pulled off a spectacular upset in the women’s rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, to become the first champion in the event from outside Russia since 1996.</p>
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Russian twin sisters, Dina and Arina Averina were the favourites for the top medals as they had qualified in first and second place respectively.</p>
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The 22-year-old Israeli relegated favourite Dina Averina of the Russian Olympic Committee to second place, while Arina came in at a disappointing fourth spot to narrowly miss a bronze medal. </p>
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Dina broke down as the scores were announced, and said she felt the marks awarded to her were too low.  TV channels showed her sister Arina consoling her.</p>
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"It's very hard to talk at the moment. I can't agree with how the scoring went today," BBC News cited Dina as saying.</p>
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"And this is maybe the first time I disagree with the judges and I feel that Arina and I did not get a high enough score," she lamented.</p>
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Prior to Ashram's victory, Israel's best result in this event was a seventh-place finish by Neta Rivkin at London 2012.</p>
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"When I was young I dreamed to be in the Olympics and compete there; and then I go and take a gold medal. It's like a dream I think, like I'm not here," BBC quoted her as saying.</p>
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Alina Harnasko of Belarus won the bronze medal in the event.</p>