PORTIMAO, Portugal, May 13, 2017 – Nastasya Generalova, Los Angeles/California Rhythms, Serena Lu, Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, and the U.S. senior group advanced to the finals of the Portimao World Challenge Cup in Portimao, Portugal. Fans in the U.S. can watch the finals live on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel at 10 a.m. ET Sunday morning.
In individual competition, Generalova finished fifth in the all-around with a 61.250 total and scores of 15.800, hoop; 16.450, ball; 13.900, clubs; and 15.100, ribbon. Lu was 10th with a 57.150 total. Russia’s Julia Bravikova and Elizaveta Lugovskikh took the top two spots in the all-around, while Israel’s Victoria Filanovsky was third. Both Generalova and Lu qualified to the hoop final. Generalova will also compete in tomorrow’s ball and ribbon finals.
The U.S. group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, consists of Dasha Baltovick of Highland Park, Ill.; Natalie Bourand of Burr Ridge, Ill.; Ugne Dragunas of Darien, Ill.; Connie Du of Deerfield, Ill.; Yelyzaveta Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill.; and Kristina Sobolevskaya of Deerfield, Ill. In the all-around competition, their 30.900 total earned them the bronze medal behind Italy (35.550) and Russia (35.050). They qualified to both the five hoops and three balls/two ropes finals.