© Ricardo Bufolin

SOFIA, Bulgaria (September 14, 2022) – Evita Griskenas (Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) took seventh in the hoop final Wednesday, as the 2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships kicked off at Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria. She sits ninth in the all-around at the midway point of qualifications.

Fellow 2020 Olympian Lili Mizuno (Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) is currently 14th in the all-around and was ninth on ball. Despite posting the seventh-highest score of the day (30.700), Mizuno just missed the apparatus final after tie-breaking criteria was applied.

Griskenas advanced to the hoop final in seventh behind a qualifying score of 31.050. She delivered a 30.450 in the medal round to maintain the spot.

The top-18 gymnasts, based on the combined total of their three best apparatus scores during qualifications, will advance to Saturday’s all-around final. Griskenas notched a cumulative 60.350 on the opening day of competition. She was 22nd on ball with a 29.300. Mizuno earned a two-event 59.650 and was 19th on hoop with a 28.950.

Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli set the tone in the all-around with a 66.350. She also swept Day 1 apparatus titles with finals scores of 34.850 on hoop and 34.900 on ball.

Gymnasts will show clubs and ribbon Thursday, as individual qualifications wrap. Griskenas and Mizuno will once again compete with Group C, beginning at 10:10 a.m. ET. The top-eight gymnasts will advance to event finals slated for 2 p.m. ET. On Friday, the U.S. Senior National Group will get their first taste of action in the group all-around. They’ll compete with Group A at 7:30 a.m. ET.