INDIANAPOLIS, June 11, 2019 – The USA’s rhythmic gymnasts found success at the Brno (Czech Republic) Grand Prix and Junior Tart Cup and the Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) Trophy this past weekend. In Luxembourg, Lennox Hopkins-Wilkins of Puyallup, Wash./Evergreen Rhythmics, won the senior all-around and hoop gold medals, as well as the ball silver; Nerea Francis of North Miami Beach, Fla./Miami Gymnastics and Dance Academy, was the all-around and clubs bronze medalist; and junior Ciel Arzandyan of Van Nuys, Calif./Rhythmic Academy of Los Angeles, won the all-around and clubs gold medals, plus the ball silver and ribbon bronze. In Brno, Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, was the Grand Prix hoop bronze medalist, and Alexandria Kautzman of Westlake Village, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics, was the Tart Cup all-around and rope bronze medalist.

At the Brno Grand Prix, Zeng snared the hoop bronze (21.450) and was fifth in ribbon (17.900). Zeng was 10th in the all-around (75.750), which was won by Russia’s Darla Trubnikova (83.750). Arina Averina of Russia (82.800) and Bulgaria’s Katin Taseva (80.750) were second and third, respectively. Averina won three of the four event titles: hoop/23.000; ball/22.550; and ribbon/20.000. Alina Harnasko of Belarus was the clubs champion (21.900).

In the Junior Tart Cup, Kautzman was third in the all-around, earning a 65.100 (rope/17.100; ball/16.600; clubs/17.050; and ribbon/14.350). Russia’s Olga Karaseva took top honors at 71.900, with Israel’s Noga Block finishing second (66.100). Isabella Pappas of Canton, Mass./Rhythmic Stars Gymnastics Academy, was eighth at 55.750 (rope/13.450; ball/14.500; clubs/16.100; and ribbon/11.700). Kautzman earned the rope bronze (15.000) and was fourth in ribbon (15.200), fifth in ball (16.700), and sixth in clubs (15.200). The junior event gold medalists were: Block, rope/17.150; Russia’s Lala Kramarenko, ball/20.600; and Karaseva, clubs/19.300 and ribbon/18.000. The USA also was third in the junior team competition, posting a 120.850. Russia won the team competition with a 136.950, followed by Israel at 121.550.

Held at the Belair Competition Hall in Luxembourg, Hopkins-Wilkins snared the all-around crown with her 63.350. Her individual event scores were: hoop/16.450; ball/17.250; clubs/14.650; and ribbon/15.000. Nerea was third at 61.850 (hoop/14.500; ball/16.400; clubs/16.300; ribbon/14.650), just behind Spain’s Sara Llana (62.300). Hopkins-Wilkins also won the hoop title at 17.700, edging out Spain’s Alexandra Moody (17.200). Slovenia’s Ivona Vukicevic was third at 13.800. Hopkins-Wilkins claimed the ball silver medal at 17.500, with Llana taking the gold (18.200) and Vukicevic in third at 12.500. Frances won the clubs bronze (14.400), finishing behind Moody (15.800) and Vukicevic (14.850). Hopkins-Wilkins was fifth in the ribbon final (10.800), which was won by Llana (13.000).

For the juniors, Arzandyan easily won the all-around at 57.750. Her event scores were: rope/15.200; ball/13.400; clubs/15.150; and ribbon/14.400. Russia’s Esmiralda Abaeva and Spain’s Carla Vilasanchez were the silver (56.550) and bronze (56.500) medalists. Arzandyan posted a 15.750 to take the clubs title and brought home the ball silver (15.800) and ribbon bronze (13.850). She also was fifth in the rope final (11.050). The other junior titlists were: rope –Vilasanchez; ball – Tamara Artic, Croatia; and ribbon – Anna Shenenko, Germany.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its athlete safety policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.