LIMA, Peru, Sept. 29, 2018 – The team of 2016 Olympian and four-time U.S. champion Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill., Nastasya Generalova of Los Angeles/California Rhythms, and Lili Mizuno of Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics, won the team title at the 2018 Senior Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru, and secured a trip for the USA to the 2019 Pan American Games, also in Lima. Zeng clinched the all-around title. The U.S. senior rhythmic group captured the all-around silver medal and a berth to the Pan Am Games. Competition concludes tomorrow with event finals for both individual and group rhythmic gymnastics, beginning at 11 a.m. CT. The Peruvian Gymnastics Federation is carrying a livestream of the competition on its Facebook page.

By ranking in the top six countries in the team and group competition, the United States qualified to send two individual gymnasts and the group to the Pan Am Games next year.

In the team competition, Zeng, Mizuno and Generalova combined for a team total of 168.400, where the team’s top 10 event scores counted to the total. Mexico was second at 159.100, and Brazil rounded out the top three at 156.400.

In the individual all-around, Zeng posted a 71.800 total to take the title. Her individual event scores were hoop,18.550; ball, 18.850; clubs, 19.200; and ribbon, 15.200. She had the top scores for three of the four events, hoop, ball and clubs. Mexico’s Marina Malpica was second in the all-around at 66.100, with Brazil’s Natalia Guadio in third (65.150). Mizuno scored a 63.400 for fourth place. Her event scores were: hoop, 16.200; ball, 16.700; clubs, 15.900; and ribbon, 14.600. Generalova tallied a 62.650 for fifth. Her event scores were: hoop, 14.000; ball, 17.650; clubs, 16.550; and ribbon, 14.600.

Zeng qualified for all four event finals. Mizuno will participate in the hoop and ribbon finals, and Generalova is set for the ball and clubs finals.

The U.S. Group earned an all-around score of 37.400 for the silver medal. For three balls and two ropes, the USA and Mexico garnered the highest score of 18.400. For the first event, the U.S. Group earned a 19.000 for its five hoops routine and third place. Mexico and Brazil both earned a 19.800 for their five hoop routines. Mexico was the group all-around champion at 38.200, and Brazil was third with 36.300. The U.S. group will compete in both event finals.

The U.S. senior rhythmic group, which trains at North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, includes Dasha Baltovick of Highland Park, Ill.; Isabelle Connor of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Ugne Dragunas of Darien, Ill.; Connie Du of Deerfield, Ill.; Elizaveta Pletneva of Caldwell, N.J.; and Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill. Kristina Sobolevskaya of Deerfield, Ill., is the alternate.

Sunday features the event finals for both individual and group rhythmic gymnastics. The times listed are local to Lima, which is the same as the central time zone.

Sept. 30

  • 11 a.m. – Group, five hoops final
  • 11:30 a.m. – Hoop final
  • 12 p.m. – Ball final, followed by awards for the first three events
  • 1 p.m. – Group, two ropes/three balls final
  • 1:30 p.m. – Clubs final
  • 2 p.m. – Ribbon final, followed by awards for these three events

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 empowers and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. 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, log on to usagym.org.