CULVER CITY, Calif. – Inna Zhukova of Belarus more than successfully defended her all-around title in the senior division at the L.A. Lights International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament, Jan. 19-21, in Culver City, Calif. Not only did she repeat as the all-around champion, but Zhukova also won all four individual event titles. 2006 U.S. all-around champion Lisa Wang placed fourth in the senior competition, and 2006 U.S. junior all-around silver-medalist Marlee Shape won the junior rope title and earned medals in each of the individual events. Both U.S. gymnasts are from Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastic Center and are members of the U.S. National Team.

Lyubov Charkashina, also from Belarus, placed second in the all-around, followed by Israel’s Irina Risenzon. In the individual events, Charkashina and Risenzon finished second and third, respectively, in the rope, hoop and clubs. In the ribbon competition, Risenzon was second, with Charkashina third. Wang was fourth in both the rope and ribbon and fifth in hoop. The USA’s Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, finished fifth in ribbon, eighth in rope and 10th in clubs and the all-around. Rachel Girma of Los Angeles/LA School of Gymnastics was seventh in the all-around, ribbon and clubs; eighth in hoop; and 10th in rope. Delaney Lonergan of Venice, Calif./LA School of Gymnastics, was ninth in rope.
In the junior division, Daria Kushnerova of the Ukraine won gold medals in the all-around, ribbon, ball and hoop. In addition to her rope title and all-around bronze medal, Shape also earned a silver medal in ribbon and bronze medals in hoop and ball.
Zhukova received a watch from Corum USA for winning the all-around title.
The tournament featured more than 400 participants, competing in levels four to elite, from Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and USA. For complete results, go to http://lights2007.lagymnastics.com/results.html.
The L.A. Lights International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament was hosted by the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics and celebrated its 25th Anniversary. For more information, log on to www.lagymnastics.com or call 310-204-1980.