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Rhythmic gymnast becomes Israel's first woman Olympic gold medallist
Linoy Ashram's victory completes Israel's most successful Olympics
August 8, 2021 09:13
Linoy Ashram's victory completes Israel's most successful Olympics
August 8, 2021 09:13Linoy Ashram applied a golden gloss to Israel’s most successful ever Olympics by winning the women’s all-round rhythmic gymnastics final on Saturday.
The 22-year-old from Rishon LeZion shocked the Russian favourite Dina Averina with eye-catching performances in all disciplines, one performed to a medley of Beyonce songs.
Averina took the silver while Ashram’s compatriot Nikol Zelikman rose up the rankings during the competition to finish seventh.
Ashram is the first Israel woman to take Olympic gold and is the nation’s second gold medallist of the Tokyo games following artistic gymnast Artem Dolgopyat’s victory in the men's floor exercise last Sunday.
"When I was young, I dreamed to be in the Olympics and compete there and then I go and take a gold medal," Ashram said afterwards. "It's like a dream I think, like I'm not here.
"It was an amazing feeling to stand on the podium in first place, it's a crazy experience, I'm still the most excited I've ever been."
She added that the gold was a reward for the all the hard work she had put into the sport.
Ashram hoped her success would encourage more Israeli women to take up gymnastics.
“I think my result has opened the door to more gymnasts and encouraged the belief that anything is possible with hard work," she said.
Her victory broke Russian domination of the event as she became the first non-Russian champion since the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
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