Ukrainian Hanna Bezsonova took third place in the all-around at the pre-Olympic test tournament in rhythmic gymnastics that ended in Athens. The top two spots at these competitions went to gymnasts from Russia. Irina Chashchina won the "gold," and Alina Kabaeva took the "silver." Notably, this tournament was the first after the World Championship in Budapest, where Kabaeva and Chashchina competed against Bezsonova.
Throughout this entire time, only their coaches spoke about the strength of their gymnasts, slinging mud at each other. Albina Deryugina put Bezsonova in first place, while Irina Viner noted that no one in the world of rhythmic gymnastics was stronger than Kabaeva and Chashchina.
In Athens, fortune smiled on the Russians, who took the top two places; however, one can only speak of them being stronger than the Ukrainian after the Olympic Games. It should be noted that in Budapest, Hanna Bezsonova won second place in the all-around, losing to Alina Kabaeva, while another Russian, Irina Chashchina, finished in third position. After that championship, Irina Viner accused the Ukrainian side of inflating Bezsonova's scores, deceiving the tournament judges... The Deryugina family rejected all accusations from their Russian colleague, noting that these were yet another of Viner's dirty staged provocations.
It is worth adding that at the tournament in Athens, another Ukrainian, Natalia Godunko, took 7th position in the all-around.
All-around. 1. Irina Chashchina (Russia) – 107.925 2. Alina Kabaeva (Russia) – 106.450 3. HANNA BEZSONOVA (UKRAINE) – 104.650 ...7. NATALIA GODUNKO (UKRAINE) – 95.850
Results in individual events.
Ball 1. Chashchina – 26.850 2. Kabaeva – 26.750 3. Aliya Yussupova (Kazakhstan) – 26.000 4. BEZSONOVA – 25.950
Hoop 1. Kabaeva – 27.150 2. Chashchina - 27.000 3. BEZSONOVA – 26.350
Clubs 1. Chashchina – 27.400 2. Kabaeva – 26.825 3. BEZSONOVA – 26.800
Ribbon 1. Chashchina – 26.675 2. Kabaeva – 25.725 3. BEZSONOVA – 25.550.