Rhythmic gymnastics team back on the podium after storm

After two weeks in which it made headlines for all the wrong reasons, Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics national team returned the focus to its achievements in competition on Saturday when it claimed the silver medal in the all-around event at the World Cup contest in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The team of Yuval Filo, Alona Koshevatskiy, Ekaterina Levina, Karina Lykhvar and Ida Mayrin registered a result of 18.450 in the clubs and hoops on Saturday after recording 18.350 in the ribbons on Friday, adding up to a total of 36.80, second only to Russia (37.650).

The team will aim to add to its tally when it takes part in the ribbons and in the clubs and hoops finals on Sunday.

Medals are only awarded in the allaround competition at the Olympics.

The event in Baku was the team’s last before the Rio Games and its first since a committee set up by the Israel Gymnastics Association looked into the conduct of head coach Ira Vigdorchik.

The committee announced last week that Vigdorchik will continue in her role as the head coach, but will no longer personally guide the squad.

The committee was set up in light of allegations that Vigdorchik kicked one of the squad’s gymnasts, Levina, during training ahead of the World Cup event in Kazan, Russia, earlier this month.

Vigdorchik, who is with the team in Baku, denied the accusations, but a letter sent to the IGA by the parents of the gymnasts claimed that the incident was only the tip of the iceberg. According to the letter, Vigdorchik repeatedly abused the gymnasts, both verbally and physically, and drinks alcohol during training and competitions.

However, the IGA’s committee decided that Vigdorchik will continue to be in charge of the team’s preparations for the Rio Olympics, while coaches Ela Samofalov, Raya Irgo and choreographer Ayelet Zusman will be the ones who physically coach the gymnasts in the gym.