Maria Borisova topped reigning Olympic champion Darya Varfolomeeva in the all-around in her first outing in the event
Russian rhythmic gymnasts competing under a neutral flag have won four medals at the FIG World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Maria Borisova led with gold in the individual all-around – topping reigning Russian-born German Olympic champion Darya Varfolomeeva – and silver in the hoop, in the team’s first World Cup outing.
The finals were held on Sunday as part of the second stage of the 2026 FIG World Cup series. All seven Russian competitors train at the Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, founded in Sochi in 2022 by 2004 Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, and all were making their World Cup debuts.
Coached by Irina Gusarova, the 18-year-old Borisova finished ahead of Varfolomeeva and Uzbekistan’s Takhmina Ikromova in the all-around, then claimed silver in the hoop behind Ikromova.
The group of five – coached by Anna Ustsova – won silver in the five-balls final and bronze in the three-hoops-and-two-pairs-of-clubs, bringing the total to one gold, two silvers, and one bronze.
Kabaeva remained in direct contact with the gymnasts throughout the competition.
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The athletes competed as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), including in the group disciplines. The framework was extended by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to approved Russian and Belarusian competitors from January 2024. Before that, athletes from the two nations were completely banned from events, even under a neutral flag, as Western institutions sanctioned Moscow and Minsk over the Ukraine conflict.
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