Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. Rhythmic gymnastics is governed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which first recognized it as a sport in 1963. At the international level, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport.
XXVII World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Baku the capital of Azerbaijan, 3–10 October 2005 at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Olga Sergeyevna Kapranova is a Russian retired individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2005 World All-around champion, the 2007 World All-around bronze medalist, the 2008 European All-around bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final All-around champion, a two-time Grand Prix Final All-around silver medalist and the 2005 Grand Prix Final All-around bronze medalist.
Liubov Viktorovna Charkashyna is a retired Belarusian individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist, and the 2011 European ball and clubs champion.
Alejandra Quereda Flores is a former Spanish group rhythmic gymnast.
Elena López Benaches is a Spanish group rhythmic gymnast.
Sandra Aguilar Navarro is a Spanish group rhythmic gymnast.
Olena Mykolayivna Dmytrash is a Ukrainian group rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2013 World bronze medalist in 10 clubs and 2015 Universiade champion in 6 clubs + 2 hoops.
Kotono Tanaka is a Japanese group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions.
Nicole Muller was a Brazilian group rhythmic gymnast. She represented her nation at international competitions.
Anna Bitieva was an Azerbaijani group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions.
Viera Perederiy was a Ukrainian group rhythmic gymnast. She represented her nation at international competitions.
Yukari Murata is a Japanese individual rhythmic gymnast.
Stephanie Molly Emma Sandler is a South African individual rhythmic gymnast. She represented her nation at various international competitions. She was the first South African rhythmic gymnast to participate at an Olympic Games.
Luisa Harumi Matsuo was a Brazilian group rhythmic gymnast. She also represented her nation at international competitions.
Daniela Aleixo Leite Mazoni Siqueira is a Brazilian group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions.
Tayanne Mantovaneli is a Brazilian group rhythmic gymnast. She represents her nation at international competitions.
Barbara González Oteiza is a Spanish model and former group rhythmic gymnast. She represented her nation at international competitions.
Nikoleta Tsagari was a Greek group rhythmic gymnast. She represented her nation at international competitions.
Larissa Maia Barata is a Brazilian group rhythmic gymnast. She participated at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She also competed at world championships, including at the 2010 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.
Brazil
