2013 Rhythmic Worlds - Kiev, Ukraine - Group Final 10 Clubs - We are Gymnastics!

Welcome to our last visit to the historic city of Kiev for this 32nd World Championships in Middleman Gymnastics. Against the charming background of Ukraine's bustling capital, the world's best have been contesting eight gold medals, producing a marvellous blend of elegance, beauty and strength. Kiev has been the perfect setting. And Belarus, they were the all-around champions with a superb performance. They qualified first on both of the apparatus. It's them, Spain and Italy finished in the pole positions to qualify, but it's from scratch today and it'll be a great fight. Spain kick off proceedings. They qualified third for this final and they have a great tradition for group rhythmic. They were Olympic champions back in 1996 and they've been there or thereabouts since. They dipped just a little bit, but recently coming back to form. Fifth they were with five apparatus of the Europeans last year. A mysterious and lilting start setting the tone. Lovely synchronisation in the scales and first exchange very successful. All the mill swings and remember, exactly the same rules apply as for the individual sport. Every team member has to match the other in style and difficulty. Accurate so far. And it's not all synchronisation. You can see their complementary movements all matching each other's group effort. Walk over to catch. Very smart combination there. Well, no mishaps so far. Double pirouette, inter-roll, in perfect harmony. Interesting formation, unsighted, relying on the team cooperation of the rest of the group. And this has gone very well indeed, but it's not over yet for Spain. They have to keep their focus. Oh, well done indeed. Now they qualified in third. What have they done here? Seven more groups to come. Lovely expression and cooperation. Matching height. Interesting formations. Now then, 17.35, up on what they qualified with, so that's the target. China, sixth in the all-around take to the floor in this five clubs group final. Simple but very effective at the start. A couple of tiny mishaps in qualifying. They'll need to rush up on that if they're going to improve on their sixth place. A straight nine formation. That'll break. And there it is. These formations continuously dissolving and reforming. Pentagon. Classic formation. Lovely use of each other. Very accurate so far, China. Not so difficult. They are looking for precision. Very delightful pace on their choreography. Delightful. The exchange has so far gone well. Trouble-free so far. 17.35 is the score they're chasing and they qualified with a 16.683. Lovely finish. Not so difficult but beautifully performed from China. Delightful, simple, very effective start. Not filled with difficulty but under control. Confidently executed. Now then, did they get into the 17s? Not quite. 16.8. It's up on their qualifying. You can see the difficulty at 8.5. And what a group this is, Italy. They've had such a good recent run at world and Olympic level. They were the world champions all around. They were second with five apparatus and second with three plus two. Here they are with five and they qualified for this final in second place. Rousing, stirring music. Typical of the Italian choreographers. And they do it so effectively. Dramatic gesture. Accurate exchanges. And ever-fluid patterns. And pivots in unison. Brilliant. All those little touches there. So effective. Five multiplied by five. Lovely harmony in the walkover. Momentary scale. Again, walkovers in unison. A crescendo of movement and music. So, so effective. Just a little bit out on the leg drop there. Slight lack of synchro but overall superb performance. Huge throw. It's still up there. It's just come down. What confidence. Another lofty throw and a great finish. Full of verve, vitality and determination. The Italians are just super to watch. Good luck to them. All these exchanges at different levels. All accurate. That's group collaboration. Look at that. The synchro. Just almost a little fumble there but the overall effect. Marvellous. What have they done? 17.35 the target. 17.3 they've gone into second. A little bit of disappointment I'm sure. So Russia take to the floor. A little bit of disappointment in the all-around. They finished third there and it was this. The five clubs that pulled them down there. They got 16.775 to qualify in fourth. So they'll be looking to improve it. Oh that was lovely. Killed the walkover in scale. So far. Very impressive. Dice 5 formation for the exchange. Just a little bubbles in rhythm in qualifying which don't appear to be there here. Oh yes. Tiny anticipation to find the operators but really this is much better than their qualifying performance. Oh for Michael Bublé to rock and roll. Very effective transition too. Yes look. Every one of them has a role to play and very effective as a group hole. A little bit of juggling. Change of position and so far no noticeable errors. Interesting use of the clubs there. Almost a hoop involved. Yes indeed. So Russia chasing Spain over Italy over China. They'll get amongst the middle positions I'm sure with that. And they have to lift from their 16.775 qualifying score. Very interesting use. Look at the hoop formation of the clubs breaking. Ring pivots in unison. Very difficult to synchronise. Making a way through a forest of flying clubs. Again great use of operators. They can all juggle. Walkover. They work so well together as a group. They were disappointed in the all around. And 16.2. It was execution they let them down. Difficulty was up. But 16.2. A great roar of applause. And encouragement for Ukraine the home favourites. They qualified in fifth for this final. And really they wowed down. You know they finished 15th in the all around because they had a nightmare with 3 plus 2. But here they are. They have a chance to make amends. Great lively vital start. Good exchange. Pentagon formation. Now it's gone to dice 5. Opening 30 seconds has gone very well for Ukraine. I can tell you my foot is tapping. Large little flick. Well I think this is delightful. Good exchange. Little bit out there. Tiny bit out of synchro. Not only synchro of course. They have to do complementary differing movements. As long as they work together. Collaborate together. Look at this. This is lively stuff from Ukraine. Well the roof will come off at the end of this performance. Because this audience they are loving it. And you can tell. Well done Ukraine. Qualified in fifth. Spain in front. Italy second. China third. Russia fourth. So there is a medal chance. And they are still roaring their approval. The crowd. Busy choreography. Lovely patterns. Working together. Everyone knows each other's job. Big exchange. Successful. Well exuding delight and joy. The blue sky. And the yellow for the cornfields. The Ukraine emblem. And 17.208 is the score. They have gone into third. Chance of a medal. Belarus. The all round world champions. Top qualifiers in both of the group apparatus events. Here they are. Out for gold. It's Spain they have to beat. Italy in second at the moment. Ukraine in third. Will it all change? I would guess so. Oh she had to move just a little. Oh look at that. Spectacular exchange. Supported somersaults. Lovely little variation in tempo there. Matching. Choreography. Walkovers and catches in perfect harmony. This is very impressive. Well do you think they were playing those clubs as instruments? They have such control. Oh and there. That could be very expensive. Faulted towards. Oh and again. So the pressure of being top qualifiers and all around world champions. They are human after all. Two errors that could take them out of the medals. They picked up the thread very well indeed. To get your focus back after two errors. Well done Belarus. But they will be lucky to salvage a medal. Spain, Italy, Ukraine in medal positions. That was the final performance. And you can tell. So much lovely work. Working so well together. Look at that. Charming start. Floating dice five. Very effectively done. And there. The first of two errors. Oh and 16.033. The judges were brave. 7.733 was the score for execution. What a thriller. Spain back to gold medal ways. Italy take the silver. And what a delightful result for this home crowd. Ukraine, they take the bronze out of China. Russia in fifth. And all around champions Belarus in sixth. A victorious Spanish group on five cups. What a performance. Waited a long time to get back to golden ways. Silver to the Italians. And bronze to Ukraine.