"VAN" (Sports Desk - 20.08.2025) :: A sporting carnival is in store as top stars compete for nine titles at the 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 20-24 August.
For the first time in history, these world championships will take place in South America, and the hosts are promising a celebration to remember. Gymnasts from a record 76 nations will be taking part, with over 100 individuals and 36 groups of five or six gymnasts scheduled to compete.
“Rhythmic Gymnastics is a discipline where movement meets music, and grace meets strength,” FIG President Morinari Watanabe said. “What better place to showcase this magic than Brazil, where joy and colour are part of the national identity?”
“The 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships promise not only world-class performances, but also an atmosphere filled with energy, warmth and emotion,” Watanabe continued. “It will be a true celebration of sport, beauty and passion.”
These championships will also be the first under the new Code Of Points, introduced for the new cycle at the beginning of 2025. It features live Artistry and Execution judging for the first time, under the leadership of Technical Committee President Noha Abou Shabana (EGY).
Who to watch, and when
There are five days of competition, beginning with two days of individual qualifications, where a maximum of two gymnasts per nation can perform routines with each of the four apparatus - Hoop, Ball, Clubs and Ribbon.
By the end of day two, the top 18 individuals who qualify for the All-Around final will be known, along with the top eight finalists for each of the four apparatus. Day three will mark the first medal ceremony, for the highly prized Individual All-Around title.
Top individuals to watch out for include the Paris 2024 Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev (GER), the Olympic bronze medallist Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) and Olympians Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR), Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) and home hero Barbara Domingos (BRA).
The groups start their qualifying competition on the fourth day. Each group will perform two routines, one with 5 Ribbons, the other with 3 Balls + 2 Hoops. This competition determines the top eight groups for each exercise who will compete in the finals, and also crowns both the Group All-Around and the Team champions. The latter is awarded to the nation with the highest total scores across both the individual and group qualifying competitions.
The leading groups to watch out for include Paris 2024 Olympic champions of the People’s Republic of China, and host nation Brazil. Both groups have won titles in recent competitions, and will face strong challenges from others including Poland and Spain, who have also won titles this year. The atmosphere in the Parque Olimpico Arena will be electric!
The final day of competition features a cascade of medal ceremonies, with four individual apparatus titles and two group titles awarded. It will be a fitting finale to the week.
“We are ready to make history”
For Ricardo Resende, President of the Local Organising Committee and General Director of the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation, hosting the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Brazil for the first time is more than a sporting achievement — it is a milestone for the country and for the entire gymnastics community.
“The trust placed in us by the FIG and its President in the ability of Brazil and the CBG to host events of this magnitude demonstrates international recognition of our work,” Resende said. “We are technically and institutionally prepared to deliver a memorable edition, marked by organisational excellence, positive economic impact, and a strong sporting legacy. We are making our utmost efforts to deliver the best World Championships.
“More than just a competition, the World Championships in Rio will be a celebration — a unique opportunity for gymnastics and sports fans, for friends and families, to watch the sport’s biggest stars up close, in a safe and welcoming environment. We are ready to make history.”
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