Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Israeli rhythmic gymnast qualifies for 2020 Olympics, earns six medals in world championship

It’s the first time since 2008 that Israel will have two representatives at the Olympics in the rhythmic gymnastics division.

Israel's Linoy Ashram competing in the Rhythmic Worlds in Baku, Azerbaijan. Source: Screenshot.
Israel’s Linoy Ashram competing in the Rhythmic Worlds in Baku, Azerbaijan. Source: Screenshot.

Israeli rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after being awarded a bronze medal in the all-around world championships on Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It was her sixth medal of the competition. The 20-year-old Tel Aviv resident also earned three silver medals with hoop, clubs and ribbon, and a bronze medal with a ball.

She was additionally part of the Israeli group that won silver in a team competition, behind Russia.

Ashram has collected a total of 12 medals from participation in world championships. All other Israeli rhythmic gymnasts in history, combined, have won only three.

Fellow Israeli competitor Nicol Zelikman, 18, also qualified for the 2020 Olympics after finishing in 11th place in the all-around competition.

This is the first time since 2008 that Israel will have two representatives at the Olympics in the rhythmic gymnastics division.

Sophie Shabot experienced “verbal harassment, being chased, being pushed and shoved, being spat on, yelled at, blocked from entering a building,” according to her lawyer.
“This is my responsibility, that each one of the kids will get the same treatment, the same money,” Mody Kidon of the Israeli Children’s Fund told JNS.
Of the 6,000 Gazans who invaded the country on Oct. 7, 2023, 4,000 have been eliminated, said Israel Katz.
Three years after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, the families of Capt. Elay Adany and those he helped rescue remain bound by his final acts of courage.