Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix

Current season, competition or edition: 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit
Sport	Rhythmic gymnastics
Founded	1994
Countries	Worldwide

The Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit is an annual competition of tournaments in rhythmic gymnastics open to gymnasts from all over the globe. The series consists of a number of stages in different countries in Europe. The Grand Prix circuit usually hosts some of the most watched yearly events in rhythmic gymnastics, frequently gathering some of the best gymnasts in the world.^[1] Each Grand Prix stage is held as an all-around qualification competition, followed by four apparatus finals with hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. The final event in the circuit is commonly referred to as Grand Prix Final. The focus in each stage is on individual performances, though groups have also been allowed to compete in some stages since, at least, 1995.^[2] The Grand Prix circuit should not be confused with the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup series, which is a competition officially organized by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), whereas the Grand Prix is neither organized nor promoted by FIG.^[3]

History

The Grand Prix circuit was established in 1994. The then vice-president of the International Gymnastics Federation, Hans-Jürgen Zacharias, and Robert Baur, came up with the idea of a series of events held in different cities, and the rules were drafted in the course of many meetings with the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG).^[4] The objective was to bring together the elite of international Rhythmic Gymnastics, as well as rising stars.^[5] The best gymnasts in the world were to be included in a ranking and prize money was also to be paid.^[6] Nations which have hosted Grand Prix stages include Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, and Ukraine.

Grand Prix circuit

Each year, a number of stages that go from a minimum of three to a maximum of ten, are staged across different countries in Europe. Individual gymnasts perform in an all-around competition that also serves as qualification for apparatus finals. In the early editions of the Grand Prix, a separate all-around final was also staged. The closing event of the circuit is commonly referred to as Grand Prix Final, with a strong focus on individual performances. Until 2005, only the best ranked gymnasts from previous stages were allowed to compete in the Final.^[7]

Events

Year	Number of stages	Grand Prix Final	Location	Ref.
1994	4	Vienna Grand Prix	Vienna	[8]
1995	4	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer	[9]
1996	5	Vienna Grand Prix	Vienna	[10]
1997	6	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer	[11]
1998	6	Grand Prix Linz	Linz	[12]
1999	7	Grand Prix Korneuburg	Korneuburg	[13]
2000	5	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer	[7]
2001	6	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer	[14]
2002	8	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck	[15]
2003	9	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck	[16]
2004	7	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer	[17]
2005	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin	[18]
2006	9	Berlin Masters	Berlin	[19]
2007	10	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck	[20]
2008	8	Grand Prix Slovakia	Bratislava	[21]
2009	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin	[22]
2010	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin	[23]
2011	5	Brno Grand Prix	Brno	[24]
2012	7	Brno Grand Prix	Brno	[25]
2013	5	Berlin Masters	Berlin	[26]
2014	6	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck	[27]
2015	5	Brno Grand Prix	Brno	[28]
2016	5	Grand Prix Eilat	Eilat	[29]
2017	8	Grand Prix Eilat	Eilat	[30]
2018	6	Grand Prix Marbella	Marbella	[31]
2019	6	Brno Grand Prix	Brno	[32]
2020	4	Deriugina Grand Prix	Kyiv	[33]
2021	3	Grand Prix Marbella	Marbella	[34]
2022	4	Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup	Brno	[35]
2023	4	Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup	Brno	[36]

Successful nations

Since 1994, nations which have earned at least one medal in individual events on senior level at one of the stages of the Grand Prix circuit include:

Grand Prix Final

The Grand Prix Final is the last stage of the circuit. Until 2005, gymnasts earned points in each stage and only the highest ranked gymnasts were allowed to compete in the Grand Prix Final. Although group events have taken place at the same venues where the Grand Prix Final is staged, only individual performances are considered part of the Final.

All-time medal table

1994–2022; Senior individual results

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Russia	99	58	23	180
2	Ukraine	26	24	30	80
3	Belarus	6	25	32	63
4	Slovenia	5	0	0	5
5	Bulgaria	4	8	11	23
6	Italy	3	1	2	6
7	Israel	1	7	14	22
8	Uzbekistan	1	2	2	5
9	France	0	3	1	4
10	Azerbaijan	0	2	9	11
11	Czech Republic	0	1	2	3
12	Georgia	0	1	1	2
	United States	0	1	1	2
14	Austria	0	0	3	3
15	Kazakhstan	0	0	2	2
16	Germany	0	0	1	1
	Poland	0	0	1	1
Totals (17 entries)		145	133	135	413

Group events

Organizers of Grand Prix events are also allowed to hold extra events for groups on the same venue. In the early editions, the group competitions were staged as parallel events (usually in the form of international tournaments) that were intertwined with individual performances during the Grand Prix competitions. In 2003, an official Grand Prix event especially for groups was held in Sofia, Bulgaria.^[56] Since 2016, organizers can also register a Grand Prix competition in groups.^[5] Nations which have earned at least one medal on senior level, either in international tournaments or official Grand Prix stages, since 1995, include:

See also

• List of events at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix series
• List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix Final
• Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup

References