Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix

Sport	Rhythmic gymnastics
Founded	1994
Countries	Worldwide
Most titles	Russia

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, 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.^[7]

Events

Year	Number of stages	Grand Prix Final	Location
1994	4	Vienna Grand Prix	Vienna
1995	4	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer
1996	5	Vienna Grand Prix	Vienna
1997	6	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer
1998	6	Grand Prix Linz	Linz
1999	7	Grand Prix Korneuburg	Korneuburg
2000	5	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer
2001	6	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer
2002	8	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck
2003	9	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck
2004	7	Alfred Vogel Grand Prix	Deventer
2005	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin
2006	9	Berlin Masters	Berlin
2007	10	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck
2008	8	Grand Prix Slovakia	Bratislava
2009	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin
2010	8	Berlin Masters	Berlin
2011	5	Brno Grand Prix	Brno
2012	5	Brno Grand Prix	Brno
2013	5	Berlin Masters	Berlin
2014	6	Grand Prix Innsbruck	Innsbruck
2015	5	Brno Grand Prix	Brno
2016	5	Grand Prix Eilat	Eilat
2017	7	Grand Prix Eilat	Eilat
2018	6	Grand Prix Marbella	Marbella
2019	6	Brno Grand Prix	Brno
2020	4	Deriugina Grand Prix	Kyiv
2021	3	Grand Prix Marbella	Marbella
2022	4	Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup	Brno
2023	4	Grand Prix Brno Tart Cup	Brno

All-time medal table

What follows is a table containing the total number of medals earned by individual gymnasts representing their nations in every stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit from 1994 to 2023. The results accounted for include only senior medalists in the regular stages of the circuit, as well as the Grand Prix Final. Group events, either at official Grand Prix competitions or international tournaments held alongside Grand Prix stages, were not taken into consideration.

Senior individual events (1994–2023)

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Russia (RUS)	623	422	218	1263
2	Ukraine (UKR)	153	158	175	486
3	Belarus (BLR)	54	142	188	384
4	Bulgaria (BUL)	23	62	72	157
5	Israel (ISR)	13	35	72	120
6	Slovenia (SLO)	5	1	3	9
7	Italy (ITA)	4	1	6	11
8	Georgia (GEO)	3	3	6	12
9	Azerbaijan (AZE)	2	14	41	57
10	Kazakhstan (KAZ)	2	12	28	42
11	France (FRA)	2	5	13	20
12	Germany (GER)	2	4	7	13
13	Spain (ESP)	2	1	4	7
14	Uzbekistan (UZB)	1	2	5	8
15	Hungary (HUN)	1	2	2	5
16	Greece (GRE)	1	1	2	4
17	Brazil (BRA)	1	0	0	1
18	South Korea (KOR)	0	2	7	9
19	Canada (CAN)	0	1	5	6
20	United States (USA)	0	1	3	4
21	Czech Republic (CZE)	0	1	2	3
22	Estonia (EST)	0	1	0	1
23	Austria (AUT)	0	0	4	4
24	Latvia (LAT)	0	0	3	3
25	Poland (POL)	0	0	2	2
26	Japan (JPN)	0	0	1	1
Totals (26 entries)		892	871	869	2632

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.^[8] 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 medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (1994–2003)
• List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (2004–2013)
• List of medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit (2014–2023)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup

References