18-year-old rhythmic gymnast Daria Atamanov is set to compete in the all-around qualifications at the Paris Olympics, carrying Israel's hopes for another gold medal following Linoy Ashram's historic win in Tokyo 2020.
Atamanov's journey has been marked by both triumphs and challenges:
- Started gymnastics at age 7
- Won 5 medals at the 2022 World Cup in Greece
- Became the first gymnast to win gold at the World Games
- Suffered a severe foot injury, sidelining her for nearly a year
- Made a remarkable comeback, winning bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Valencia
Recent Achievements:
- World Cup in Sofia: Bronze in all-around, gold in hoop
- European Cup in Baku: Bronze in all-around
- Challenge Cup in Romania: Bronze in all-around, gold in hoop
Despite a setback at the European Championships in Budapest, Atamanov remains focused on the Olympics. Her coach, Ayelet Zussman, praised her resilience: "Daria overcame her injury excellently. She's aware of the pressure and expectations, and I believe in her very much."
Atamanov herself expressed excitement: "I hope I succeed in the routines– It wasn't easy to come back from the injury, but I returned to competitions very well."
With her determination and talent, Atamanov stands as a strong contender for an Olympic medal, potentially continuing Israel's success in rhythmic gymnastics on the world stage.
* Sport5 contributed to this article.