Dina and Arina Averina make rhythmic gold a family affair
The ROC twins confirmed their status as gold medal favourites during rhythmic gymnastics as they topped qualifying at Tokyo 2020, with Israel's Linoy Ashram in third.
ROC rhythmic gymnasts, Dina and Arina Averina, who are identical twin sisters, are a day away from a very special family portrait after dominating the qualifying competition Friday (6 August) at Tokyo 2020's Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
After four rotations of qualifying competition, Dina Averina leads her twin sister Arina, 106.300 to 106.175. Linoy Ashram of Israel finished third (103.100). Ashram, who has won three world all-around medals since Rio 2016, faltered in her opening routine with the hoop but rebounded with top three scores in ball, clubs and ribbon.
"I'm happy that I performed today, but, unfortunately, there were mistakes, and there are things to work on," said Dina Averina. "Tomorrow, I'm going to improve the details.
All scores start from zero in Saturday's (7 August) final.
Dina Averina enters Tokyo as the three-time reigning World Champion, having taken the crown in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Twice, the sisters have gone 1-2 with Arina Averina taking silver in 2017 and 2019.
"We always support each other"
Together, they've pushed themselves - and the sport - higher. Though they are, perhaps, each other's toughest competitor for gold, neither sees it that way.
"We never compete, but we always support each other," explained Dina Averina. "So if she wins, I'm happy for her. If I win, she's happy for me."
They've each learned from the other as they've dominated their sport. Arina Averina says she admires her sister's resilience.
"I want to learn it. When you think that everything is bad and already lost, it's necessary to find strength in yourself and prove first of all to yourself that everything is not lost and that you can," Arina Averina, the 2021 European all-around champion, told Olympics.com earlier this year. "The main thing to fight to the end."
For Dina Averina, she envies her sisters calmer demeanor.
"I like this small kind of indifference from Arisha - when everything is bad, or if you are being scolded - you do not have to take it close to heart," explained Dina Averina. "Do not be so upset, life does not end with this - it is necessary to listen carefully, to analyse it and to go work further. Nothing horrible happened. Probably, that's what I'm missing because I need everything and at once."