How to qualify for rhythmic gymnastics at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained

Rhythmic gymnastics is a discipline that highlights beauty through a combination of art and sports.

Rhythmic gymnasts perform to music that has been chosen by themselves, while at the same time demonstrating their acrobatic movement on the floor by making use of four apparatus - the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.

Both the individual and the group competitions return for Paris 2024, having made their Olympic debuts at Los Angeles 1984 and Atlanta 1996, respectively.

Find out the answers to the main questions about the rhythmic gymnastic qualification process below.

How many rhythmic gymnasts will compete at Paris 2024?

In total, 94 rhythmic gymnasts will compete at Paris 2024 - 24 individual athletes and 14 groups (five athletes per group). This is two less in total than Tokyo 2020 where 26 individual athletes competed.

As the host country, France will receive six quota places which include one group quota, while one quota place for the Universality place will be decided by the Tripartite Commission.

The other 87 quota places will be allocated to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with a maximum number of seven per NOC – two for individual athletes and five for one group.

There will be two events: the individual and group all-around competitions. All athletes born on or before 31 December 2008 (15 years old at Paris 2024) will be eligible to compete at the 2024 Games.

What is the rhythmic gymnastics qualification pathway to Paris 2024?

In the individual all-around competition, a total of 24 quotas will be distributed following five criteria. This figure includes one host country place and one Universality place.

In the group all-around competition, a total of 70 quotas will be distributed to 14 NOCs (one group per NOC, five members per group) including France as the host country following four criteria. There will be no Universality place for the group competition.

Criteria 1. 2022 World Championships, Sofia, Bulgaria, 14 – 18 Sep 2022

Individual qualification: three athletes

A maximum of three individual athletes per NOC can participate in the event. The three highest-ranked individual athletes from the individual all-around final results will secure one quota place each for their NOC.

Group qualification: three groups (15 athletes)

The three highest-ranked NOCs from the all-around competition (qualifications) will obtain one quota place each for their NOC.

Criteria 2. 2023 World Championships, August 2023

Individual qualification: 14 athletes

A maximum of three individual athletes per NOC can participate in the event. The 14 highest-ranked athletes from the all-around competition (qualification), with a maximum of two athletes per NOC, will obtain one quota place each for their NOC.

If NOCs have already secured two quota places under Criteria 1, additional quota places may not be allocated to the NOCs where applicable. NOCs which already qualified one quota place under Criteria 1 may obtain a second quota place.

Group qualification: five groups (25 athletes)

A maximum of 30 groups can participate in this event. The 24 highest-ranked NOCs of the World Championships (including the three NOCs already qualified for the Olympic Games under Criteria1), based on the results of the all-around competition (qualifications) will be entitled to participate.

If all continents are not represented in the top 24 NOCs, the best-ranked eligible group from the continent(s) which is(are) not appropriately represented will obtain a quota place to participate in the 2023 World Championships.

If the host country is not represented in the top 24 NOCs or through the continent quota place, it will receive a quota place to participate in the 2023 World Championships.

The five highest-ranked NOCs from group ranking results which have not yet qualified under Criteria 1 will secure one group quota place for their NOC.

Criteria 3. 2024 Continental Championships (or the other continental qualifying event approved by FIG)

Individual qualification: five athletes

A maximum of four individual athletes per NOC can participate in the event.

The highest-placed athletes from the individual all-around results of the respective Continental Championships (or the other continental qualifying event approved by FIG) will obtain one quota place.

Athletes must be from NOCs not already qualified under either Criteria 1 or 2.

If the Continental Championships (or the other Continental Qualifying Event approved by the FIG) did not take place between April and May 2024 (or another date approved by the FIG), the quota places of the respective continents are lost and will be allocated to the next highest-ranked individual athletes from NOCs not already qualified under Criteria 1 or 2 based on the individual ranking results of the all-around competition (qualification) of the 2023 World Championships.

Group qualification: five groups (25 athletes)

All NOCs from the respective continent with a maximum of one group per NOC will be entitled to participate.

The highest-ranked NOC from the group ranking results of the all-around competition (qualifications) from the respective Continental Championships (or other Continental Qualifying Event approved by the FIG) will receive one group quota place, when the NOC has not yet qualified under Criteria 1 or 2.

If there are no more eligible groups from the group ranking results from the respective Continental Championships (or other Continental Qualifying Event approved by the FIG), the next highest-ranked eligible groups from NOCs which have not qualified under Criteria 1 or 2 will be allocated to the quota places based on the group ranking results of the 2023 World Championships.

Criteria 4. Host country place

Individual qualification: one athlete

If no individual athlete from the host country, France has been qualified under Criteria 1, 2 or 3, the highest-ranked eligible individual French athlete will obtain a quota place following the individual ranking results of the 2023 World Championships.

Group qualification: one group (five athletes)

If the host country has not already received a quota place under Criteria 1, 2 or 3, France as the host country will be guaranteed one group quota place, provided their participation with a group at the 2022 World Championships.

Criteria 5. Universality place

Individual qualification: one athlete

One Universality Place will be decided by the IOC Tripartite Commission, and the respective athlete must have participated at the 2023 World Championships.

What is the Paris 2024 rhythmic gymnastics competition format and schedule?

At Paris 2024, there will be two medal events in Individual all-around and group all-around events, respectively.

There will be four exercises in the individual all-around competition at Paris 2024: hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.

There will also be two exercises in the group all-around competition at Paris 2024: five hoops and three ribbons/two balls.

READ MORE: The moves of rhythmic gymnastics

For the individual all-around competition, the four apparatus used at Tokyo 2020 will remain the same for Paris 2024.

On the other hand, for the group all-around competition, the apparatus programme at Paris 2024 will be different to the one at Tokyo 2020 which consisted of two routines with five balls and three hoops/two clubs.

Each event will be divided into two parts: qualifications and final.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition will be held at Porte de la Chapelle Arena from 8-10 August 2024.

READ MORE: The competition schedule for Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been released

Rhythmic gymnasts to watch at Paris 2024

Eastern European countries have dominated the international rhythmic gymnastics scene. However, no NOC has brought home more than a single gold medal from an Olympics, with the exception of the Russian team which, led by stars like Beijing 2008 and London 2012 champion Evgeniya Kanaeva and Rio 2016 champion Margarita Mamun, has swept 10 out of 17 golds since the sport was included on the Olympic programme in 1984.

At Tokyo 2020, Israel’s Linoy Ashram surprised the world when she stood on top of the podium in the individual all-around competition, becoming the first female Olympic gold medallist from her country. Sadly, we will not see her again in Paris, as the 23-year-old announced her retirement from competitive rhythmic gymnastics in April 2022.

Italian rising star Sofia Raffaeli is predicted by many to take home a historic Olympic gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at Paris 2024 after becoming the first Italian to claim the all-around overall title at the World Cup event following her victory in Athens this year. The 18-year-old is currently ranked no.1 in the world.

In the group competition, Bulgaria, the Tokyo 2020 team gold medallists, are leading the world ranking, followed by France, who will be aiming to make the podium on home soil for the first time.

Rhythmic gymnastics qualification timeline to Paris 2024

• 14-18 September 2022: World Championships (first qualification for individual athletes and groups), Sofia (BUL)
• 2023 (August): World Championships (second qualification for individual athletes and qualification for groups)
• April - May 2024 (or another date approved by the FIG): Continental Championships (or the other Continental Qualifying Event approved by the FIG) (third qualification for individual athletes and qualification for groups)
• June 2024: Immediately after the respective Continental Championships, FIG to inform NOCs/NFs of their allocated quota places from the Olympic Games
• Two weeks after information by the FIG: The NOCs to confirm the use of allocated quota places to FIG.
• TBD: Deadline for NOCs to submit their requests for Universality places
• In relation to the end of the qualification period for each sport: The Tripartite Commission to confirm in writing the allocation of Universality places to the NOCs.
• TBD: FIG to reallocate all unused quota places
• 8 July 2024: Paris 2024 Sport Entries deadline
• 26 July – 11 August 2024: Olympic Games Paris 2024

Find out more about the qualification system for other sports that will feature at Paris 2024.