Santiago 2023 - Brazil's Barbara Domingos wins first-ever rhythmic Pan Am Games all-around gold, American Evita Griskenas secures Paris 2024 quota

Brazil's Barbara Domingos came to take her crown Thursday (2 November), translating rhythmic gymnastics World Championships sucess - where she is the first of her nation to advance to the all-around final - into continental gold at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023.

She earned a total score of 129.550, ahead 2019 champ Evita Griskenas of the United States (127.400), for the title. Domingos' compatriot Maria Eduarda Alexandre grabbed the bronze medal with a 127.250 total.

"I feel so accomplished. This year was so positive for us, with many historic feats for Brazil, and this gold is also history for us," Domingos said afterward. "Winning at the Pan Am Games after the World Championship when we got the Olympic quota, and being here now in such a strong event... it was such a heavy year. There's no way to explain how happy I am."

Domingos' gold medal is the first rhythmic gymnastics win at the Pan Am Games for Brazil and, together with teammate Alexandre, it's the first time that Brazil has placed two women on the rhythmic gymnastics all-around podium at the Games, joining the United States and Canada in having achieved the feat.

By virtue of her finish in Santiago, Griskenas, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, secured the one individual rhythmic gymnastics quota available.

After the first day of competition, which featured performances with hoop and ball, Domingos led Griskenas by 0.450. Mexico's Marina Malpica was 0.250 behind the American in third heading into the second half of competition. Alexandre started the second day of competition in a slight hole, having earned just a 30.750 for her ball routine on Wednesday (1 November).

With Brazil already obtaining a quota spot at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, the battle for Paris 2024 fell to the American and the Mexican.

On Thursday afternoon, Griskenas was the first to perform of the duo, taking to the clubs where she used dramatic music and scored a 31.400. Malpica followed shortly, executing two big trap catches and a stunning 180 degree side inclination turn that grabbed the attention of the audience.

Her 31.500 score narrowed the gap to just 0.150 heading into the final rotation.

With the quota for Paris 2024 on the line, Griskenas threw down a ribbon routine for the ages. As the final beat of music played, coach Natalia Klimouk could not contain her joy.

At first, Klimouk jumped up and down, fist pumping the sky. Then, threw her head back and finally began to cry as her protege met her at the kiss and cry. The two shared a long embrace as they awaited the score. A 31.250 finally flashed, putting the pressure on Malpica.

The 23-year-old Mexican had a bobble early and nearly tossed her ribbon out of the bounds in the final moments of her routine. The slight errors proved too costly, as she scored 30.300, falling well back of Griskenas.

"I'm eternally grateful. It took so much to get here, and every single step that I took had meaning, and that to me was just beautiful," Griskenas told Olympics.com. "Getting this spot means that I can say thank you to my family, and my friends and my teachers, every single person who has been so kind to me and has been so honest with me and allowed me to be here right now. This is just a big thank you to them."

Although Griskenas obtained a nominative quota, National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, and athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.