Bulgaria's Golden Girls End Up without Olympic Medals in London

It was in their second routine with the three ribbons and two hoops that the Bulgarian girls played very nervously and made too many mistakes.

Bulgaria's team in rhythmic gymnastics, who had set high hopes on wining medals at the Olympic Games in London, finished sixth in the group event Sunday.

The group event involves five gymnasts using two sets of apparatuses — five balls, and three ribbons and two hoops — in routines designed to showcase unison, flexibility and artistic skill.

The Bulgarians ranked third with their first routine, with five balls. But it was in their routine with the three ribbons and two hoops that the girls made too many mistakes and were knocked off by two more teams in the Olympic ranking, ending up sixth.

The Russians continued their dominance in this sport winning their 4th straight Olympic gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics group all-around with 57 points, 1.5 ahead of Belarus. Italy, which had hoped to break Russia's stranglehold on the Olympic gold after winning the last three world titles, ranked third.

Bulgaria's women's rhythmic gymnastics team won a quota for the Olympics in London in 2012 in September 2011 after grabbing gold in the three ribbons and two hoops discipline final at the World Championship in Montpellier, France.

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