Belarusian rhythmic gymnasts start their 2026 World Championships campaign

Germany’s Frankfurt hosts the 2026 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, with Belarusian athletes among the competitors, BelTA has learned.

Representing Belarus at the season’s pinnacle event are Alina Harnasko, Darya Viarenich, and Nicole Liauta, along with the national group composition (Palina Aliaksandrava, Sofya Barysevich, Valeryia Malkovich, Hanna Shakun, Kiriana Shevtsova, and Taisa Yerchak). For the individual all-around qualifiers, only each gymnast’s three best routines out of four will count. Alina is set to perform a full four-apparatus program, Darya will compete with the hoop, ball, and clubs, and Nicole will present her ribbon routine.

The gymnasts will contend for individual finals berths on 12 and 13 August. 14 August will see the crowning of the individual all-around medalists, while the group all-around titles will be decided on 15 August. The top three gymnasts and groups will secure their tickets to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The World Championships will wrap up on 16 August with six sets of medals contested in the apparatus finals (four individual and two group events). Overall, the event has drawn 350 competitors representing 73 nations.

Belarusian gymnasts last appeared on the global stage back in 2021. During that tournament in Japan, the athletes brought home seven medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), while Harnasko made history as Belarus’ first world champion of the 21st century with her gold-medal ribbon routine. This season, Alina and the group composition have continued their strong run, climbing the podium at the European Championships, World Cup, and World Challenge Cup events.