Orland Native Scores 12th Overall In Olympics Rhythmic Gymnastics

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park native Evita Griskenas, 20, made her Olympic debut Friday in the Individual All-Around category for the 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics competition in Tokyo, Japan. Griskenas was one of two Americans who competed for a slot in the top 10 to move on to the finals, ultimately scoring 12th out of 26, respectively.

Those who finish in the top 10 advance to the final, which will take place Saturday. The four slots after, which include Griskenas and Connecticut's Lara Zeng, who placed 13th, are reserved. This means that they could still compete, if multiple finalists drop out of the competition.

Rhythmic gymnasts perform on a mat with a hoop, ball, clubs or ribbon. The sport requires great flexibility, strength and hand-eye coordination, as it combines elements of gymnastics and dance.

The Carl Sandburg High School graduate first showed off her skills in ball, scoring a 23.400. She then dazzled the judges with her hoop performance, scoring a 23.675. Griskenas went into rotation three scoring a 23.850 with clubs, and wrapped the competition off with a 20.775 with ribbon. Overall, Griskenas scored a 91.700.

"Overjoyed and truly humbled," Griskenas wrote on Instagram after the competition.

Griskenas was named to the 2021 U.S. team for the Summer Olympics in June. She is one of nine gymnasts who qualified for the summer event at the 2021 USA Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis. Griskenas was the highest ranked American gymnast at the 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and in the 2019 Pan American Games, She won five medals for Team USA — gold in the all-around, three gold medals in ball, hoop and ribbon, and a bronze medal for clubs — making her the most decorated athlete in any sport.

Zeng is a six-time U.S. all-around national champion, and represented the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Griskenas is the U.S. national champion in ball.

On Saturday, the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics team, which is made of Lili Mizuno, Camilla Feeley, Nicole Sladkov, Isabella Connor, Yelyzaveta Merenzon and Elizaveta Pletneva will compete.