New East Digital Archive

Vogue: Ukrainian gymnasts channel their inner Madonna

22 August 2016

The Olympics may be over, but (re-)watching these Ukrainian gymnasts will be sure to help ease those post-Games blues.

In case you missed it, check out Ukraine’s performance during the final rotation in the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final. Maybe you’ll even want to get out your ribbons and dance along.

So, which New East countries fared best in Rio?

Russia topped the New East list, coming in at number four on the medals table. Hungary, Croatia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan all made it into the top 25, with Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Belarus also winning places in the top 40.

Although they didn’t make it to the top of the table, a big shout-out must go to Kosovo, which not only competed in its first Olympics, but also took home a gold medal in judo. Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won gold in the Women’s 52 kg, the first Olympic medal in Kosovo’s history.