Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships: Raffaeli Secures Gold in Hoop Event

Rio de janeiro: Italian star Sofia Raffaeli clinched the gold medal in the hoop category at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships. The event took place in Rio de Janeiro, where Raffaeli showcased her exceptional skills on Sunday.

According to Ansa News Agency, the 21-year-old gymnast from Ancona, Marche, replicated her winning performance from Sofia 2022. Raffaeli secured the top position with a score of 30.650, surpassing her competitors, Bulgarian Stiliana Nikolova, who scored 29.950, and Germany’s Anastasia Simakova, who earned a score of 29.400.

Raffaeli has an impressive track record in rhythmic gymnastics. She is the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and the 2022 World all-around, hoop, ball, ribbon, and team champion. Additionally, she achieved the 2023 World all-around, hoop, and ball silver medals, and the 2025 World all-around bronze medal. She is also recognized as a two-time European silver all-around medalist.