MINSK, Belarus - Canada's London-bound rhythmic gymnastics team finished eighth on Sunday at the final World Cup event before the Olympics.
The six-member team showed its goal of reaching the final at the Olympics is well within reach after placing among the world’s top teams gearing up for the Games.
In the three ribbon-two hoops group final, the Olympic favourites from Russia took the gold with 28.225 points. Belarus was second with 27.400 points and Italy third with a score of 27.325.
Canada had 25.600 points in a tight battle among teams ranked fifth to eighth.
"Our goal going into the competition was to make one final and in that final to compete with no major mistakes and we accomplished that," said Alexandra Landry of Toronto. "On day two we were much stronger and stuck all our elements with no drops."
Other members of the team are Anjelika Reznik, Anastasiya Muntyanu, and Rose Cossar, all of Toronto, Kelsey Titmarsh of Thornhill, Ont., and Katrina Cameron of Mississauga, Ont.
"With three weeks of training left until we step into the Olympic village, we're already feeling ready," said Landry.
The team will continue its final preparation for the Games at its European training base in Marbella, Spain.
