Griskenas, Mizuno each claim individual apparatus bronze as second FIG World Challenge Cup wraps in Portimao

• Individual Results: All-Around | Event Qualifications | Event Finals
• Group Results: All-Around | Event Qualifications | Event Finals

PORTIMAO, Portugal (May 31, 2022) - Olympians Evita Griskenas (Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) and Lili Mizuno (Northbrook, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) each captured a bronze medal during apparatus finals as the Portimao World Challenge Cup concluded Sunday in Portugal. Griskenas, who advanced to all four event finals, added a top-five all-around finish, while the U.S. Senior National Group landed 10th.

Griskenas posted a season-high 117.900 to claim fourth in the all-around. Mizuno was

12th with a cumulative 111.750. Griskenas qualified to the hoop (30.100) final in the third position, on clubs (29.100) and ribbon (29.000) in sixth place and on ball (29.700) in the seventh spot. Mizuno also advanced to the ball (29.850) and clubs (28.450) finals. The former U.S. group member just missed the ribbon final, finishing in the 10th spot with a 28.400 and was 27th on hoop (25.050).

In the finals, Mizuno delivered a 29.500 on ball to secure the bronze medal and finished fifth on clubs with a 29.150. Griskenas took bronze on ribbon with a 29.300. She was seventh on hoop (27.850), eighth on ball (26.450) and sixth on clubs (28.000).

Germany's Darja Varfolomeev set the bar on ball (32.550) and clubs (32.100). Israel's Adi Asya Katz led the way on hoop with a 31.150, and Bulgaria's Eva Brezalieva took top honors on ribbon with a 31.600.

The U.S. Senior National Group comprised of Maria Bolkhovitinova (Northfield, Ill.), Isabella Ivanova (Kirkland, Wash.), Gergana Petkova (Barrington, Ill.), Katrine Sakhnov (Sammamish, Wash.), Karolina Saverino (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), Hana Starkman (Plantation, Fla.) and Emily Wilson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was 10th in the all-around with a combined 39.700. Their 19.300 on three ribbons and two balls was the day's ninth-highest score. The group was 10th on five hoops with a 20.400. Israel paced the field on both events to claim the group title with a 60.850.

The group will head to the Pesaro World Cup next weekend in Italy where they'll be joined by U.S. National Team members Erica Foster (Chanhassen, Minn./NorthWest Rhythmic) and Alexandria Kautzman (Simi Valley, Calif./California Rhythms) who will take on the individual competition.