Japanese rhythmic gymnastics squad clinches Olympic spot with silver in Frankfurt
Japan's rhythmic gymnastics group earned a silver medal at the World Championships in Frankfurt, securing the nation's first quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
At the World Championships held in Frankfurt, Japan's rhythmic gymnastics group captured the silver medal with a combined score of 56.700 points from two routines, trailing Spain's 57.450 points. The six-member squad—Hisano Taguchi, Megumi Nishimoto, Natsumi Hanamura, Yuna Tanaka, Kaseno Tanabe and Rin Manabe—thereby secured the country's first qualification slot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the first such entry since the Tokyo 2021 Games.
Taguchi described the result as overwhelming and highlighted the team's focus on performing under pressure. Brazil took third place, completing the trio of nations that earned Olympic quotas. Taguchi also noted that she and Nishimoto had previously missed the Paris 2024 Olympics, underscoring the significance of the new berth for the athletes.
Why it matters
Japan's qualification guarantees its presence in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2028 Olympics, boosting the sport's profile nationally.
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