Olympics-Rhythmic Gymnastics-Italy's Raffaeli leads individual all-around qualifiers

Paris 2024 Olympics - Rhythmic Gymnastics - Individual All-Around Qual - Part 2 of 2 - Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France - August 08, 2024. Sofia Raffaeli of Italy in action. REUTERS/Mike Blake

PARIS (Reuters) - Italy's Sofia Raffaeli on Thursday topped the list of 24 rhythmic gymnasts vying for a spot in the individual all-around finals at Paris, ending the day with 139.100 points and ahead of world number one Darja Varfolomeev of Germany.

An Olympic medal event since the Los Angeles 1984 Games, rhythmic gymnastics sees athletes perform exquisite manoeuvres to music while using hoops, balls, clubs or ribbons.