Original decisions of composition were used in free programmes, such elements and methods were used that gymnasts looked best in them and were traditionally strong. Individual tricks also existed that made all the athletes different.

In 1955 E.Biruik became the Champion of the republic again. On the USSR Championship 1955 in Riga L. Nazmutdinova was again leading. Elena Biruik was in the 3rd place there.

V. Voloshina won Ukrainian championship in 1956 in a very difficult struggle. She was from Odessa. The USSR Championship in 1956 was a triumph of Ukrainian athletes : E. Biruik became the champion, M. Bulgakova get the 2nd place, A. Nujnaya won the 3rd place. They also got the 1st place in team event.

The USSR and republic Champion E. Beriuk in the delegation of Soviet athletes went abroad with gala performances intending to propagang and popularise rhythmic gymnastics as a kind of sport. In 1955 she was present on the first gymnastics Spartakiada in Czech Republic.

In 1956 she went with an experience exchange to Albania, Bulgaria where she was telling about the programme, system of gymnasts’ preparation in the USSR, gave seminars, trainings. She gave much help to develop rhythmic gymnastics in these 13 countries.

In 1956 a new kind of rhythmic gymnastics began to develop – group event. Free, with free apparatus, in costumes that allowed improvisation – leotards, skirts, dresses decorated in many interesting ways. Each team tried to surprise both the judges and the spectators. It was much similar to the atmosphere of art. Musicians, ballet artists, choreographers were much interested in rhythmic gymnastics. Someone visited competitions as a spectator, another one tried to find the ways to enrich his or her own art, somebody was telling his or her opinion in the press. Some found work here, having actively got in the art process, helped to get rid of drawbacks, gave some interesting ideas. But where was the kind of sport? Why it was called sportive?

The fact is the the result of competition was decided not only by the performances in free programme. The gymnast was competing in an obligatory one beforehand that consisted of :

  1. obligatory exercise without apparatus (there were 4 of them during the whole period, while the most difficult was the first one)

  2. exercise with acrobatics element (acrobatic elements harmonically were put in the composition)

  3. One of the 6 obligatory routines with apparatus (by lot, gymnasts had to train all 6 routines)

  4. One of the 3 forms of vaults over the plank from trampoline (2 tries, the best one counts, the height 1 m 50 cm’s)

It was allowed to refuse from a try and repeat it to perform the exercise better. This question was decided by a gymnast and a coach. All routines were performed individually. So the proportion 2 and 4,  easiness of the judged of obligatory programme when the perfection of execution and quality of the same element by different gymnasts were evaluated made a big contribution to the final result.

In 1952-1956 the coaches in rhythmic gymnastics helped to created and prepare the exercises with apparatus for the female team in artistic gymnastics. These exercises were included into the program of Olympic games. In 1952 – routine with hoop, team of 8 people,  time up to 5 minutes. In 1956 – exercise with clubs. The intention of these exercises was to make artistic gymnastics more graceful. The programof competition for women was much different from the one we have no. Gymnasts had to performed an exercises on the high bar, parallel bars, horse, rings – all this didn’t help developing the grace and plastics.

Gymnasts from Sweden and Hungary were considered the best in the team event with apparatus. Soviet girls couldn’t win in these exercises, they took 2nd and 3rd places. The specific characteristics of these exercises were well seen even then. The rhythm, shape of the body (muscular) couldn’t be combined with those exercises that required feeling of the apparatus and perfect execution. Despite wonderful athletic preparation artistic gymnasts couldn’t cope with the apparatus. Hoops were made of metal, duralluminium. Clubs were made of wood, they were rather heavy and dangerous. Synchronization, rhythm and purity of execution were evaluated. Girls couldn’t get used to the free holding, small movements of hand, fingers. It was difficult to combined an exercise with music. After 1956 such kind of exercise was not used. Development of artistic gymnastics got another direction.

In 1957-1958 E. Biruik was both the USSR and republic champion.

In the July of 1957 Ukrainian gymnasts E. Biruik and A. Nujnaya in the Soviet delegation were present in Yugoslavia and performed exhibitions dedicated to the opening ceremony of 2nd Gymnastrada in Zagred.

In 1958 E. Biruik again with gymnasts of the national team took part in exhibitions that contributed to the popularization of this kind of sport in foreign countries.

In 1959 the Champion of Ukraine became E. Averkovich who was a student of the Lvov Physical Culture Institute, while USSR Championship was won by A. Nazmutdinova. The team of Ukraine was 2nd overall.

In 1960 a new classificational programme comes out that stimulated the growth of popularisation of rhythmic gymnastics, increased the technical preparation and executional mastery of the gymnasts. The programme of masters of sport consisted of obligatory exercises without apparatus, with apparatus, acrobatics, vault over the plank and free exercise without apparatus and with apparatus by choice.

U. Nujnaya from Kharkov became the champion of Ukraine in 1960. She took 3rd place on the USSR Championship in Leningrad. V. Smotrina from Grozny is the USSR Champion in 1960-61-61. Ukrainian team gets 2nd place overall in 1960-1961-1962.

Rhythmic gymnastics in a way it was formed in the USSR corresponded to the specialities of the female body. Except versertile physical preparation which was provided by the acrobatics studies, athletics, leaps, exercises with different exercises, expression, musical performance, emotions, grace were also developing, individualism were also counted.

Gymnasts were preparing a lot before the master of sport programme. Classificational programme was in rule for 4-6 years. Difficulty was raising, there was a difference between the categories. Competitions were taking place among all categories.

Gymnasts get to go through a row of preparational levels. They trained elements, combinations, parts and composition as a whole. Individual programme was taken only from the 1st category.

Rhythmic gymnastics became an effective method of harmonic physical development for women.

USSR system was considered the best during the international congress in 1961. At the same time the decision to organize international competitions in rhythmic gymnastics was taken.

Rhythmic gymnastics got popular since then. In 1963 technical commission of rhythmic gymnastics at the female technical committee of International Gymnastics Federation was founded. Ever since then  FIG regularly holds world championships, rules the competitions, controls the work of national federation.

And in Ukraine in 1963 E. Biruik again wins the Ukrainian Championship, in Saratov she becomes the USSR Champion for the 5th time, having divided the place with Luibov Paradiyeva.

In December of 1963 first competition – European Cup in rhythmic gymnastics – was held in Budapest. It consisted of 2 free exercises : without apparatus and with apparatus and collected 28 participants from 10 countries. USSR gymnasts got 7 medals out of 9. In 1964 the decision of FIG was published that declared the winner of this competition – Ludmila Savinkova – a World Champion in rhythmic gymnastics.

Foreign athletes couldn’t reach the level of the USSR athletes for a while. A long period of development was taking place. From 1965 till 1973 the programs of world championships consisted of 1 free exercise and then a routine without apparatus, with rope, ball, ribbon and clubs. USSR had to prepare an exercise with ribbon (1971, author E.A.Obligina).

Luibov Paradiyeva wins the Ukrainian Nationals in 1964. She came to study to the capital of the republic. Her coach was N.N. Silayeva from Grozny. In Kiev she trained with V.S.Zinchenko, choreographer Zaitsev. In Tashkent Elvira Averkovich became the USSR Champion. Gymnasts from Ukraine won the bronze medal in team event.

In 1965 a new classificational program comes out that had an interntion to increase the level of gymnasts. The leap over the plank was eliminated and the number of obligatory exercises was increased.

In 1965 the Ukrainian champion became I. Sokolova, while at the USSR Championship in Riga Luibov Paradiyeva from Kiev became the champion. The team of Ukraine was 2nd.

2nd World Championship took place in the December of 1965 in Prague, in which 33 gymnasts from 12 countries took part. The team of USSR won 2nd place, but Ukrainian gymnasts were not in the team. The choice of apparatus was in the technical regulations of the competition (rope, ball). Then some differents in apparatus came out that made the evaluation more difficult. Discussion about the facture and size of apparatus led to the decision of FIG about the unification of some apparatus. For example, it was decided to use a special rope with 2 knots at the end for a rope routine. In the USSR there was no such ropes. The strongest gymnasts of the country got into a difficult situation – it was impossible to switch to a new technique, because it was not possible to buy a new apparatus. Ropes from saving belts were used first

Luibov Paradiyeva became the absolute leader in the country during 1966-1967, when she won both Ukrainian and USSR Championships

At the 3rd World Championship in 1967 in Copenhagen gymnasts from 17 countries were competing. Elena Karpuhina from Moscow won that competition. Luibov Paradieva was 3rd in all-round and 1st in a routine without apparatus.

The programs inside and out of the country were quite different. Nobody paid much attention to it at first. However, when Hana Michegova won on the World Championship in Prague, there were first publications in press concerning the advantages of “athlethic” preparations of the Czechs over “artistic” USSR one. They were developed in the international rules : it was forbidden to create an expression in the exercise, to have tragic face, there were deductions if a gymnast included some dance elements, classical positions of the legs, rounded hands, elements of acrobatics. Routines had to start and finish in a stable position. Maria Guigova from Bulgaria was deducted for moving her hand a little bit after the music had already finished. It cost her a gold medal in a routine without apparatus. She was deducted for additional time.

Nonetheless there was no huge reform in the country to get her near the international one

Classificational programm of master of sports of the USSR included obligatory exercises : without apparatus, with acrobatic elements, 2 routines with apparatus – rope, scarf (jumps over the plank from a trampoline were eliminated a year before), free exercise – without apparatus, with apparatus by choice. On the upcoming world championship it was planned to compete both in individual and group routines. Programme of the individual routine : obligatory routine with rope, free exercise without apparatus, with hoop and rope. Group event – with hoops – were included into the program in 1967. USSR team prepared a routine under the music of Borodin – a part of the opera “Kniaz Ihor”. Each gymnast  had to have 2 white hoops, a big and a small one, one in one, a beautiful and original composition. Girls won,but at the last moment they had to replace a small hoop with a big one that decreased the level of execution and impressions.

This episode will stay in the memory for a while. Coaches were warned about the protest that was given to the judges’ brigade concerning an unstandart apparatus and several minutes before going on the carpet gymnasts had to replace the hoop. There were no replacement apparatus so they had to ask for colorful ones from a Polish team, to change many elements. Everything turned out well mostly thanks to our main rivals, Bulgarian team, whose hoops were much bigger than they should have been and so they were much deducted.

Standardization and unification of apparatus made first steps to create an influence on rhythmic gymnastics as a sport.

The program of USSR and World championships in 1970 were similar only in a free exercise without apparatus. It was one of the reasons because World champions couldn’t win USSR championship and vice versa.

After World Championship in Varna, 1969, a routine without apparatus was eliminated from the program (USSR gymnasts won there 3 times). The main different of rhythmic gymnastics became routines with apparatus.

A stable programme of World Championships was formed by 1975. One of 5 apparatus – rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon – is eliminated from competitions every 2 years. Since 1989 a team event was included. Competitions got much wider – from one routine in group event to 3 medals : 1 big and 2 small, for a victory in every of 2 routines.

In 1968-1969 L. Butayevnko from Kharkov is winning at the Republic Championships, a student of a coach L.M.Semenova. L. Paradiyeva and N.Ovchinnikova in 1969 competed out of competition because they were testing their new international programme.

In 1968-1969 in Leningrad and Yerevan N.Ovchinnikova from Grozny won. In 1969 she entered a Kyiv Physical culture Institute and started to compete for Ukrainian team.

In 1969 a 4th World Championship took place in Varna. Maria Guigova became the champion, 2nd place Luibov Paradiyeva divided with Galima Shugurova and Bulgarian Neshka Robeva. Luibov Paradieva won silver medal in ball routine, while N.Ovchinnikova was 2nd in group event (exercise with balls).

In 1970 to raise the interest to sports achievements a category of “candidate to master of sport” was included. Routines with acrobatic elements were eliminated from the programme. They were changed for half-acrobatics. 3 free exercises with rope, ball and hoop came in. Luibov Paradieva again became the Ukrainian champion in 1970, while on USSR championship she shared her place with G. Shugurova frin Insj

2 times (in 1971-1972) Zhanna Vasura, a student of Albina Deriugina became the World Champion.

In 1971 on the USSR Championship the team from Ukraine didn’t have a good competition, having placed 4th in team event and in group event. A.Zasuhina became the champion of the USSR. She was from Astrahan

On the 5th World Championship that took place in Gavana in 1971 a bulgarian Maria Guigova won. Ukrainian gymnasts didn’t compete for the team in individual event. N. Ovchinnikova, Zh.Vasura, L.Paradiyeva won silver medals in group event.

G. Shugurova from Omsk was the best in the USSR during 1972-1973. Ukrainian gymnasts are not so succesful at country competitions. Only Zhanna Vasura managed to enter the national team in group event which went to Holland. She became a world champion there, while an individual title of 1973 was shared by G.Shugurova (USSR) and M.Guigova (BNR)  "

In 1973 there were changes to the classificational programme : in all categories obligatory routines without apapratus and with rope were performed as well as free exercises with hoop, clubs, ball and ribbon/

N.Krashennikov won the 1974 USSR Championship in Minsk. Irina Deriugina, a young gymnast from Kiev, won the 3rd place. After a small break Ukraine returns to 2nd place in team event. Starting from 1973 Irina Deriugina became the Champion of Ukraine. She is 7 times ukrainian champion.

On the USSR Cup in 1974 in Tomsk G.Shugurova won. Irina Deriugina won “bronze” in all-round and in ball routine. She was first in hoop routine, 2nd in a routine with ribbon and clubs. Zhanna Vasura was in top six.

Irina Deriugina won the USSR Championship in 1975 in Rostov na Donu, she was first in hoop, ribbon and without apparatus routine, 2nd – in routines with ball and clubs.  Another Ukrainian gymnast Luidmila Yevtushenko won “bronze” in a routine with apparatus. At the USSR Cup of 1975 in Kiev Irina Deriugina won, while L. Yevtushenko shared her 3rd place with G. Shugurova. Gymnasts of Ukraine became the champions of USSR in 1995 : Zhanna Vasura, L. Yevtushenko, T. Skorodumova, L. Salonikova. O. Kriglova, E. Dolgopolova.

At the 7th World Championship that took place in Madrid in 1975 Soviet gymnasts didn’t take part. K. Rshier from Germany became the champion.

In 1976 Irina Deriugina won the USSR Championship in Tbilis and USSR Cup in Dushanbe. She was first in clubs and ribbon routine, 2nd in without apparatus routine, hoop and ball.  In 1977 Irina Deriugina became the all-round champion of USSR, she was first in hoop, ball, ribbon and clubs routine, 2nd in without apparatus routine. At the USSR Cup in Minsk (september of 1977) she took 1st place in rope, ball and ribbon routine, 2nd – with hoop. USSR team was 2nd in group routine, having lost to the gymnasts from Belarus. O. Plohova, L. Yevtushenko, O. Schegoleva. V. Serih, L.Salnikova. S.Valyannikova were in the team

Irina Deriugina became an all-round World Champion in 1977 in Basel. She was first in ribbon routine, 2nd – with hoop and ball. USSR team won 1st place in group event. L. Yevtushenko. O. Plohova, O. Shegoleva were in the team from Ukraine. On the USSR Championship in 1978 G. Shugurova and Irina Deriugina shared 1st position. Irina Deriugina was first in a routine without apapratus and with ball, 2nd with rope. Ludmila Yevtushenko was 4th (3rd place in ball and ribbon routine), Viktoria Serikh was in 8th position (2nd in without apparatus routine)

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