Bulgarian team of rhythmic gymnastics, former nine times world champions, has swept the Bronze medal in their final graceful performance in Athens.

The charming team of Eleonora Kezhova, Zhanet Ilieva, twins Galina and Vladislava Tancheva, and Zornitsa Marinova has restored Bulgaria's rhythmic fame which since the Silver in Atlanta 1996 has suffered out-of-medal stand.

Russia's team of Olga Glayskikh, Tatiana Kubakova, Natalia Lavrova, Elena Murzina and Elena Posevina scored a total of 51.100 points from two rounds, enough to defend their Olympic title in the gymnastics.

Crowd favourites Italy scored 49.450 points to secure the Silver medal while the Bulgarian team of five edged out Belarus to take the bronze with 48.600 points.

The Individual All-Around final at the Galatsi Olympic Hall on Sunday will see its sixth Olympic champion since the sport was first included in the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 1984.

Alina Kabaeva (Rus), the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist and a winner in the qualification round, has a great chance to equal the record of Alexandra Timoshenko (Ukr), who is so far the only rhythmic gymnast to have won two Olympic medals after she claimed bronze at Seoul in 1988 and then gold at Barcelona in 1992.

To achieve this goal, Kabaeva must perform her four routines (with hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon) without making a major mistake.

Among her feverest rivals will be Bulgaria's Simona Peycheva who qualified for the individual finals with seventh result 98,700.

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