These are the results of the rhythmic group all-around competition, one of the two events of the rhythmic gymnastics discipline contested in the gymnastics at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Athens, Georgia.
Background The rhythmic group event was contested for the first time at these Games. The Bulgarian group were the reigning World champions going into the event.
Event format Each group performed two routines in both the preliminary and final rounds, one with 5 hoops, one with 3 balls and two ribbons. "New life" scoring was used, meaning that scores from the qualification round did not carry over to the finals.
Qualification
Nine teams participated in the first round. The top six teams would go on to the final round.
Rank Team 5 3 + 2 Total 119.466(3)19.550(1)39.016Q 219.500(2)19.466(2)38.966Q 319.516(1)19.366(3)38.882Q 419.300(4)19.133(4)38.433Q 519.200(6)19.033(5)38.233Q 619.133(7)18.999(6)38.132Q 719.283(5)18.733(8)38.016 - 819.050(8)18.832(7)37.882 - 918.400(9)18.233(9)36.633 -
Final Spain won the final, and the first Olympic gold ever given in the event, over Bulgaria, which was considered a minor upset. Rank Team 5 3 + 2 Total 19.483(1)19.450(=1)38.933 19.416(3)19.450(=1)38.866 19.466(2)18.899(4)38.365 419.149(6)19.050(3)38.199 519.199(5)18.800(5)37.999 619.266(4)18.716(6)37.982
References
http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/olympics/og1996rg.html