Rising star Emmanouela Frroku has placed first in the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament, the 2022 ‘Alem Cup’ in Dubai.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a variety of the discipline where the gymnast performs on a floor with an apparatus, bit it a hoop, ball, clubs or a ribbon (as opposed to artistic gymnastics) combining elements of dance and calisthenics with conventional gymnastic techniques.

It developed into a competitive sport in the Soviet Union during the 1940’s, formally recognised as a discipline by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in 1961. Finally, it was added to the Olympics in the 1984 Los Angeles games.

Earlier this year she took part in the Junior International Australian National Championship on the Gold Coast, taking home three gold medals.

Frroku migrated to Australia with her family from Greece in July 2016, soon enough stealing the show at competitions both domestically and on the international stage.

Within a year of her migration, she’d won first place at the Australian National Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in 2017, achieving the rank of NSW State Champion two years later.

Frroku was expected to compete in the 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, but the competition was postponed until 2026 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We can no doubt expect she’ll continue to make her country proud in the coming years if her past performance is anything to go by.