The Russians won their fourth straight Olympic gold medal in the group event Sunday, easily beating Belarus. With Evgeniya Kanaeva winning the individual all around Saturday, Russia has now won both rhythmic titles at every Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games.

The Russians didn't even bother waiting for the final standings, exchanging hugs and blowing kisses at the camera before the score of Ukraine, the last team to perform, was announced. No need to, as Russia finished a whopping 1.5 points ahead of Belarus with a total score of 57 points, delighting the big contingent of Russian fans in Wembley Arena.Italy, which had hoped to break Russia's stranglehold on the Olympic gold after winning the last three world titles, was third after appearing to make mistakes on both of its routines.The group event involves five gymnasts using two sets of apparatuses five balls, and three ribbons and two hoops in routines designed to showcase unison, flexibility and artistic skill.Imagine a combination of a ballet, a Cirque du Soleil show and a 4 year old's birthday party run amok, and you get the idea. One second the teams are doing gorgeous arabesques in perfect time together, the next they're whipping brightly colored balls this way and that or tossing hoops high into the air.

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