Especially in gymnastics, movement is a challenge requiring not only flawless execution, but also intangible grace, beauty and harmony known as “elegance”.
As the Official Partner and Timekeeper of the 33rd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2014 in Izmir, Longines presented the Longines Prize for Elegance, for which all participants in the individual all-around finals held on Friday September 26th were nominated.
The gymnasts under consideration for the prize were evaluated according to a number of complementary criteria. In addition to technical considerations, each athlete’s performance was judged with respect to emotional appeal, beauty, charm as well as grace and harmony of movement.

Yana Kudryavtseva (Russia), winner of the 2014 Longines Prize for Elegance and the all-around title at the 33rd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Izmir, Turkey

In Izmir, the jury of the Longines Prize for Elegance brought together Bruno Grandi, FIG President, Suat Celen, President of the Turkish Gymnastics Federation, Ozlem Kiroglu, Brand Manager for Turkey and Walter von Känel, President of Longines.
The jury’s individual assessments were combined to form a collective judgment reflecting a perceptive and balanced evaluation of the gymnasts’ performances. Yana Kudryavtseva impressed the whole jury in displaying prodigious elegance and perfect coordination throughout the all-around final.

Yana Kudryavtseva, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, during the all-around final

Yana Kudryavtseva (Russia), winner of the 2014 Longines Prize for Elegance and the all-around title, with the jury of the Prize: Prof. Bruno Grandi, FIG President, Ozlem Kiroglu, Brand Manager for Turkey, Suat Celen, President of the Turkish Gymnastics Federation and Walter von Känel, President of Longines

Set up in 1997, the Longines Prize for Elegance takes the form of a trophy representing a gymnast in movement created especially for Longines by the Swiss artist Jean-Pierre Gerber.
In addition, the proud winner Yana Kudryavtseva received a cheque worth US$ 5,000 and an elegant Longines timepiece. The Official Watch of the 33rd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships was a Conquest Classic model in steel and rose gold, featuring a white mother-of-pearl dial set with 12 diamond indices.

Yana Kudryavtseva, newly-appointed Longines Ambassador of Elegance, clinched the World Championships all-around title for the second year in a row. She also won three gold medals in individual hoop, ball and clubs, as well as the team title with her compatriots her Russian compatriots Margarita Mamun and Aleksandra Soldatova.
Known for her clean technique and light execution, she did not miss the opportunity in Izmir to demonstrate once again that she is one of the best rhythmic gymnasts of her generation.

Source: Longines