1969 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

The IV World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Varna, Bulgaria from the 27 to 29 September 1969. They were also known as the World's Gymnastique Moderne Championships.^[1]

Both the individual and group competitions were won by Bulgarians, with Maria Gigova taking the individual title above a three-way tie for second between fellow Bulgarian Neshka Robeva and Soviet gymnasts Liubov Sereda and Galima Shugurova.^[2] It was the second World Championships where groups competed, and the Bulgarian group beat the Soviet group with a higher difficulty.^[3]

At this point in time, the rules and interpretation of rhythmic gymnastics were still in flux; the first Code of Points would not be published until the following year.^[3] Mildred Prchal of the United States, who attended as a delegate, reported observing two distinct styles, one more rhythmic and practiced by gymnasts from countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland, and one more balletic, seen in gymnasts from countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, and Cuba.^[1]

During a judges' session, the possibility of allowing music with more than one instrument, or alternating between, was discussed, but ultimate Berthe Villancher, the chair of rhythmic gymnastics at the International Gymnastics Federation, decided that only one instrument could be used for the entire performance. It was also stressed several times to coaches and judges that rhythmic gymnastics should not resemble ballet too closely.^[1]

18 countries sent athletes, with South Korea, France, and Holland only sending individuals and South Korea and Japan both competing at their first World Championships. In addition to the nations competing, two countries sent delegates, the United States and Israel.^[1] This experience led to the development and promotion of rhythmic gymnastics in the United States, particularly by Prchal.^[3]

Five events were performed. Groups only performed one compulsory (fixed) exercise with balls; several groups had to change their choreography after arriving at the competition, as they had misunderstood parts of the routine. Rules were also set at the competition regarding timing of group exercises that began with a solo performance or a subset of gymnasts performing, necessitating more changes to routines. Individual performed a compulsory ball exercise as well, along with optional routines in freehand (no apparatus), hoop, and rope.^[1]

This was the last World Championships where freehand routines were performed, due to a perception that they had become too theatrical and had too much emphasis on ballet.^[1][3]

Prchal noted that the audience was extremely enthusiastic, repeatedly calling for gymnasts to return to the floor after they competed to curtsy and giving them flowers. After a twenty-minute delay due to cheering occurred, the mayor of Varna had to ask the crowd allow the competition to continue without further interruptions. This was noted as a problem to solve for future competitions.^[1]

A Czech report on the competition saw an improvement in technique with the legs compared to the previous World Championships, particularly with regard to leaps, as well as a great improvement in apparatus technique for the hoop, though not for the rope. The report also criticized the gymnasts as a whole for insufficient use of their trunks and for paying too little attention to the rhythm and character of the music.^[4]

There were participants from 18 countries: Bulgaria, Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, East Germany, West Germany, Cuba, Poland, North Korea, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Denmark, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan.