2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

The XXVII World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, 3–10 October 2005 at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex.

This was the first World Championships under the new Code of Points that had come into effect in 2005. Execution had raised from accounting for a third of the score to half, and the penalty for dropping the apparatus had increased as well; however, the difficulty score was still the most important factor on determining the event winners, as the top gymnasts were given similar execution and artistry scores. A number of gymnasts had also competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics, showing a trend toward rhythmic gymnasts both competing and peaking in their late teens and early 20s.^[1]

Although 2004 Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva was not named to the Russian team (though she attended the event as a representative for Longines),^[2] Russian gymnasts dominated the competition, winning every gold medal in the individual events. Olga Kapranova won the all-around title and every apparatus title except ribbon, which Vera Sessina won instead. Ukrainian Anna Bessonova won silver in every individual event.^[1]

The Russian group won their fourth consecutive World all-around title.^[3] The two apparatus finals were more hotly contested; the Italian group won gold in the mixed apparatus final with a routine that demonstrated excellent synchronization and kept the apparatuses in constant motion.^[1] The Bulgarian group won the five ribbons final, their first gold at the World Championships since the 1996 World Championships.^[4]

The Longines Prize for Elegance was awarded to Irina Tchachina.^[1][2]

* reserve gymnast