Canada closes in on Olympic rhythmic gymnastics berth

Canada is on the verge of claiming a berth at the London Olympics in rhythmic gymnastics after a strong showing Saturday in the group event at the 2011 world championships in Montpellier, France.

Canada needed to finish ahead of the U.S. and Brazil in the all around final at the worlds to claim one of two wild-card berths in the 12-team Olympic field.

The six-member Canadian team finished comfortably ahead of both countries but will now have to wait until early next year for the international gymnastics federation to formally award Canada the continental wild card berth for the Americas.

Members of the team are Rose Cossar, Anjelika Reznik, Anastasiya Muntyanu, Alexandra Landry, all of Toronto, Kelsey Titmarsh of Thornhill, Ont., and Katrina Cameron of Mississauga, Ont.

"They worked for hard for this competition and they were ready" Canadian head coach Svetlana Joukova said. "They believed in themselves and they did a beautiful job."

Italy topped the 24-country field, followed by Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Japan and Germany.

The Canadians placed 17th with 48.950 points. The U.S. placed 20th with a score of 46.425, while Brazil was 22nd with 45.525 points.

The top six countries at this year's worlds clinched a spot at the Games with the final six entries, including Canada's wild card berth, to be announced following a pre-Olympic meet in January.