From May 30 to June 1, Asunción became the epicenter of rhythmic gymnastics in the Americas by hosting the 2025 Pan American Senior Championships—a competition that brought together over 100 gymnasts from 17 countries at the Gymnastics Pavilion of the National Sports Secretariat (SND).
For three days filled with emotion, the audience witnessed routines packed with talent, precision, and expressiveness in both individual and group events, featuring apparatuses such as hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon, and five ribbons. The opening ceremony marked the beginning of this high-level event and was attended by national and international sports authorities, further establishing Paraguay as a key player in the organization of elite competitions.
Morinari Watanabe, President of the International Gymnastics Federation, attended the Pan American Championships and was asked about Paraguay as a host nation.
“I’m very surprised. Four years ago, I came to Paraguay and now they are able to organize a wonderful championship, the Pan American Junior Championship, and in the near future, they could even host a Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship in Asunción. The Junior Pan American Games will be fantastic in Paraguay, because now I understand—the junior and senior Pan American rhythmic gymnastics championships are at a world-class level. I have no doubt they will be a great success,” he said.
Throughout the tournament, standout athletes included Americans Megan Chu and Rin Alessia Keys, who dazzled with their performances and climbed to the top of the podium in the individual finals for ball, clubs, ribbon, and hoop. In the group modality, the Brazilian team captivated the audience with an impeccable choreography in the five ribbons and mixed categories, earning standing ovations and winning the gold medal.
“It’s such a rewarding feeling. We trained so hard and, even though we made some mistakes, we gave our best. We feel immense happiness—it’s truly something beautiful,” said the gymnasts from Team Brazil.
This competition also served as a qualifier for the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio and the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. One of the major highlights was Paraguayan gymnast Susana Domínguez, who qualified for the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio 2025—an achievement that was celebrated as a milestone for national sports.
The event also served as a key prelude to the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, set to take place in August. Beyond the results, what was experienced was a true celebration of sport: a perfect blend of technique, passion, and art in motion that left an indelible mark on the history of rhythmic gymnastics in the region.
