Shani Bakanov

Shani Bakanov (Hebrew: שני בקנוב; born 27 February 2006) is a retired Israeli world champion rhythmic gymnast. She won the gold medal in the group All-Around at the 2022 European Championship, and the silver medal in the same category at the 2022 World Championships. She won two gold medals at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships. She represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women's rhythmic team all-around, in which Team Israel won the silver medal.

Early and personal life Bakanov was born in Haifa, Israel, and is Jewish. Her parents immigrated to Israel from Belarus. She is a student at Leo Baeck High School in Haifa. She lives in the Neve David neighborhood in Haifa, with her mother, who works as a cleaner, and her sister in a small 33 square meter (355 square foot) apartment. She speaks Hebrew and English.

Senior 2022; European champion In 2022 she was named part of Israel's new national group. They debuted at the World Cup in Athens, winning gold medals in 5 hoops and 3 ribbons + 2 balls. Then Baku, where they got bronze in the All-Around and 5 hoops. Pamplona (All-Around silver medal), Portimão (All-Around gold) and Cluj-Napoca (All-Around and 5 hoops silver).

In June she competed in the European Championships in Tel Aviv, where the group won the All-Around and got silver with 5 hoops as well as the bronze medal in the senior team category along with teammates Adar Friedmann, Amit Hedvat, Romi Paritzki, Ofir Shaham, Diana Svertsov, and the individuals Daria Atamanov and Adi Asya Katz.

In September, she competed in the World Championships in Sofia along Adar Friedmann, Romi Paritzki, Ofir Shaham, and Diana Svertsov, winning two silver medals in the All-Around and the 5 hoops' final. Despite being among the favourites for a team medal, Israel couldn't take part in the competition because Atamanov broke her foot the day before the competition started and, as replacements had to be announced at least 24 hours before competition, leaving the country with only Katz as individual.

2023; World champion In 2023 at the first World Cup of the season in Athens the group won gold in the All-Around and with 5 hoops as well as silver with 3 ribbons + 2 balls. In Sofia they won silver in the All-Around and with 5 hoops.

In May 2023 at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, she won a gold medal in Group Hoop, silver medals in Group and Group Ball, Ribbon, and a bronze medal in Team.

In August 2023 at the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia, Spain, she won gold medals in Group and Group Ball, Ribbon.

2024–present; Paris Olympics silver medal In May 2024 at the 2024 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, she won a silver medal in Group Ball, Ribbon, and a bronze medal in Group Hoop.

She represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women's rhythmic team all-around, in which Team Israel won the silver medal.