How a 22-year-old Belarusian gymnast is preparing for the Olympics

Welcome to the world of rhythmic gymnastics: the best Olympic sport you've never watched.

What most people know as "gymnastics" is technically called artistic gymnastics - the sport of US Olympic heroes like Gabby Douglas and Mary Lou Retton.

But rhythmic gymnastics is entirely different. Competitors perform routines solo or in groups of five, executing choreography with balls, clubs, hoops, ribbons, and rope. The sport, which was first introduced to the Olympics at the 1984 games in Los Angeles, evolved as a hybrid of three different disciplines: classical ballet, German weightlifting, and Swedish exercise regimens.

It's not as popular as artistic gymnastics - but it's no less impressive. In fact, rhythmic gymnasts' flexibility, accuracy, and syncrohinization are so eerily perfect they must be seen to be believed. (Seriously, watch this video - you won't be disappointed.)

Here's how a gymnast on Belarus's rhythmic team is preparing for the Rio games: