2019 in review – January to April

As we are near the end of the year, we take this opportunity to look back on the memorable moments of 2019!

We begin today with part 1, featuring the main news from January to April.

 

January

- Polish artistic gymnast Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska announces her retirement. She’ll stay involved in gymnastics as floor manager for the Artistic Europeans in Szczecin.

- Ukraine’s Petro Pakhniuk and his wife welcome a baby girl into this world.

- Defending European all-around Champion Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) undergoes ankle surgery in Israel. His chances of competing all-around at Europeans are slim.

- At the first Executive Committee meeting of the year, the UEG authorities make several important decisions. One of them is the change in regulations for the EUROGYM Gymnastics for All festival, optimising the organisation of the event and combining the gala and closing ceremony.

 

February

- 2016 High bar European Champion Nile Wilson (GBR) undergoes surgery after struggling with an ongoing neck issue:

- At the first World Cup of the year, in the Australian city of Melbourne, 2007 European all-around champion Vanessa Ferrari (ITA) made her return to competition after tearing her Achilles’ tendon at the 2017 World Championships. And how! She claimed the gold on floor, more than a full point ahead of her rivals.

- The second European victory in Australia was for Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov who nicely landed two huge vaults: a Dragulescu and a Tsukahara double pike.

 

March

- British star Max Whitlock and his wife Leah welcome daughter Willow into world.

- Russia and Portugl divide titles at the Acro World Cup in Maia (POR).

- UEG and Global Partner SmartScoring extend their cooperation until the end of 2021.

- World all-around Champions Artur Dalaloyan and Simone Biles win the Stuttgart all-around World Cup.

- Nikita Nagornyy shows his in excellent shape at the Russian Championships, winning 6 out of the 7 possible gold medals.

- 2017 European Champion Ellie Downie and bronze medallist James Hall are crowned all-around British Champions.

- Artem Dolgopyat (floor), Courtney Tulloch (rings), Vladislav Poliashov (parallel bars) and Epke Zonderland (NED) claim gold at the Baku World Cup.

- Belgium’s artistic gymnast Rune Hermans announces her retirement. She was part of the Belgian women’s team at the Rio Olympics and competed in several European and World Championships.

- Former Acrobatic TC member Norbert Muellmann (GER) passes away last. Muellmann was member of the UEG from 2005 to 2009.

- The UEG Women’s Technical Committee organises the 2^nd edition of the Mental and Physical Preparation course for WAG coaches in Opijat / Rijeka (CRO).

- Russians Nikita Nagornyy and Aliya Mustafina triumph at the Birmingham all-around World Cup.

- Alexander Shatilov (floor), Tin Srbic (high bar) and Nina Derwael (uneven bars) claim gold medals at the Doha World Cup.

- Belarus, Russia and Portugal at the Acro World cup in Las Vegas.

- Aerobics European Champion Daniel Bali clinches three titles at the Cantanhede World Cup.

- The Italian Gymnastics Federation celebrates its 150 birthday in style with a gala performance in Venice, the city of the Federation’s foundation.

April

- FIG appoints 5 European gymnasts for their 2019 World Championships: Yana Batyrshina (RG), Fabian Hambuechen (MAG), Catalina Ponor (WAG), Lionel Pioline and Anna Dogonadze (TRA).

- Dina and Arina Averina divide titles at Pesaro Rhythmic World Cup.

- At the Artistic Gymnastics Europeans in the Polish city of Szczecin, Russia’s Nikita Nagornyy delivered a superb all-around competition, cruising to victory over his teammate, and World Champion, Artur Dalaloyan, with Marios Georgiou winning a historic bronze medal for Cyprus. France’s Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos won the women’s all-around title in a tight battle with defending Champion Ellie Downie and Angelina Melnikova.

- In the apparatus finals, Russia dominates with gold for Dalaloyan (floor), Abliazin (rings and vault) and Nagornyy (parallel bars), Paseka (vault) and Iliankova (uneven bars). Great Britain’s Max Whitlock wins pommel horse while his compatriot Alice Kinsella becomes the first ever British beam European Champion. Epke Zonderland claims his third European title on high bar and Melanie de Jesus dos Santos successfully defends her floor crown.

- The SmartScoring Shooting star awards in Szczecin went to hometown hero Marta Pihan-Kulesza and France’s Samir Ait Said.

- Israel’s Linoy Ashram and Russia’s Aleksandra Soldatova shine at the Rhythmic World Cup in Sofia.

- Russian and Portuguese pairs continue their winning streak at the Acrobatic World Cup in Puurs.

- Hungary’s Daniel Bali continues success at the Aerobics World Cup in Japan.

- Belarus stars at home World Cup by winning both synchro titles: Maria Makharynskaya and Hanna Hancharova claiming the women’s title and World Champions Uladzislau Hancharou and Aleh Rabtsau topping the men’s final.

- Four gold medals for Aleksandra Soldatova at the Rhythmic World Cup in Tashkent.

- Dina Averina, Linoy Ashram and Anastasia Salos claim titles at the Rhythmic World Cup in Baku.

We continue tomorrow with part 2 (May to August)!