#ACRO2023 concludes with national anthems of Azerbaijan, Belgium and Portugal

A sunny day on the Black Sea Coast, an even sunnier day inside Varna’s Palace of Culture and Sports as the senior gymnasts contested their last finals. On the programme today: Balance final in Women’s Groups and Mixed Pairs, Dynamic final in Women’s and Men’s Pairs and Men’s Groups.

There’s no stopping Sofie Jaeken, Mirte Vercauteren and Lauren Verbrugghe. Having already pocketed two European titles, the Belgium trio confirmed their ‘leaders of the pack’ status, returning home with all three gold medals. Coming close to Belgium in difficulty, Eduarda Portela, Carolina Marques and Joana Pinto (POR) were overjoyed to successfully perform their routine and, as icing on the cake, secure the silver medal, ahead of Ukraine’s Elina Kozachanska, Alina Puhach and Karina Ostrovska.

Supported by the vocal Portuguese fans, Monica Lima and Maria Marvao aced their dynamic routine, the most difficult one in this final. Their reward? The European title! An exciting battle for silver and bronze ensued, with Germany’s Laura Karczmarzyk and Leni Ohlsen edging Poland’s Kamila Bryskiewicz and Zofia Kaminska by one of the tiniest margins possible, just 0.050.

When the Men’s Groups take to the stage, the audience knows it will be in for a treat. This Dynamic final was no different: entertaining choreographies, great music choice and a daring display of skills. Less than a tenth of a point separated the three medallists. Gold again for Portugal’s Vicente Colaco, Goncalo Sampaio, Nuno Antos and Joao Teles who beat Ukraine’s Stanislav Kukurudz, Yurii Savka, Yurii Push and Taras Yarush (UKR) by just 0.020. Great Britain clinched the bronze, courtesy of Harley Curtis-Lawrence, Hector Kinghorn, William Clark and Harry Hole.

Adding two more titles to their portfolio, Azerbaijan was on fire again today. Aghasif Rahimov and Raziya Seyidli owned the mixed pair balance final, cruising to victory with a gorgeous performance. The pair finished 1,5 points ahead of Ukraine’s Anastasiia Semenovych and Bohdan Ivanyk. Daniel Blintsov and Diana Lust also posted a score of 27.640 but a tie-breaker, based on the execution score, decided that Ukraine won the silver medal and Germany the bronze.

Last but certainly not least, Azerbaijan’s Daniel Abbasov and Murad Rafiyev scored a hattrick of their own in the men’s pairs category. Celebrating his birthday today, Juan Daniel Molina partnered with Jose Moreno to produce a wonderful performance that earned them – and Spain- the silver medal. In the bronze medal position: Goncalo Parreira and Miguel Lopes from Portugal.  

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Women’s Groups Balance

GOLD Sofie Jaeken, Mirte Vercauteren & Lauren Verbrugghe (BEL) 29.170

SILVER Eduarda Portela, Carolina Marques & Joana Pinto (POR) 28.590

BRONZE Elina Kozachanska, Alina Puhach & Karina Ostrovska (UKR) 27.680

 

Women’s Pairs Dynamic

GOLD Monica Lima & Maria Marvao (POR) 26.830

SILVER Laura Karczmarzyk & Leni Ohlsen (GER) 26.510

BRONZE Kamila Bryskiewicz & Zofia Kaminska (POL) 26.470

 

Men’s Groups Dynamic

GOLD Vicente Colaco, Goncalo Sampaio, Nuno Antos & Joao Teles (POR) 27.230

SILVER Stanislav Kukurudz, Yurii Savka, Yurii Push & Taras Yarush (UKR) 27.210

BRONZE Harley Curtis-Lawrence, Hector Kinghorn, William Clark & Harry Hole (GBR) 27.140

 

Mixed Pairs Balance

GOLD Aghasif Rahimov & Raziya Seyidli (AZE) 29.180

SILVER Anastasiia Semenovych & Bohdan Ivanyk (UKR) 27.640

BRONZE Daniel Blintsov & Diana Lust (GER) 27.640

 

Men’s Pairs Dynamic

GOLD Daniel Abbasov & Murad Rafiyev (AZE) 27.510

SILVER Jose Moreno & Juan Daniel Molina (ESP) 27.210

BRONZE Goncalo Parreira & Miguel Lopes (POR) 26.940

 

You can find the complete results on the event website: 2023 European Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics - Varna (BUL) | European Gymnastics

This concludes the 31^st European Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics. We warmly thank the Bulgarian Federation of Sports Acrobatics for the excellent organisation and the gymnasts for showing us their hard work and dedication.

See you in Luxembourg in April 2025 for the next edition!