Azerbaijan, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain victorious as seniors begin #ACRO2023

Varna’s Palace of Culture and Sports is the place to be for Acrobatic Gymnastics lovers this week. Yesterday, the European Championships started with the first part of junior qualifications and finals.

On the programme today: the 104 senior participants competed their first exercise in the qualification rounds which was immediately followed by the individual finals. Balance for Women’s Pairs, Men’s Pairs and Men’s Group, Dynamic for Women’s Group and Mixed Pairs.

The top qualifiers from Belgium, Sofie Jaeken, Mirte Vercauteren and Lauren Verbrugghe, outclassed the entire field in the Women’s Groups Dynamic final. The trio showed by far the highest difficulty, in addition to the highest artistry and execution score to clinch the European title, more than a full point ahead of Germany’s Lisa Konrad, Finja Kaminski and Laura Konrad. Last up, Leonor Malho, Iris Fernandes and Sofia Lopes ensured the bronze medal returned home with them to Portugal.

The German duo Laura Karczmarzyk and Leni Ohlsen aced their balance routine, confirming their performance in qualifications, and easing onto the top step of the podium. With 27.420, they had a comfortable lead over Poland’s Kamila Bryskiewicz and Zofia Kaminska, while Beatriz Carneiro and Yasmin Rodrigues earned Portugal’s second bronze medal of the evening.

In a thrilling Men’s Groups Balance final, top qualifiers Andreas Benke, Aaron Borck, Pascale Dressler and Carl Frankenstein (GER) scored 27.780, to be overtaken by the British guys Harley Curtis-Lawrence, Hector Kinghorn, William Clark and Harry Holeby less than 2 tenths of a point. Another bronze medal for Portugal as Vicente Colaco, Goncalo Sampaio, Nuno Antos and Joao Teles outscored their Ukrainian competitors.

In the second block of finals, Azerbaijan announced it greatness as both their mixed pair and men’s pair showed the most difficult exercises in their respective finals. Combined with wonderful artistry and execution, experienced mixed pair Aghasif Rahimov and Raziya Seyidli overtook the talented Ukrainian pair Anastasiia Semenovych & Bohdan Ivanyk, 28.910 to 28.400. The bronze medal goes to Germany, where 2021 medallist Daniel Blintsov now partners with Diana Lust.

Performing last in their Balance final, Men’s Pair Daniel Abbasov and Murad Rafiyev showed their class, surpassing Spain’s Jose Moreno and Juan Daniel Molina and Great Britain’s Jake Palmer and Aaron Greally.

There’s more to come from these gymnasts, that’s for sure!

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Women’s Groups Dynamic

GOLD Sofie Jaeken, Mirte Vercauteren & Lauren Verbrugghe (BEL) 28.280

SILVER Lisa Konrad, Finja Kaminski & Laura Konrad (GER) 27.140

BRONZE Leonor Malho, Iris Fernandes & Sofia Lopes (POR) 26.920

 

Women’s Pairs Balance

GOLD Laura Karczmarzyk & Leni Ohlsen (GER) 27.420

SILVER Kamila Bryskiewicz & Zofia Kaminska (POL) 26.820

BRONZE Beatriz Carneiro & Yasmin Rodrigues (POR) 24.650

 

Men’s Groups Balance

GOLD Harley Curtis-Lawrence, Hector Kinghorn, William Clark & Harry Hole (GBR) 27.970

SILVER Andreas Benke, Aaron Borck, Pascale Dressler & Carl Frankenstein (GER) 27.780

BRONZE Vicente Colaco, Goncalo Sampaio, Nuno Antos & Joao Teles (POR) 27.370

 

Mixed Pairs Dynamic

GOLD Aghasif Rahimov & Raziya Seyidli (AZE) 28.910

SILVER Anastasiia Semenovych & Bohdan Ivanyk (UKR) 28.400

BRONZE Daniel Blintsov & Diana Lust (GER) 27.440

 

Men’s Pairs Balance

GOLD Daniel Abbasov & Murad Rafiyev (AZE) 28.230

SILVER Jose Moreno & Juan Daniel Molina (ESP) 27.360

BRONZE Jake Palmer & Aaron Greally (GBR) 26.930

 

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

The competition continues tomorrow with the qualifications round of the second exercises for both juniors and seniors.