European nations shine at ACRO Junior World Championships

On the eve of the World Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics, host city Pesaro organised the second edition of the junior Worlds.

The VitriFrigo Arena witnessed mesmerizing performances in 5 categories: men’s pairs, men’s groups, mixed pairs, women’s pairs and women’s groups.

Gymnasts representing European nations excelled, claiming all 5 junior World titles, with Russia the only country to clinch two titles.

Reigning European Youth Champions Gal Harel and Gilad Shiner impressed for the men’s pair crown, holding off Portugal’s Joao Samico and Gabriel Vilela by almost a point. Andrei Golev and Stepan Loktionov returned home with the bronze medal.

With their exquisite execution making the difference, Aleksandr Bakutin, Mikhail Samokhodkin, Gleb Tiutiunov and Ivan Zakharov claimed the gold medal in the men’s group for Russia, ahead of Israel and Belarus.

Portugal made it onto the top step of the podium too, courtesy of its mixed pair Mariana Pinheiro and Jorge Silva. With 9.200 in artistry and 1.8 difficulty, the Portuguese duo earned the gold medal ahead of Kazachstan’s Dilara Baibakusheva and Dias Zhengis who noted the highest execution score. The bronze medal went to Israeli pair Noy Cohen and Yannay Regev.

In the women’s pairs final, 2025 European Youth Champions Nona Kara and Johanna Schoene secured the gold medal for Germany, edging past Bulgaria’s Sofia Hristova and Hristiyana Yulieva, with home crowd favourites Sofia D’Errico and Camilla Poerio clinching the bronze medal for the host nation Italy.

The medallists in the women’s group final were separated by a mere 0.150! The execution score sealed the deal for Russia trio Sofia Ivanova, Viktoriia Masliukova and Aleksandra Medvedchikova as they overtook Belgium’s Tara De Muynck, Paulette Masscheleyn and Tille Verhoughstraete, 28.400 to 28.300. Bronze went to Finla Falch, Kay Klotz and Leni Tschutschupalow representing Germany.

 

Congratulations to all medallists!

Men’s Pairs

GOLD Gal Harel & Gilad Shiner (ISR) 28.420

SILVER Joao Samico & Gabriel Vilela (POR) 27.490

BRONZE Andrei Golev & Stepan Loktionov (RUS) 26.990

Men’s Groups

GOLD Aleksandr Bakutin, Mikhail Samokhodkin, Gleb Tiutiunov & Ivan Zakharov (RUS) 28.600

SILVER Mark Borodin, Oskar Borodin, Ernst Chaimov & Lidor Cohen (ISR) 28.390

BRONZE Viachaslau Holets, Aliaksei Parfinovich, Raman Siarheyeu & Uladzislau Zayats (BLR) 28.000

Mixed Pairs

GOLD Mariana Pinheiro & Jorge Silva (POR) 28.900

SILVER Dilara Baibakusheva & Dias Zhengis (KAZ) 28.600

BRONZE Noy Cohen & Yannay Regev (ISR) 28.340

Women’s Pairs

GOLD Nona Kara & Johanna Schoene (GER) 27.830

SILVER Sofia Hristova & Hristiyana Yulieva (BUL) 27.660

BRONZE Sofia D’Errico & Camila Poerio (ITA) 27.620

Women’s Groups

GOLD Sofia Ivanova, Viktoriia Masliukova & Aleksandra Medvedchikova (RUS) 28.400

SILVER Tara De Muynck, Paulette Masscheleyn & Tille Verhoughstraete (BEL) 28.300

BRONZE Finla Falch, Kay Klotz & Leni Tschutschupalow (GER) 28.250

Full results are available on the World Gymnastics website: 2026 ACRO WAGC Pesaro.