Highlights of #AER2025 U15 and Junior Europeans

Highlights of #AER2025 U15 and Junior Europeans

For the very first time we organised the U15 category in Aerobic Gymnastics, aiming to further develop this wonderful discipline. In combination with the junior Europeans, this event was proudly hosted in the Azerbaijani city Ganja.  

An abundance of talent was on display at Ganja’s Sports Palace with 20 countries being represented by 380 gymnasts: 209 juniors and 171 U15 participants!

Here are our highlights … in no particular order.

 

Hungarian future

In the U15 Hungary left absolutely no doubt about it … With first places in both the Individual Men -courtesy of Balint Boehoenyei - and the Aerobic Dance categories, plus second places for their Mixed Pair and Trio, the young Hungarians aced this debut competition, holding off a strong challenge from Ukraine that fielded the best Trio and Group, to take the U15 team title!

Spain’s brilliance

In the junior competition, team honours went to Spain after the qualification round thanks to the first place of Eric Gutierrez in Individual Men and a second place for their Aerobic Dance performance. Gutierrez continued to show his dominant form as he cruised to victory in Individual Men final while the Squid Game performance of Spain’s Aerobic Dance team earned a European gold medal as well.

Turkish delights

Türkiye claimed half of the titles on the finals day in the U15 category, courtesy of Ekin Cinar in Individual Women, Duru Gunen and Furkan Saylan in Mixed Pairs 17.750, and Gunen and Saylan again, joined by Tanem Atar, in Trios. What a day for this dream team!

Viktoria & friends

Bulgarian talent Viktoria Krusharska first excelled in the Individual Women final to take the junior crown home. Then she joined forces with Teodora Ribarova and Kristina Kostova to add the trio title to her achievements. More to be heard from them in the future for sure!

Perfect pairing

The Italians experienced their share of the joy too as Manuel Garavaglia and Ilaria Pagella delighted the audience to take the mixed pairs title, continuing a strong Italian tradition with yet another perfect pairing. Both gymnasts earned the silver individually, adding to the fun.

Jurassic Park

The group of France took us on a wild rollercoaster in the iconic Jurassic Park and were rewarded for this spectacular routine with the European title!

Loud & proud

The award for loudest fan base definitely went to Lithuania! Supported by these vocal fans, its team excelled in Ganja Sports Palace. Winning first the bronze medal in the U15 team competition, then earning two silver medals in the U15 finals: for Maksim Selin in Individual Men, and Eivile Cerniauskaite and Maksim Selin in Mixed Pairs. Well done, it’s so nice to see the effort paying off!

Ganja is now in the history books! Congratulations to all gymnasts who showed up in such large numbers for this milestone event. And thanks to the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation for being such a warm and welcoming host.