Highlights of #EYOF2025

The European Youth Olympic Festival celebrated its 18^th edition this summer. The biennial event took place in Skopje (MKD) from 20 to 26 July, while Artistic Gymnastics found its home in the experienced hands of the Croatian team in Osijek. 178 junior gymnasts, 79 boys and 99 girls, represented 39 of our member Federations. Known as the stepping stone for junior athletes into the world of multi-sports events, this edition delivered yet again.

Here are our highlights!

 

Princess Elena

With 5 EYOF titles and one silver medal, the week definitely belonged to Elena Colas. The acclaimed junior gymnast, and multiple medallist at last year’s junior Europeans, first led her French team to victory while topping the all-around ranking, courtesy of the highest score on beam and floor. With an outstanding score of 53.750, the junior European Champion became the European Youth Olympic Festival Champion, following in the footsteps of Germany's Helen Kevric. Partnering with Ruddly Bordelais Maisonnable, Colas earned the mixed team gold before giving an absolute masterclass on uneven bars where she scored a whopping 14.300, winning the gold with almost 1,5 points advantage. Colas cemented her star status even further as she clinched the gold medal on beam and earned the silver on floor, saying with a smile: "Unbelievable - I'm extremely happy with my performances in Osijek. I didn’t expect to win so many medals, but I knew I had the potential.”

British boost

The British lads Evan McPhillips, Fawzi Zakaine Radell and Uzair Chowdhury, all members of the reigning junior European Champion team, showed their strength over all 6 apparatuses. Following suit of their compatriots and 2023 winners Sol Scott, Alex Niscoveanu and Jonas Rushworth, Great Britain successfully retained the team title with a total score of 158.500!

Shining bright

Top favourite France, the reigning European junior Champion, delivered a stellar performance to cruise to team victory. Represented by Elena Colas, Maiana Prat and Lola Chassat, the French girls amassed a grand total of 106.450, enjoying a comfortable lead of more than 4 points over their nearest rivals Slovakia and Italy.

Mixed Team glory

16 countries advanced to the Mixed Team Final where a team of one male and one female gymnast of the same country contributed to the team total.

Starting in round 1 with vault, EYOF team and all-around winner Elena Colas of France went on her way to more success. Partnering with Ruddly Bordelais Maisonnable, the pair easily got into the second round where they placed second behind Italy's Mia Proietti and Ivan Rigon to battle it out in the gold medal match. Both French gymnasts had to perform on floor, while Proietti did beam and Rigon parallel bars. Scoring 13.500, Colas ensured the advantage for France: 25.033 to Italy's 24.533. A third gold of this event for Colas, this time together with Bordelais Maisonnable. Congratulations!

In the match for bronze, Israel's Ophir Shmuely and Noam Berkovich outscored the Belgian duo Camille Galand and Noe Strypstein by the tiniest margins, a mere 0.034!

McPhillips the Great

While leading Great Britain to the team title with his consistent performances, Evan McPhillips earned him the all-around title as well. In a thrilling battle with Italy's Ivan Rigon, McPhillips clinched the gold medal with a difference of just one tenth: 78.600 – 78.500! Not yet satisfied, McPhillips clinched his third gold of the event, winning floor over another Italian, Riccardo Ruggeri.

Ireland’s next star

Writing history for Ireland not once but twice in just two days, Chester Enriquez became his country’s first ever gymnastics EYOF medallist by winning the bronze on floor. The day after he upped his game even more as he vaulted to victory, becoming the first Irish winner. The talented Irishman proudly said: “This has been an incredible experience for me and the whole team. I’m happy to leave with a result I can be proud of. I’m going home with my head held high. It was just an amazing vault session, and I had a bit of luck to come out on top because there were athletes from all over Europe just as good as me.”

Silver outings

Having the day of their life in qualifications was Slovakia, featuring Lucia Piliarova, Nela Ostrihonova, and Lilly Murinova. Spurred on by huge crowd support the girls gave it their all for the team, and were rewarded with the silver medal! Essential to this result was the uneven bars score of 13.900 of the incredible Lucia Piliarova who impressed overall and got a personal reward too: the silver medal in the all-around.

Well done gymnasts! You’ve made a name for yourselves and gained valuable experience. We warmly thank the Croatian Gymnastics Federation for organising this event!