Highlights of #RGTallinn2025

A historic event in many ways, these European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics marked the first time that the Estonian Gymnastics Federation organised an European Gymnastics event. And deliver they most certainly did!

Tallinn’s Unibet Arena transformed into a temple devoted to Rhythmic Gymnastics with smiling kids leaping around the halls, chasing our mascot Luigi and taking in the performances of their favourite gymnasts with big eyes.

Here are our highlights, in no particular order…

 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Already showing splendid form leading up to these Europeans, Taisiia Onofriichuk confirmed her fine shape in Tallinn. Going into the all-around final as the top qualifier, the 17-year-old Ukrainian star controlled her nerves fabulously, hitting routine after routine. Earning 29.950 for both her ‘Thriller’ hoop and her ‘Everybody dance now’ clubs performance, Onofriichuk excelled with ribbon. Performing to the Mary Poppins soundtrack ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, Onofriichuk got the spectators on their feet in awe with the variety of skills and artistry presented. Posting the top score with ribbon, Onofriichuk secured the gold medal, the first European all-around title for Ukraine since 1997 when the legendary Olena Vitrychenko won.

Stellar Stiliana

After placing second in the all-around final, Bulgarian star Stiliana Nikolova showed her class yet again in apparatus finals, clinching not 1, not 2 but 3 gold medals. In fact, Nikolova won each final she competed in. First, the 19-year-old bested Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli for the hoop title. Then, Nikolova excelled with ball, posting the highest difficulty, execution and artistry score to amass 29.800. With clubs, Nikolova and Onofriichuk impressed and both earned 30.400. The tie was broken based on the higher execution score giving Nikolova an amazing third title in just over an hour!

Dazzling Dasha

Having already pocketed a bronze medal in the all-around, defending European Champion Darja Varfolomeev showed she meant business in the ribbon final. In a fabulous performance, the German star displayed incredible difficulty combined with impeccable execution to easily prolong her title. Her score of 30.650 was the highest of the entire event.

Sensational Spain

Competing in the last set of groups, Ines Bergua Navales, Andrea Corral, Marina Cortelles, Andrea Fernandez, Lucia Munoz and Salma Solaun rocked, taking in the massive support from their fans and turning it into magic on the carpet. Posting the highest score both with 5 ribbons and with 3 balls / 2 hoops, Spain combined a total score of 53.800 to take the European all-around crown. This is only the second time Spain grabbed the top spot, and it’s over 30 years since that historic first title. In the apparatus finals, Spain absolutely aced it winning both finals, earning a well-deserved hattrick.

One dream, one team

For the team title, all eight individual scores are combined with the two group scores. Courtesy of the excellent performances of Tara Dragas, Sofia Raffaeli, Alice Taglietti and the new senior group, Italy stepped onto the highest step of the podium. Onofriichuk led Ukraine to the silver medal. Israel and Germany tied with a total score of 270.150. In that case, the country with the highest total execution scores wins, which meant that Israel clinched the bronze medal and Germany finished in fourth place.

Ukraine unfazed

A stellar display of teamwork from Ahata Bilenko, Marharyta Melnyk, Anastasiia Nikolenko, Taisiia Redka, Oleksandra Nikol Samoukina and Kateryna Shershen ensured the opening day of these Europeans belonged to Ukraine. With a total score of 48.200 for the combined efforts with 5 hoops and 5 pairs of clubs, Ukraine held of a strong challenge by Spain for their first European junior all-around title! In the 5 clubs final, the Ukrainian ladies posted a fabulous 24.650 for their Ghostbusters-themed routine cruising to their second victory of the day.

Up-and-coming Italians

The Italian junior group, featuring Flavia Cassano, Elisa Maria Comignani, Chiara Cortese, Virginia Galeazzi, Ginevra Pascarella and Elisabetta Valdifiori, impressed with their 5 hoops routine to clinch the third European title on offer for the junior groups. With a score of 24.100, Italy beat Poland by two tenths while Israel edged Spain for the bronze medal.

Emerging Estonians

The host nation excelled in the group competitions. Their junior group qualified for both apparatus finals, finishing 5^th all-around, 6^th with 5 hoops and 4^th with 5 clubs, while the seniors came agonisingly close to claiming a medal, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. Smiles all around in the Estonian delegation and amongst the fans!

Firsts for France and Germany

With 5 ribbons, France clinched their first ever silver medal, improving on the bronze once won back in 1995. Germany wrote history by winning their first ever group medal on the European stage, claiming the bronze in the mixed apparatus final.

The Shooting star award goes to Brigita Krašovec (SLO)

Brigita Krašovec, the reigning Slovenian national Champion, started rhythmic gymnastics aged 6, following her older sister Barbara into the sport. A master of all trades, Brigita helps her coaches to make new routines, conducts masterclasses for gymnasts and composes her own competition routines, choosing the music and structuring the artistry. Her specialty is ribbon where the music starts with her own voice talking about her feelings for the apparatus. Then, she dances to Gangnam style engaging the public and to national Slovenian polka music. Last year, Brigita went to the USA to teach masterclasses but her love for the sport called her back home to the gym. Aside from being an accomplished Rhythmic gymnast, Krašovec has participated in competitive dance too, clinching the 2022 World title in Modern solo dance, the silver at the 2018 World Show Dance Championships and another silver at the 2021 World Modern & Contemporary Championships. Brigita inspires an entire generation of gymnasts and dancers alike and continues to set an example on and off the carpet.

As you can see, history was written in so many ways in Tallinn’s Unibet Arena! We warmly thank the Estonian Gymnastics Federation, its leaders and staff for stepping into this adventure with us. The level of the gymnastics on display was simply incredible, and the enthusiasm of the crowd made this an unforgettable event.