Highlights of #Varna2021

Exactly one month ago, the European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics kicked off in the Bulgarian coastal town Varna. With the Palace of Culture and Sports, site of the memorable 1987 World Championships, filled to 50% capacity, the return of audience filled the hall with delightful energy that we’ve missed so much during this pandemic. Known for their love of Rhythmic Gymnastics, the Bulgarian fans cheered loudly, supporting the gymnasts with pure passion.

Here are some of our 12 highlights … in no particular order!

Golden girls on fire

The Bulgarian group featuring captain Simona Dyankova, Laura Traets, Madlen Radukanova, Stefani Kiryakova and Erika Zafirova, celebrated huge success as the aptly dubbed Golden Girls mesmerised the audience to clinch the gold for their exquisite 5 balls routine, their first single apparatus gold since 2014! This was followed by a silver medal winning performance with 3 hoops and 2 pairs of clubs.

Arina’s All-Around love

In a repeat of the 2018 European all-around final, Russian star Arina Averina had a fabulous day, cruising to victory with a total score of 109.100. Celebrating her second European all-around victory, the only title twin sister Dina doesn’t have yet.

Dina’s revenge

After her bronze medal in the all-around, three-time World all-around Champion Dina Averina took her revenge in the apparatus finals, claiming three European titles: hoop, ball and ribbon! Earning silver with clubs and team gold as well, Dina returned to Moscow as the most decorated gymnast of #Varna2021.

Ashram continues writing history

One to watch for several years already, 2020 European all-around Champion Linoy Ashram (ISR) overcame a disappointing 4^th place in the all-around, to win the clubs final. Winning against the Russian team is quite a feat, it has been a whole 10 years since the last non-Russian victory when Belarus' Liubou Charkashyna won ball and clubs gold in 2011. Ashram also added silver with hoop and ball.

Bubbly Buba

In a last-minute plot twist, crowd favourite Boryana Kaleyn, as the very last performer in the all-around final, showed the clubs routine of her life, scoring 27.950, overtaking triple World Champion Dina Averina with 3 tenths for the silver medal. Varna’s Palace of Culture and Sports erupted with joy for the incredible feat of the 20-year-old Bulgarian. This is the first all-around medal at a European Championships for Bulgaria since Maria Petrova’s victory in 1994!

North Macedonia’s Shooting Star

Our global partner SmartScoring awarded its Shooting Star prize to Rejchl Stojanov (MKD). The 18-year-old was born in the United States to a Macedonian mother and a Bulgarian father. She currently lives and trains in the Bulgarian capital Sofia under the guidance of the legendary Neshka Robeva and Valentina Simeonova. Having both passports, she opted to compete for North Macedonia. Absolutely passionate for her sport, Stojanov has been making a name for herself, highlighted so far by a fabulous 16^th place in the all-around final of the 2020 Europeans in Kyiv (UKR). In Varna, she exceeded her own expectations by qualifying to the all-around final. Her results are vital to the development of this discipline and its future stars in North Macedonia. Her dream is to compete in the Olympic Games.

Queens of difficulty

Anastasia Bliznyuk, Olga Karaseva, Anastasia Maksimova, Angelina Shkatova, Anastasia Tatareva and Karina Metelkova, together known as the fabulous Russian rhythmic group, lived up to their reputation of Queens of Difficulty. Presenting the most difficult routines in the group all-around final, they claimed the European crown with an advantage of almost 3 points. In the apparatus finals, they also earned silver with 5 balls to go together with the team gold.

Israel regains mixed apparatus crown

After bronze in the all-around and in the 5 balls final, Israel’s group, featuring Yana Kramarenko, Yuliana Telegina, Karin Vexman, Ofir Dayan and Natalie Raits, saved their best till last. In the final with 3 hoops and 2 pairs of clubs, the ladies regained the mixed apparatus crown they also won 5 years ago on home soil in Holon.

Farfalle flying high

The Italian Butterflies Alessia Maurelli, Martina Centofani, Agnese Duranti, Martina Santandrea and Daniela Mogurean clearly already had Japan on their mind, competing in their 5 balls routine wearing beautiful Kimono-style leotards. They were rewarded with silver in the all-around and claimed bronze for their 3 hoops and 2 pairs of clubs performance.

Belarussian princesses

Placing second and third in the all-around last year, Belarussians Alina Harnasko and Anastasia Salos always provide ample entertainment with their delightful routines and gregarious personalities. Harnasko earned the silver with ribbon and bronze with ball while Salos grabbed two bronze medals, for her hoop and clubs performances!

Russian junior group dominate

Milena An, Mariia Fedorovtseva, Anna Grosh, Sofia Iakovleva, Nonna Nianina and Elizaveta Tataeva showed that succession for the Russian group is guaranteed. Winning all three junior group European titles, these ladies showed incredible talent, living up to the reputation of the Russian rhythmic school.

Olympic qualification stress

With 1 individual and 1 group ticket to the Tokyo Olympics up for grabs, the all-around finals provided additional excitement. After a great battle, Hungary’s Fanni Pigniczki and the Ukrainian group came out on top and can book their flights to the Japanese capital.

The Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, led by its President Iliana Raeva, organised a wonderful event, surprisingly only the first time the European Championships came to Bulgaria. Hopefully it will not be the last time!

Thank you Varna, thank you gymnasts!