Munits & Bulgarian Group get Cross Battle titles

Daniela Munits and the Bulgarian group secured the illustrious Cross Battle gold medals across the 2026 European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Munits managed to get the better of Taisiia Onofriichuk in the gold medal final, while Bulgaria excelled ahead of Israel and AIN2.

Munits superb for title

16 battled it out, with all the tension and anticipation that has become a theme of the unmissable Cross Battle. In the 1/8 final, with the hoop it was Polina Karika, Darya Viarenich, Andreea Verdes and Taisiia Onofriichuk who all progressed, getting the better of Vera Tugolukova, Hanna Kamenshchykava, Andreea Verdes and Emmi Piiroinen. With the ball, Arina Kovshova, Sofia Raffaeli, Daniela Munits and Tara Dragas joined them in the final eight, with Fanni Pigniczki, Amalia Lica, Mariia Borisova and Hatice Gokce Emir all exiting at this stage.

That left eight remaining, with Polina Karika and Darya Viarenich first to meet with the ball. Karika’s 27.100 won that encounter, with Andreea Verdes and Taisiia Onofriichuk. The reigning European AA champion sealed a final four spot, where she would meet her teammate head-to-head.

On the other side of the draw, Sofia Raffaeli continued her search of a second Cross Battle title in Baku, winning in her clash with Arina Kovshova. It left just one more final four spot, Daniela Munits and Tara Dragas meeting for it. Munits was the one to progress, a superb 28.450 providing progression.

From teammates to opponents. Karika and Onofriichuk met in the clubs, with Onofriichuk coming out with the win, 29.300 to 25.950. She would meet Munits in the final, who scored 29.400 to Raffaeli’s 25.500.

The action flowed into the ribbon, with Raffaeli getting another European Cup medal for her collection as 26.500 got her ahead of Karika’s 25.400, leaving just top spot to be decided. And it was Munits who secured it with the ribbon. 27.550 in the final routine of the individual competition here narrowly surpassed the 27.000 of Onofriichuk, ensuring a first Cross Battle title for the 2024 Clubs European champion. Speaking afterwards, a delighted Munits said: “I feel really happy and it's impossible to describe this feeling in words. Excitement, mainly happiness, a great pride for my country.”

Bulgaria gets group gold

From the pure elegance of the individual to all the action that comes with groups, where six battled it out to secure the coveted title.

In the first of three 5x Balls 1/2 final encounters, AIN2 got the win ahead of Italy (25.750 to 23.750), Israel then scoring 27.800 to move past Ukraine (25.650). In the final clash to determine the top three, Bulgaria moved into the next stage after a brilliant 27.950 to AIN1’s score of 21.400.

And when it came to the final, they didn’t let up. Entering the carpet last for the 3 Hoops 2x Pairs of Clubs, Bulgaria scored a 27.350 to beat Israel (27.050) and AIN2 (26.800). For Bulgaria, both scores saw a huge increase on their performances a day earlier, in which they scored 23.500 and 22.750.

For full results, visit results.smartscoring.com.

Attention now heads towards the end of this month, with the European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics taking place in Varna (BUL) from 27-31 April.