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Review of the 31st European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
May 7, 2015News
Russia, the dominating force in Rhythmic Gymnastics, didn’t manage a clean sweep of the titles last week in Minsk. Their junior group did win the all-around on Saturday but was upset by the junior group of Belarus who upped their game in the final with 5 balls to take the gold medal in front of a delighted home crowd. Israel, who won the bronze medal in the all-around, made some mistakes in the final where Bulgaria claimed bronze.
In the senior competition the Russian team consisting of Yana Kudryavtseva, Margarita Mamun and Aleksandra Soldatova combined their efforts to win every gold medal available, starting with the team title. Kudryavtseva commented:
Competing in the individual is a little bit easier because you are responsible only for yourself. If you perform badly during team competitions, you will let down the whole team. You have much more responsibility to yourself and your teammates. We are delighted to have won! Thank God, thank you to everyone who supports us!
Teammate Soldatova added:
Yes, it’s interesting and more difficult. Because we support each other and we can’t let each other down. It’s exciting to perform for the team.
Belarus was almost 5 points behind, to take silver. Their two gymnasts, Melitina Staniouta and Ekaterina Halkina, did manage to both make every event final. Ukraine narrowly held off a strong challenge by Israel to claim the third spot and the bronze medal. Ganna Rizatdinova also made all event finals.
Although there was no actual all-around final, the results were important as it determines who qualifies for next year’s European Championships. Only 3 apparatus scores counted towards the all-around score. Mamun came out on top ahead of Kudryavtseva and Staniouta.
In the apparatus final Mamun started the Russian gold rush by performing a beautiful hoop routine of high difficulty to win the title half a point ahead of Staniouta. With ball Mamun had to settle for silver. Teammate Kudryavtseva was near-perfect to take her first of three individual titles. The leading lady of Rhythmic Gymnastics, European and World Champion, won gold with ball, clubs and ribbon!
While Russia won all the senior titles, home nation Belarus took the most medals away from the competition! The junior group won silver and gold, the senior team won silver, Halkina won 2 bronze medals (hoop and clubs) while Staniouta won the most individual medals : 2 silvers (hoop and ribbon) and 2 bronzes (ball and clubs).
Marina Durunda won bronze with ribbon for Azerbaijan, hosts of the upcoming 1st European Games. We will see these ladies there again. The Rhythmic Gymnastics competition will be held at the National Gymnastics Arena from 17 till 21 June. For tickets and information, check www.baku2015.com
Next year’s European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships will take place in Holon, Israel, from 13 till 19 June.
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