Bulgaria shine at inaugural European Cup

On the programme of the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics today: all apparatus finals! 

And Bulgaria had a great run, winning four of the six senior gold medals awarded on the third day of action at the magnificent National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Boryana Kaleyn led the way with two gold medals and a silver, showing that she enjoyed being back in the venue where she was crowned European All-Around Champion last year.

"I believe Baku is my lucky city. I won my first European medal here, then I became a European champion here last year, so this is one of my favourite cities," the 23-year-old said.

She finished second behind Italy's Sofia Raffaeli in Hoop before claiming victories in Ball and Ribbon.

"I did my routines the best I could so I feel very good," Kaleyn said.

"This year we have a special history in my routines, they are telling a story beginning in the hoop and ending in the ribbon, so it is a very special programme for me and I'm very happy  to win these medals."

As the first European Cup came to a close, Bulgaria had won five of the eight senior gold medals awarded, Kaleyn bagging two of them.

"It was a very interesting competition, I enjoyed every moment and I hope I'm not only the first winner, I want to be the second and third and so on too," she said.

Her teammate Stiliana Nikolova, who had been victorious in Saturday's Cross Battle, continued in fine form on Sunday as she clinched the Clubs gold medal.

"I feel very happy with my performance today and yesterday," the 18-year-old rising star said.

"I really concentrated and did my job on the carpet, that is why I was first today."

She saw the two gold medals in Baku as a sign that she is on the right track.

"It means that I can (win major international medals) and it motivates me to continue working very hard," Nikolova said, looking back at a successful inaugural European Cup.

"Overall it was very nice, amazing, challenging and interesting. Now I will continue working for the European Championships."

Nikolova's Cross Battle final opponent Raffaeli could also leave Azerbaijan with plenty of added metals in her luggage. Adding to Saturday's silver medal and her gold medal in Hoop, the 20-year-old finished second in the Clubs and third in Ribbon, making it to four out of five individual podiums at the event.

"Today I did four finals so I am very happy with this competition," said Raffaeli, who had topped the All-Around ranking after four flawless performances in the qualifiers.

Having to settle for a second place in the Cross Battle had given her some extra energy to finish in style on Sunday.

"Yesterday (Saturday) I made some mistakes in Clubs and Ribbon so I was not very happy but the silver medal was a very good motivation for today, so today I won the hoop and I am very happy," Raffaeli said.

Italy were on the podium in the two Group Apparatus finals on Sunday too, both times in second place. Saturday's Group All-Around champions Israel made it two gold medals in two days as they clinched the victory in 5 Hoops as Bulgaria, who had taken bronze in the Hoops, signed off a glorious weekend in Baku with a 3 Ribbons & 2 Balls win. Azerbaijan took the bronze, to the joy of the home fans.

In the junior individual apparatus competition it was all about two promising Israeli superstars as Alona Tal Franco and Meital Maayan Sumkin won two gold medals each. Tal Franco was victorious in Hoop and Clubs, while her teammate Sumkin claimed the titles in Ball and Ribbon.

"The crowd was amazing and it was a good experience," Sumkin said.

"(The medals) give us a lot of confidence and motivate us to work harder and to achieve more."

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Senior Individual

Hoop

GOLD Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 35.050

SILVER Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 33.600

BRONZE Vera Tugolukova (CYP) 33.100

 

Ball

GOLD Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 34.350

SILVER Christina Dragan (ROU) 34.150

BRONZE Daniela Munits (ISR) 33.850

 

Clubs

GOLD Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 34.500

SILVER Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 34.350

BRONZE Vera Tugolukova (CYP) 33.050

 

Ribbon

GOLD Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 32.950

SILVER Vera Tugolukova (CYP) 32.350

BRONZE Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 32.250

 

Senior Group 

5 Hoops

GOLD Israel 38.950

SILVER Italy 38.050

BRONZE Bulgaria 37.750

 

3 Ribbons & 2 Balls

GOLD Bulgaria 33.900

SILVER Italy 33.700

BRONZE Azerbaijan 29.950

 

Junior Individual

Hoop

GOLD Alona Tal Franco (ISR) 33.850

SILVER Amalia Lica (ROU) 32.550

BRONZE Dara Malinova (BUL) 31.700

 

Ball

GOLD Meital Maayan Sumkin (ISR) 32.400

SILVER Ilaha Bahadirova (AZE) 31.550

BRONZE Magdalena Valkova (BUL) 30.900

 

Clubs

GOLD Alona Tal Franco (ISR) 30.950

SILVER Amalia Lica (ROU) 30.900

BRONZE Dara Malinova (BUL) 30.800

 

Ribbon

GOLD Meital Maayan Sumkin (ISR) 31.600

SILVER Shams Aghahuseynova (AZE) 30.250

BRONZE Amalia Lica (ROU) 29.900

Find the full results on 2024 European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics - Baku (AZE) | European Gymnastics.

This  concludes the inaugural European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics! Next stop on our calendar … the 2024 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Budapest (HUN), from 22 to 26 May.