Great variety of apparatus medallists decided on closing day of #Budapest2024

On the last day of the 40^th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Budapest, both the individual gymnasts and the groups contested their apparatus finals. The last 6 medal decisions of a wonderful event in the Hungarian capital drew an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd to the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena. They definitely were in for a treat …

Starting off with hoop, Bulgarian star Boryana Kaleyn showed exquisite pivots and energetic dance movements as she held off her compatriot Stiliana Nikolova for the title. A Bulgarian one-two finish under the appreciative eye of Mr. Rumen Radev, President of Bulgaria. On her sixteenth birthday, Ukraine’s rising star Taisiia Onofriichuk surpassed Spain’s Alba Bautista for the bronze medal. Her first European medal, on her birthday, this certainly is a day Onofriichuk will never forget.

20-year-old Sofia Raffaeli came into this competition as the defending Champion with ball and clubs. In the ball final, she lead the field, delivering a fabulous routine to successfully defend her title. To the delight of the home crowd, Hungary’s leading lady Fanni Pgniczki aced her ball routine for the silver medal. A historic moment for Pigniczki as she won her first European medal, a historic moment for her country as this is the first ever medal for Hungary at this level, and what better way then to achieve this feat at home. Israel’s Daniela Munits proved her talent by taking the bronze medal.

Munits then went on to do even better. The 2022 junior European ribbon Champion handled the clubs effortlessly and with great style to secure her first major senior victory. Joining Munits on the podium was another enormously talented youngster, Liliana Lewinska from Poland. Crowned double junior World Champion last year, with clubs and ribbon, Lewinska earned the silver medal here, edging Boryana Kaleyn by just 0.050.  

How about ending these individual finals with some World Champion material, Darja Varfolomeev must have thought. The German quintuple World Champion entertained the audience with ribbon, scoring 34.400 to defend her title. Sofia Raffaeli added the silver medal to her fast-growing collection while another talented first-year senior, junior European and World Champion Elvira Krasnobaeva from Bulgaria, clinched the bronze.  

Spain proved to be the most successful group today. Their 5 hoops routine earned 38.750. Enough for the silver medal behind the experience Farfalle from Italy. Then Spain did one better, grabbing the last gold medal of these Championships, after a simply stunning 3 Ribbons & 2 Balls performance. Olé! The group from Israel also won two medals: bronze with 5 hoops and silver in mixed apparatus. Ukraine returns home with the bronze for their ribbon / balls combination.

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Hoop

GOLD Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 35.250

SILVER Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 34.950

BRONZE Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR) 34.800

Ball

GOLD Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 35.350

SILVER Fanni Pigniczki (HUN) 34.850

BRONZE Daniela Munits (ISR) 34.250

Clubs

GOLD Daniela Munits (ISR) 33.400

SILVER Liliana Lewinska (POL) 32.950

BRONZE Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) 32.900

Ribbon

GOLD Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 34.400

SILVER Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 33.950

BRONZE Elvira Krasnobaeva (BUL) 33.700

5 Hoops

GOLD Italy 39.350

SILVER Spain 38.750

BRONZE Israel 38.650

 

3 Ribbons & 2 Balls

GOLD Spain 34.700

SILVER Israel 34.500

BRONZE Ukraine 33.900

Find the full results on the event website: 2024 Rhythmic Europeans - Budapest (HUN) | European Gymnastics.

So these magnificent 40^th European Championships come to a close. We warmly thank the Hungarian Gymnastics Federation and the Local Organising Committee for their hard work to ensure the highest standard. Thank you also to the gymnasts for their dedication to the sports, and to all the volunteers and staff involved.

See you next year in the Estonian capital Tallinn!