Highlights of #Basel2021

Exactly one month ago, the European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics concluded in the Swiss city of Basel. After the first covid-regulated edition in Mersin (TUR) four months earlier, most of our member federations attended this year, giving gymnasts a welcome chance to show their skills. For many gymnasts, this event marked both the first major event since the pandemic hit and the last major Championships before the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

Here are some of our 11 highlights … in no particular order!

 

Nikita the Great

Defending European all-around Champion, reigning World Champion and one of the top prospects for the Tokyo Olympics, Nikita Nagornyy (RUS) raises the expectations even more after a solid performance in Basel, mesmerising the world with a fabulous triple pike on floor. Qualifying to all but one final, Nagornyy cruised to victory in the all-around. In event finals, he added the gold on floor, silver on pommel horse and rings. After the all-around final, he said:

A ticket to Tokyo for Iordache

It was a close call but fan favourite Larisa Iordache made it … to the Olympics! The 24-year-old Romanian suffered through a kidney infection, determined to compete in what was her one and only possibility to qualify for Tokyo. A fall from beam in the first rotation couldn’t deter her from her goal as she still posted the highest score of all competitors on that event. Finishing behind the Russians, Iordache secured the second continental spot and immediately went to hospital for treatment.

Melnikova’s medal collection

Even though Angelina Melnikova had to settle for silver in the all-around, she returned home as the most decorated female gymnast in Basel, proudly showing off her gold medal on uneven bars, silver in the all-around and on floor and the bronze on vault.

Potential confirmed

Viktoria Listunova dominated the junior ranks, winning the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival and the inaugural junior World Championships. Transitioning into the senior ranks is not an easy task, however the 15-year-old Russian did not let history get to her. In fact, Listunova became only the second gymnast ever to win the European crown on her senior debut, after Nadia Comaneci in 1975. Talk about being in good company!

The return of the rings maestro

Shoulder surgery sidelined Greek rings maestro Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) for a while, causing him to miss the 2019 Europeans after a series of 4 consecutive European titles. In Basel, he returned to the top, show casting his usual exquisite style combined with incredible difficulty. Welcome back!

A star is born

16-year-old Jessica Gadirova certainly made a name for herself at her international senior debut. Collecting a full set of medals, the British talent first won bronze in the all-around followed by silver on vault and, the icing on the cake, the European title on floor for an exquisite routine.

Yes, he can!

Turkey keeps on making marks in gymnastics, with Adem Asil securing a fourth Olympic ticket for the Turkish men while Ferhat Arican claimed his second consecutive European title on parallel bars.

The queen of Switzerland

Swiss star Giulia Steingruber vaulted to her fourth European title on the event. After winning in 2013, 2014 and 2016, she was victorious again in Basel, cementing her status as the queen of Swiss gymnastics.

10 years at the top and counting

The withdrawal of Artur Dalaloyan unexpectedly promoted David Belyavskiy (RUS) to an all-around competitor. The veteran, at the top of gymnastics for over 10 years already, seized the opportunity with both hands, even though he thought briefly about withdrawing from the final, grabbing the silver behind teammate Nagornyy. And he didn’t stop there … on the final day of apparatus finals he earned the silver on parallel bars and finished and excellent competition with a fabulous European title on high bar.

Bella Ciao

On the tunes of the famous partisan song ‘Bella Ciao’, Vanessa Ferrari clinched the bronze medal on floor, the event she won gold on in 2007 and 2014. Furthermore, the 30-year-old returned to the all-around as well, for the first time since 2016, as she looks to secure a place in the Italian Olympic team which would mean competing in her 4^th Olympic Games.

‘Hero de Janeiro’ claims individual success

Andreas Toba, well-known for his heroic performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics where he performed while injured to help out his team, has been a rock in the German team for many years. As a solid all-arounder, it took until Basel 2021 for him to even make an individual event final at this level. First final ever and it was good for his first medal as well: silver on high bar!

A huge THANK YOU to all the participating gymnasts, coaches and officials! And to the Local Organising Committee, the Swiss Gymnastics Federation and the local governments for putting on a fantastic event despite extremely challenging conditions.

Thank you Basel, thank you gymnasts!