Onopriienko, Raffaeli, Varfolomeev, Israeli and Azerbaijani groups golden as #Baku2023 concludes

Energised by yesterday’s team silver medal, Viktoriia Onopriienko slayed her hoop routine with the best execution score of the final to take the gold medal. The last time a Ukrainian gymnast won apparatus gold was in 2005 when Natalia Godunko won ribbon, with hoop it dates back twenty years to Anna Bessonova’s victory. Onopriienko showed her strength in qualifications, impressing the audience with her determination and skills. What a pleasure to see her come through in the final.

After her silver medal in the all-around, Sofia Raffaeli quickly regained focus for these finals. She mesmerised us with her expressive ball routine, claiming the European title, a first for Italy with this apparatus. Moments later, the Italian star successfully defended her clubs title. Two gold medals for the 19-year-old who just can’t stop writing history for her country.  

Another of those history making gymnasts, Darja Varfolomeev overcame some difficulties throughout the event to show her worth in the last apparatus final. Her delightful ribbon exercise earned both the highest difficulty and execution scores for her first European title. And not only her first European title, in fact it’s Germany’s first ever too!

The new European all-around Champion, Bulgaria’s Boryana Kaleyn, added a silver with clubs and  bronze with hoop to her steadily growing collection. Teammate and yesterday’s all-around bronze medallist Stiliana Nikolova returns home with an additional silver with ball and bronze with ribbon. The third Bulgarian individual, Eva Brezalieva, competed only with ribbon but made it count as she secured the silver. Winning bronze with ribbon last year in Tel Aviv, Israel’s Adi Asya Katz upgraded to silver this time, with hoop. The home nation celebrated too. Zohra Aghamirova aced her ball routine to earn her first European medal, the bronze while Slovenia entered the medal rank for the first time too as Ekaterina Vedeneeva clinched bronze with clubs! Special mention goes to Fanni Pigniczki, our SmartScoring Shooting Star, for producing Hungary’s best results ever when she placed 5^th with hoop.

In the group competition, Israel excelled in the 5 hoops final, producing a phenomenal routine for the win ahead of European all-around Champions Bulgaria and Italy. Saving the best till last, the home nation Azerbaijan showed off the most difficult 3 ribbons and 2 balls routine to edge past Israel for the victory. Another historic moment, now for the Azeri team. Spain looks ready to compete in front of their home crowd at the upcoming World Championships in Valencia as they hit their routine aptly performed to the well-known Valencia song to grab the bronze medal.

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Hoop

GOLD Viktoriia ONOPRIIENKO (UKR) 33.250

SILVER Adi Asya KATZ (ISR) 32.600

BRONZE Boryana KALEYN (BUL) 32.250

Ball

GOLD Sofia RAFFAELI (ITA) 33.650

SILVER Stiliana NIKOLOVA (BUL) 33.350

BRONZE Zohra AGHAMIROVA (AZE) 32.850

Clubs

GOLD Sofia RAFFAELI (ITA) 33.000

SILVER Boryana KALEYN (BUL) 32.650

BRONZE Ekaterina VEDENEEVA (SLO) 31.700

Ribbon

GOLD Darja VARFOLOMEEV (GER) 32.250

SILVER Eva BREZALIEVA (BUL) 31.600

BRONZE Stiliana NIKOLOVA (BUL) 31.550

5 Hoops

GOLD Israel 35.800

SILVER Bulgaria 35.250

BRONZE Italy 34.950

3 Ribbons and 2 Balls

GOLD Azerbaijan 32.250

SILVER Israel 32.150

BRONZE Spain 31.200

The full results are available on our website:  2023 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics | European Gymnastics

As the curtain falls on these Rhythmic Europeans, we warmly thank the gymnasts for the spectacular performances! You all truly deserved your place in the spotlight. Our heartful thanks also goes to the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation for giving the best possible conditions for all participants with great enthusiasm.