Romania wins first ever junior Team European title

The stage is set at Budapest’s Papp Laszlo Arena where the 40^th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics kicked off today with the junior qualifications.

Each participating nation had the choice between competing individually or as a team. If a country decided to register only 1 gymnast, this gymnast had to compete with all four apparatuses. As a team, each country could line up 2 to 4 gymnasts, one gymnast performing per apparatus. The top 8 gymnasts per apparatus advanced to tomorrow’s junior apparatus finals.

Team silver medallist in 2022, Romania decided to do even better this year. With a 29.750 from Lisa Garac with ball to start off their competition, Amalia Lica gave it her all as she posted three scores of more than 30 points, including a massive 32.650 with hoop, which sealed the deal for the Romanian duo: they clinch team gold for the first time ever!

Defending Champions Israel had set the bar high though going into the last set. Meital Maayan Sumkin and Alona Tal Franco combined efforts as they accumulated a great total score of 123.750, highlighted by Sumkin’s gorgeous ribbon routine, worth 32.050. At the end of the day, the girls were rewarded with the silver medal.

The battle for bronze was another thriller, decided by just a tenth of a point! Azerbaijan opted to line up four different gymnasts, each contributing equally to the team score. Shams Aghahuseynova, Ilaha Bahadirova, Fidan Gurbanli and Govhar ibrahimova posted a 117.400 total to edge Bulgaria’ Dara Malinova and Magdalena Valkova who scored 117.300. Bronze for Azerbaijan while Bulgaria finished in the unfortunate fourth place.

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

GOLD Romania 125.100

SILVER Israel 123.750

BRONZE Azerbaijan 117.400

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

These Europeans continue tomorrow with the senior qualifications with hoop and ball, followed by the junior apparatus finals!