At the final day of the 30th European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics the elite's groups were in the focus of interest.
The performance with 10 clubs was won by the national group of Bulgaria (17,766), followed by Russia and Spain. Belarus had to settle with fource place only.
The combined exercise, 3 balls / 2 ribbons was dominated by Russia's girls with the most difficult performance (9.1) and also nearly perfect with the highest score of this final (18,366). The silver medal went to the host Azerbaijan (17,650) and Bulgaria won the bronze medal
Last day of competition in the 30th European Championships of Rhythmic gymnastics 2014 took place in Baku:
The schedule started with the juniors apparatus finals, followed then by the senior groups final and the closing ceremony and gala. About the juniors finals, the most interesting point is that only one gymnast per country is allowed to compete, making it more diverse and giving the chance to more countries to fight for the medals. It might be a suitable measure also for the senior apparatus finals, where only 4-5 countries get to compete, and always the same.
The audience was clearly divided into two blocks: the ones supporting Russia, which came to Baku in a big number, and the local spectators. There was a constant fight between them to show who could shout louder and cheer more for their respective teams.
With top marks with hoop, clubs and ribbon and a total score of 73.499 points Russia's world champion an top-favorite Yana KUDRYAVTSEVA named in the Mili Gymnastika Arena of Baku as the new sovereign all-around European Champion. Since her also favored teammate Margarita Mamun was not flawless with hoop and clubs and dropped back to fifth place (69.715), the hour struck the Belarusian Melitina STANIOUTA that was with 72.416 points European silver medalist.
For bronze, the vice-world champion Anna RIZATDINOWA (UKR; 71.649) and was thus the strong Neta Rivkin of Israel (Worlds tenth, 2013) straight away even a mini-difference of -0.15 points from the podium.
Austria currently the best gymnast Nicole Ruprecht, finished with 65.783 points at the end rank 17th. German gymnasts were not qualified at these championships. Eligible were in this field of the continental Olympic all-around only the best 20 gymnasts of the previous year's European Championships in Vienna.
Nothing other than the superior Russian victory in the Junior's team competition registered the experts on the second day of the 2014 Junior European Championships in Baku. With 86.815 points and a lead of more than + 2.0 full lead nation referred in this discipline's main competitor Belarus ranked 2nd (94.715). To the delight of the host Azerbaijan won a very close bronze (94.364) and confirmed the well-observed upward trend. Thus, Bulgaria declined significantly (91.348), fourth, empty out. Ukraine, Italy, Israel, Finland, Greece and Romania occupy the other places among the top 10 diesaer continental junior rankings. The German Juniors landed "also ran" relegated to 18th place (out of 33 countries) and a gigantic point behind by 15 points in the second half of the 33 participating nations. Austrian girls were 26 ...
RUSSIA's gymnastics group presented with two top combinations of equipment on the first day of the 30th anniversary of European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics as a seemingly invincible and marked with 18.366 points (10 clubs) and with 18,200 (3 balls / 2 bands), the highest all-around score of 36.566 points and won sovereign the all-around gold medal in Baku.
European runners-up were the ITALIAN girls, who received 34.749 points. Bronze went to the group from ISRAEL (34.383), with her second exercise even Bulgaria (34.299) could refer to Rank 4. As the last of the 21 groups of this first decision, the Spaniards displaced to rank 5 (34.091) still hosts Azerbaijan 34.050 to add a touch more on rank 6.
Behind France, Ukraine, Switzerland (32.316) and Greece occupied Germany's girls the 11th place (31.741) ...
Europeans in Rhythmic Gymnastics are about to start
Wednesday and Thursday served still for preparation of the upcoming competition on Friday.
While the UEG held their orientation meeting and press-conference, official trainings were going on in the brand new Mili Gimnastike Arena (National Gymnastics Arena).
This arena is the biggest sport complex for all gymnastics disciplines, with eleven carpets for rhythmic gymnastics. The Azeri gymnasts also live in this complex and school will be incorporated soon as well.
Chefs de Mission from across Europe
will visit Baku this week - in the time of Europeans of Rhythmic Gymnastics - for a crucial seminar ahead of the inaugural European Games next year. Officials from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Europe are meeting in the host city to learn more about preparations and progress for the Games, take part in extensive venue tours and enjoy the hospitality Azerbaijan is renowned for.
On June 10 the Chefs will inspect competition venues for next summer’s European Games and enjoy Baku’s One Year To Go celebrations the following evening on the Baku Boulevard.