03. Juni 2012  
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

28th Europeans of Rhythmiic Gymnastics 2012: Russia with eight of nine Titles!

All Groups Decisions
& Juniors App. Finals

34 years after Madrid 1978 now the 28th European Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics takes place eight weeks before the Olympic competitions in London. Host city is Nizhny Novgorod, near Gorky in Russia, where one of the leading Russian centers of these graceful, feminine of all gymnastic disciplines is home. So the leading top nation of rhythmic gymnastics organizes to the third time such a big continental highlight, afzter the Europeans 2005 and 2006, which took place in Moscow. From Friday, June 1st to Sunday June 3rd where the decisions in the individual disciplines (all-around), as well as in groups, the elite division, as the juniors, which will be specially for all Olympic participants an excellent opportunitie 8 weeks before the absolute major event in August in London.
The first all-around gold medal went to the Russian Group, also a second after the Sundays finals, and at the end Russia won 8 of 9 titles altogether ...!

* supported by SPIETH Gymnastic - Partner of international Rhythmic Gymnastics

... the  Video-Trailer of Russian hosts:
* DAY 1 - Friday, June 1
Group All-Around
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Defending champions Russia left 2012 no doubt about the favorite position in this sport already on the first day of the 28th European Championships of rhythmic gymnastics.
So, the titleholders of the groups won with a total score after two exercises with 56,900 points against Belarus (56,325) and Italy (54,875).
Bulgaria, Spain, Israel, France and Greece followed an the ranks 4 to 8.

** Unfortunately no topical media material from the Russian group before us, but after the World Championships in Montpellier 2011, a YouTube video was published, that is a kind of homage to the current elegant actors, that without a doubt the big favourites for the upcoming Olympic Games are - a video, simply to enjoy!

Alina Makarenko,  Anastasia Blizniuk,  Anastasia Nazarenko,  Ksenia Dudkina,  Ulyana Donskova, ..... 

* All-around Groups:
1. RUSSIA      - 56,900
2. BELARUS  - 56,325
3. ITALY          - 54.875

   > Detailed AA results
      > Qualific. 3 ribbon/2 hoops     > Qualif. 5 Balls

Victory Ceremony Groups All-around in Nishny Novgorod
(c) UEG/ D. Zimmermann

* Saturday, June 2: Group Finals
___________________________

The 8 best nations first battle out the title of the Senior Groups final with 5 balls followed by the final with 3 ribbons/2 hoops.
The crowed was thrilled by the high level and flawless performances and the unlimited creativity…

5 B A L L S
_________
Belarus and Italy, the groups who passed 1st and second, occupy the top two ranks for a long part of the competition. But the ones to beat – Russia and Bulgaria - were the last to pass.
Without real surprise, Russia takes the lead and even manages to clearly improve their qualification score from 28.450 to the final score of 28.800. Belarus drops down on the second spot of the podium.
If the BUL group nails their routine, they will go home with the bronze medal. During qualification already they managed to snatch away the third rank of the Italians.
With nerves of steel, the Bulgarians manage to improve their qualifying score of 0.200 points and secure the bronze medal with a final score of 28.000.

* Final ranking :
1. Russia 28.800;     2. Belarus 28.050;     3. Bulgaria 28.000

3 R I B B B O N S / 2 H O O P S
_____________________________

The Belarusians take the lead with the nice score of 28.000, almost confirming the score received in qualification. The Spanish Group was unlucky as one of their ribbons remained stuck in the roof of the competition hall costing them a penalty of 0.50.
The Bulgarians impress the spectators with a nice routine worth 27.500, which is a nice improvement comparing to their qualifying score of 26.875 points.
The Russians, top qualifier, make a number of mistakes costing them the gold medal position and even a spot on the podium! They obtain 27.175 points. The Italian group is the last to pass; despite a dropped ring they manage to confirm their 3rd qualifying rank and will go home with the bronze medal (27.200).
* source: u e g

* Final ranking :
1. Belarus 28.000; 2. Russia 27,175; 3. Italy 27,200

  >> Detailed results

DAY 1 - Juniors:
Team-Competition & Individual Qualification
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On the first day of juniors, the two devices hoop and ball as qualification for the finals of the device were on the programme - an all-around competition is not written.
For this, in the team fight of the Nations to decide is on Saturday.
Here, Russia (54,850) Belarus (53,450) and Georgia (52,225) leads after two apparatus as expected.
Medal ambitions are still the girls of Azerbaijan (52,150) and the Ukraine (51,325)...
>> Provisional results

In juniors qualifying HOOP the Russian leads to the field of qualifiers with 27,400 points Diana Borisova followed by Alena Bolotena (BLR) and Gabriela Khwedelidze (GEO).
Germany's Kristina Durbanova missed the final by only 0.2 points as ninth... >> Qualification hoop

In the BALL qualification is also a Russian girl at the top of the performance: Jana Kudriavtseva marked the top score of the day with 27,450 points at the juniors, followed by Katsiarina Halkina (BLR) and Marina Durunda (AZE)
>> Qualifikation B a l l

... and this is the Saturday's program in Nizhny Novgorod:

DAY 2 - Juniors:
_____________________________

* Juniors Team Competition:
After yesterday’s exercises with hoop and ball, it was Russia that occupied the provisional gold medal position with a 54.850. 2nd – Belarus with 53.450 and in third position Georgia with 52.225. This morning we saw the second part of this competition with the passage of Group A but this time with the clubs and ribbon exercises. The 3 nations on yesterday’s provisional podium are all in this first group.
And after the exercises of each of the gymnasts, the podium seems to be confirmed with gold for Russia with a total score of 109.850, silver for Belarus (106.550) and bronze for Georgia (104.325). Yet, there are still the routines of Group B to come before the definitive podium is known…

No big suspense for the end of this junior competition I. The podium for the team title remains unchanged and the title deservedly goes to Russia who sums up a final score of 109.850.
At the end it was only about determining the eight best gymnasts of this competition for each of the two apparatus clubs and ribbon as the team ranking remained unchanged.

Juniors  Apparatus Finals

* H o o p
G. Khvedelidze (GEO) is the 2 to compete and takes the lead of the competition with a 26.300. It is the Belarusian A. Bolotina who takes her first position after a flawless performance peppered with difficult elements (difficulty score: 8.025) – final score: 26.825.

But it is the Russian D. Borisova that deservedly takes off the gold medal rank with a stunning exercise, leaving behind her adversaries at all three levels – difficulty (8.250), artistic (9.600) and execution (9.600) – summing up a final score of 27.450.
After the passage of the last gymnasts, the Belarusian A. Bolotina conserves her second rank and it is N. Niftaliyeva/AZE who secures the bronze medal.

 * B a l l
___________
A. Mulmina/UKR, all in white, gives a solid performance and is awarded a 26.400. It is again the Russian gymnast Y. Kudryavtseva who impresses with a magnificent and flawless ball exercise. The ball seems to glide so naturally over the gymnast who keeps the total control over her apparatus. She obtains a final score of 27.800 with a very high difficulty score of 8.400 placing her first.
The Belarusian who was the 7th gymnast to present her skills to the judges also managed to secure a place on the podium with the score of 26.600 worth the silver medal. Scoring 0.200 points less, the Ukrainian A. Mulmina arrives third.

 * C l u b s
___________
Top qualifier Y. Sinitssyna/RUS is the first one taking to the floor for her routine with the clubs setting the bar very high; she manages to confirm the same top score as in the qualification 27.450. None of here adversaries will manage to outscore her!
The Belarusian M. Kadobina manages to slightly improve her qualification core from 26.450 to 26.475 and secures the silver medal. The bronze medal is attributed to G. Khvedelidze/GEO.

* R i b b o n
_______________
Same leading duo as in the qualifications.
The young Russian A. Soldatova, dressed in a nice glittering white, black and green leotard with a matching green ribbon, hits here spectacular routine nicely and is awarded a 27.500, however slightly less points than in qualification (difficulty score of 8.150 while she had a 8.400 in qualification).
It is G. Shafizada/AZE who realizes a very nice performance improving her qualifying score allowing her to snatch away the bronze medal with a nice 26.325.
The Silver medal goes to the Belarusian K. Halkina scoring 26.775.

 >> Detailed results