Two gold medals for Russia, two gold medals for Bessonova, one title for Bulgaria

After their all-around victory from yesterday the Russian senior group today won the final with 5 ribbons. Bulgaria reached the 2nd place and Belarus ended up on rank 3. The German group reached a very good 6th place in this final.
A double success for Ukraine has been the final of the individual gymnasts with clubs. Anna Bessonova won her 2nd European Champion title and on rank 2 followed her teammate Tamara Yerofeeva. The bronce medal in this final was won by Simona Peycheva. Anna Bessonova then also won her 3rd title in the ribbon final in front of Inna Zhukova (BLR) and Tamara Yerofeeva (UKR). Bulgaria’s group won the final with balls & hoops in front of Greece and Italy. Germany reached rank 8 in this final.
The Russian junior group has become Junior European Champion 2003 in front of Greece and Bulgaria.


European Championships 2003

Final junior groups
Once again the Russians have been unbeatable with their technical and compository superiority.
Those four teams - Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Belarus - have shown amazing combinations and artworks with their hoops, it is almost impossible for the audience to follow everything what is included in their routines. Throwing and catching with different parts of their body doesn’t seem to be a problem at all for those s...
The other groups have seemed to be quite nervous in this final in front of an audience of 3,500 spectators and couldn’t come up to their performances of the days before.

Zarina Gizikova (RUS) starts this final with a lot of temper and without mistakes.
Bulgarian fireworks – Simona Peycheva whirled herself in the hearts of the audience and throws the clubs high under the roof, unfortunately once she can’t catch them – a pity as the rest of the routine had been top! Despite of the mistake she currently takes the lead.
But she can hold the lead only until Anna Bessonova has presented her routine. She really is in a top form at the moment and performes also with the clubs very elegantly.
Eleni Andriola (GRE) shows a very interesting orientalic routine, technically very well executed and lively presented – it is obvious that the Greek gymnasts prepare themselves accurately for the Olympic Games in their home country.
Almudena Cid, the friendly gymnast vom Spain presents with her 22 years everything what you want to see in a gymnast – female expression and good sportive skills.
A definite highlight in the end: Tamara Yerofeeva with a very beautiful and perfectly executed routine which couldn’t have been better – perfect!

Germany’s s started the final of the senior groups. In front of a cheering audience they presented a spectacular routine which was better than the day before. Unfortunately in the end one rope couldn’t be catched. In the end they received the score of 23.000 for their routine. “The mistake in the end is a pity“ said coach Carmen Weber. “But the s have improved a lot since yesterday and it has been one more step forward on the way to the Olympic Games.“
They are simply unbeatable: Russia wins the final with ribbons in front of Bulgaria and Belarus. They ted in sparkling leotards, presented themselves with female elegance and technical perfection. But even they have made a mistake, one ribbon entangled. However, they still remained in the leading position with their creative routine to the music “Oriental“ – also many other groups made mistakes today.
The audience was thrilled by the Bulgarian group with their rainbow-coloured ribbons and oriental music. The s presented their routine full of lightness - and without mistakes.
Belarus reached rank 3, like the Bulgarians they came through their routine without mistakes. They pleased the audience with their blue leotards and the music “Worm Lounge“ by Danny Elfman.
In the end the German group landed on an excellent 6th place about which head coach Livia Medilanski said “I am very happy, it went well and for this event our result is optimal.“

Anna Bessonova: a very beautiful and difficult routine to Spanish guitar music, with very creative throws and combinations, however not all of them went well for her today – two mistakes, this is unusual for her. But the ribbon routines of most of the gymnasts are new, they are only training them since the beginning of the year.
Zarina Gizikova with a speedy routine which suits her very well – she plays with the audience and this apparatus seems to match her personality perfectly. However, she also makes mistakes and has to step out of bounds once in order to catch the ribbon.
The audience heavily cheered for the routine of Simona Peycheva which was perfectly presented. However, the judges seemed to see it differently. – Simona currently is placed on rank 4.
Lisa Ingildeeva once again with a very elegant routine for which, however, on some passages she still has to work on.
Tamara Yerofeeva with a black ribbon – here and there she goes back to her once mostly used colour – with a difficult routine and very perfected apparatus technique. However, also she doesn’t manage to come through her routine without mistakes – ribbon seems to be the apparatus on which the gymnasts will have the most work to do until the World Championships in September.

Germany started right after the strong Italians who had received the high score of 25.450. Bell ticks and the cheers of the audience greeted the s on the podium. The German s then presented a beautiful routine and once again improved from yesterday’s performance. After the routine was finished coaches Carmen Weber and Vera Silajewa happily embraced them. “This again has been an improvement from yesterday and I am very happy with the s“, said Carmen Weber right after the routine.
What has happened to the Russians? It had looked almost like they were going to win all finals at these championships but then their group made one mistake after the other in this final. So the door was open for Bulgaria and they won the title with 2 balls and 3 hoops in front of Greece and Italy.
Bulgaria who certainly got luck from their mascot “Slav“ could convince with their “Bolero“ routine and celebrated their first international victory after a long time had passed for them without one. “I am very happy for the s as they had worked so hard“, said coach Tania Stoianova. “I think our routine had the most difficult composition of these championships.“
The Greek group in blue leotards performed their difficult combinations with a lot of lightness. But right in the middle of the routine a hoop falls down. Luckily the s continued fully concentrated. All in all their routine to Greek folks music and with very interesting compositions was beautiful to watch.
Again the risky starting position of the Italians caused everyone to look up. Then followed jumps and throws which were difficultly combined. The probably most extraordinary and creative routine was rewarded with the bronce medal in this final although the Italians didn’t act as concentrated today as they had in yesterday’s all-around.