FISAF-ECh: Gold for Jonatan Canada (ESP) and Rita Niemi (FIN)

Impressive Perfection:
Rita Niemi (FIN)

400 Aerobic-athletes from a total of 13 countries performed for the strict judges at the weekend at the FISAF European Championships in Lloret de Mar (Spain).

Performing with supreme confidence and perfect technique, Rita Niemi from Finland won the individual title, beating Silvie Galikova (CZE) and Denisa Baresova (CZE). In the men's competition Jonatan Cananda fron Spain, several times FIG-world champion, took gold, beating the world champion Jan Pochobradski, who had been in the lead up to the semi-final. Jouni Vitanen (FIN) came third. Krystina Prochazkova and Pavel Sirotek came top in the pairs, while the trio and group competitions were won by strong Czech teams.

The Czech team won the title in the team competition

Katrin Engel (r.) and Dirk Engel-Korus (l.) outside the gymnasium in Spain

Katrin Engel and Dirk Engel-Korus, successful Aerobic-Trainers at the TG Sports School Nieder-Ingelheim, reported from Spain as "Shadow Coaches" and were the official German representatives:

The new rules now make even higher demands on a precise technique and concerning the elements, the aim is now to present quality rather than quantity.
An 'individual participation' is only possible if an athlete can perform a one-armed and one-legged press-up or a 'Shoushounova' with a complete turn. The 'Mixed' and 'Trio' categories are characterized by complicated team orders and the teams display unbelievable synchronicity at an extremely high speed...

It was interesting to remark at these championships that some FIG (International Gymnastics Association) athletes were trying their luck. However it is obvious that the opinions on what constitutes aerobics in the two associations, FIG and FISAF, diverge greatly..
With out wishing to be divisive, we are forced to say that, with the exception of one Spanish sngle competitor, the performances of the FIG gymnasts could be improved upon. In some cases, the shock at seeing the jumps performed by the established FISAF aerobics athletes was clear from their expressions.
Info and photos: Katrin Engel and Dirk Engel-Korus (Aerobic-Trainer at the TG Sports School Nieder-Ingelheim)

FISAF European Aerobic Championship 2007
- 10th -12th May 2007, Lloret de Mar (Spain) -

Some results:

Individual Women
1. Rita Niemi (FIN)
2. Silvie Galikova (CZE)
3. Denisa Baresova (CZE)

Individual Men
1. Jonatan Canada (ESP)
2. Jan Pochobradsky (CZE)
3. Jouni Viitanen (FIN)

Mixed Pairs
1.Krystina Prochazkova/Pavel Sirotek (CZE)
2. Monica Hontoria/Ignacio Grande (ESP)
3. Sandra Pellegrino/Jonathan Jessu (FRA)

Trios
1. Czech Republic
2. Czech Republic
3. Belgium

Groups
1. Czech Republic 1
2. Czech Republic 3
3. Russia 2

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