13. November 2011  
Bilbao / Spain  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

Euskalgym 2011 - Gymnastic s Party in Bilbao (Spain)

On Saturday afternoon the Basque Federation of Gymnastics held again the unique “Euskalgym” in Bilbao (Spain). The “Euskalgym”- Gala is thought as a gymnastics event for everybody, without scores and pressures for the participating gymnasts and with very popular ticket prices for the public and even an autograph session with the international gymnasts.
In this sixth edition the audience in the sold-out “Bilbao Arena” enjoyed the performances and gala routines of 11 of the best individual rhythmic gymnastics of the world.
From Russia performed Vice-World Champion Daria Kondakova and her teammates Daria Dmitrieva and Yana Lukonina.
Also Aliya Garaeva from Azerbaidjan travelled to Bilbao as well as Silvia Miteva from Bulgaria and Liubov Charkashyna and Melitina Staniuta from Belarus. For the first time in Bilbao was Ulyana Trofimova from Uzbekistan....

Autograph session for the fans with the international gymnasts on Saturday morning

Carolina Rodriguez on her way to London 2012


Another highlight of the “Euskalgym”- Gala was the homage to Alex Barrenetxea, a former artistic gymnast of the Spanish National team, two times participant at Olympic Games and several times National champion.

<< In a short but emotive ceremony the president of the Basque Federation, José Luis Tejedor, remembered all his achievements and offered him a present of the Federation to honor his gymnastics carreer.

* From Bilbao GYMmedia correspondent
   Esther Teijeira (ESP) (text & photos)