PREVIEW: The first Europeans in the New Olympic Cyclus

For already the fifth time, the historic 35th Gymnastics European Championships for men and the 34th for Women 2013 in Moscow on 17 - 21 April at the Olympic complex in the Russian capital as so-called "Individual Championships", like this, most recently in Berlin 2011, with all-around and apparatus finals.

To about 160 male gymnasts from 37 European nations are on the entry list, of which only 43% (65 athletes) want to participate in the all-around!

Of the approximately 90 women from 30 countries will perform at least 65 gymnasts the full four-way battle (76%).

By resigning Philipp Boy (GER) and the injured Anna Dementieva (RUS) are missing the all-around title-holder of Berlin 2011.

'MEN's ALL-AROUND
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As the only medalist in Berlin EURO 2011, the Briton Daniel Purvis is able to grab the title, as the champion of the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Philipp Boy has announced his retirement and European vice-champion Flavius Koczi has enrolled for three apparatus only and also the Berlin's bronze Ukrainians Mikolai Kuksenkow is not in the squad this year.

This is perhaps Russia's Nikita Ignatiev lurking for a medal chance, but lacked the fifth of Berlin was only 0.7 points on the podium two years ago.
Even Germany's Olympic silver medalist Marcel Nguyen could just not (yet) decide again for a full-all-around competition - occurs only on rings, vault and parallel bars, as well Fabian Hambüchen waived after his finger injury this spring on the support device pommel horse. Only the Hanoverian Olympian Andreas Toba is provided for the complete all-around.
Thus missing from the start of this year the battle for the highest-continental title at the all-around crown maybe the last explosive and kindness ...? ... perhaps what the voltage should ultimately do not detract.
However, when from150 athletes more than the half (85!) will no longer be interested at the all-around, this does'nt helps in year one of the new Olympic cycle necessarily add value to the championship!

The apparatus lists, MEN
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> Floor exercises;   > Pommel horse;
> Still Rings;            > V a u l t;
> Parallel bars:        > High bar

WOMEN's ALL-AROUND
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Also on women's side, there will be a new European gymnastics queen, as the gold medalist from Berlin, Anna Dementieva missing from injury reasons, so that probably two years ago at the very beginning with a knee injury, retiring all-around world champion of Rotterdam 2010, Aliya Mustafina will be one of the first contenders for the crown.
Likely to be strongest competitors like Andreea Iordache (ROU) and Anastasia Grishina (RUS), who delivered last year in Brussels, the best all-around fights, but this was not advertised as a finale; just the second Romanian, Diana Bulimar may be one of the favorites for medals.
The right way the Russian hosts will enter with a quartet a full all-around, alongside Mustafina and Grishina with Maria Paseka and Ksenia Afanasjeva.

From the top 10 fighters of the 2011 Berlin's Championships, the first four gymnasts no longer there,
the fifth, Ferlito (ITA) occurs only on two apparatus, but her sixth placed tireless compatriot Vanessa Ferrari. Her all-around world title (Aarhus 2006), however, lies back for 7 years!

From the 2011 European Championships top Ten in Berlin, only three will start again in Moscow:
Besides Ferrari still Giulia Steingruber (9th) and Marine Brevet (FRA), as the 10th.
More than on men's side, should the former female juniors come to the fore:
Thus the German uneven bars Junior European Champion Sophie Scheder from Chemnitz (GER), the explosive Dutch Chantysha Netteb, won the juniors vault title last year in Brussels or even the British bronze medallist on floor, Gabrielle Jupp ...