28. August 2022  
Cluj-Napoca, ROU  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

2022 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Circuit

As in artistic gymnastics, the world gymnastics association FIG has announced 10 world cups in Rhythmic Gymnastics in the post-Olympic year 2022:
The first five are defined by the FIG as WORLD CUPS. The FIG designates a further five following as World Challenge Cups. (Unfortunately, any differences are hardly comprehensible for the understanding of the public.).
→   The No. 4 of this WC circuit one week after Easter took place in the capitel of Azerbaijan, in Baku from April 22 - 24 (> see below).
* The third RG World Cup took place in Tashkent on Easter weekend, but only few gymnasts found their way to the Uzbek capital. Only 21 gymnasts from 14 nations and four groups take part at this event ...! The local hero Takhmina IKROMOVA won the won the all-around qualification, followed by Ekaterina Vedeneeva (118,200) and Darja Varfolomeev from Germany.
* The start were the World Cups in Athens on March (18th - 20th), and after then followed by Sofia (BUL), but the FIG World Cup in Pesaro in Italy was moved from the beginning of April to the new date June 3rd - 5th.
→ The World Challenge Cup serie opened on May 20th in Pamplona (ESP), followed by Portimao (POR) and after  Pesaro (ITA; Minsk & Moscow are cancelled!) and ends now in Cluj-Napoca (ROU).
The 39th World Gymnastics Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics 2022 from September 14 - 18 in Sofia will be the highlight of this rhythmic year...:

* 26 - 28-September-2022:
(3) World Challenge Cup - Cluj-Napoca / ROU

→  FIG - PREVIEW  --: The traditional summer pause concluded, Rhythmic Gymnastics returns for the third and final World Challenge Cup of the 2022 season, a competition that will set the stage for September’s World Championships in Sofia (BUL).
** I N D I V I D U A L - -:
More than 140 gymnasts will convene in Cluj-Napoca (ROU) for the final stop on the Rhythmic World Challenge Cup circuit, following fruitful competitions in Pamplona (ESP) and Portimao (POR) this spring. Many of the same will then head to the Bulgarian capital 600 kilometers south, where the world titles will be decided 14-18 September.
Cluj-Napoca, a city nestled in the heart of Transylvania, is a place of happy memories for Boryana Kaleyn (BUL), who in one of the most memorable performances of her career swept the individual titles at this event in 2021, establishing herself as a World favorite. A year on, Kaleyn returns as one of the favorites, albeit with stiff competition nipping at her heels. In addition to her continental rivals Sofia Raffaeli (ITA), Stiliana Nikolova (BUL), and European All-Around champion Daria Atamanov (ISR), the 28-nation field includes emerging challengers like World Cup medallist Elzhana Taniyeva (KAZ), and Kita Mirano (JPN), younger sister of 2020 Olympian Kita Sumire (JPN).
Darja Varfolomeev (GER) and Margarita Kolosov (GER), who have already recorded historic results for Germany on the international stage this season, will use the experience to test themselves once more against many of the best.
Representing the host nation will be Andreea Verdes and Anneliese Dragan, a consistent veteran and an exciting prospect, while the American experience will be embodied in Tokyo Olympian Evita Griskenas (USA) and 2021 World All-Around finalist Barbara Domingos (BRA), making her first World or World Challenge Cup appearance this season.
** G R O U P S - -:
In addition to the individuals, 18 groups, including World 3+2 champions Italy, are headed for Romania. The highly experienced Farfalle Azzurre — Martina Centofanti, Agnese Duranti, Alessia Maurelli, Laura Paris, Daniela Mogurean, and Martina Santandrea — have leapt at the chance to refine their routines on a big stage once more ahead of Sofia.
Bulgaria’s still new group, composed of Kamelia Petrova, Rachel Stoyanov, Radina Tomova, Zhenina Trashlieva, and Margarita Vasileva, is also making the journey from Sofia north for one final test run of routines ahead of the World Championships, where they too are favored for medals.
Japan, a nation that often places at or near the top of the leaderboard, will clash with newcomers, including a graceful new Brazilian team, always-innovative Mexico, and Spain, a great Rhythmic Gymnastics nation now rebuilding itself courtesy of dedicated team members Ana Arnau Camarena, Ines Bergua Navales, Patricia Perez Fos, Valeria Marquez, Mireia Martinez, and Salma Solaun.
* Nominative Registraion. ► INDIVIDUALS       ► GROUPS
+ + +
** EVENT - REPORT -- ALL-Around (Qualification):
* INDIVIDUAL - : After the conclusion of the all-around on day 2 of this FIG World Challenge Cup, Italy's Sofia RAFFAELI leads with a clear margin and 141.600 points ahead of Stiliana NIKOLOVA (BUL; 135.950) and ahead of Daria ATAMANOV from Israel (133.400) as well as Boryana KALEYN (BUL; 131.300. Behind Italy's Milena BALDASSARI (129.100), Darja VARFOLOMEEV from Germany is sixth with 125.700 points.
► Ind. All-Around

* IND. FINALS --: The All-around best Sofia RAFFAELI from Italy secured two more final victories with the hoop (ahead of B. Kaleyn) and with the ribbon (ahead of D. Atamanov), but Israel's Diana ATAMANOV prevented a Bulgarian victory with the ball by Boryana Kaleyn, who finished second. Instead, all-around runner-up for Bulgaria Stiliana NIKOLOVA triumphed with the clubs, preventing an Israeli double win by Atamanov.
Germany's Darja Varfolomeev just missed the medal podium with ball and clubs as fourth.
►► FINAL RESULT

* Groups - : The group competition is led by the Bulgarians (66.200) ahead of Israel (65.850) and Spain (64.700).
The German national group ranks 7th among the formations from 17 nations (59.250).
► Groups All-Around
* GROUPS FINALS --: BULGARIA's girls also secured the victories in the two apparatus finals: with the 5 hoops ahead of Israel and Spain, in the combined exercise ahead of Spain and - surprisingly - in front of the well-performing German group on third place!
►► FINAL RESULTS

 

 


.

→  ... World Challenge Cups:

(6)  =  3rd FIG World Challenge Cup - Pesaro / ITA * 03-05-June-2022;
             postponed from April  

* Italy's all-around and qualification best Sofia RAFFAELI also won three apparatus on the final day.
With the ball, the German all-around champion Maragarita Kolosov was unable to defend her second position in the prelims in the final and finished fourth.
The victory with the ribbon went to the Ukrainian Viktoria ONOPRIENKO. The two Bulgarians Stiliana Nikolova and Eva Brezalieva were the strongest opponents of the winners with second and third place in the final.

* ITALY also celebrated two victories in the group finals:
* With 5 hoops, hosts China and Bulgaria relegated to the medal ranks
* They won the 3-band/2-ball combo ahead of Bulgaria and Brazil.

►► All FINAL RESULTS
 + + +
.
* Friday/Saturday June 03/04

→  Qualification, Individual, All-around,
     →  Qualification Individual, Apparatus,
           →  Qualification, Groups

.

(6)  =  2nd FIG World Challenge Cup * 26-28 May-2022:   - Portimao / POR

 

 

→  The Israeli Adi Asya KATZ won the individual all-around of this FIG Challenge Cup with a total of 123,600 points.
With a second place, Darja Varfolomeev (GER; 120.500) underlined her ongoing and improved competition form and relegated the Bulgarian Eva Brezalieva (119.550) to third place with four flawless exercises.

* In the group all-around of the 10 participating formations, team Israel came out on top with 60,850 points, followed by Spain (58,800), Poland (55,700) and Mexico (55,400).
► Qualification results, all
.

(5)  = 1st FIG World Challenge Cup  Pamplona (ESP);  20.-22. May 2022

After the spring serie of the four FIG World Cup events of rhythmic gymnastics now follows the FIG circuit of this years World Challenge cups:
The first station is the city of Pamplona (ESP).
♦ INDIVIDUAL:
After the second day of qualification after four apparatus leads the Bulgarian Stiliana Nikolova (251,150) after the injury of her leading teammate Boryana Kaleuyn. Ekaterina Vedeneeva from Slovenia (249,250) came on second place, followed by Adi Asya Katz (ISR; 240,100) and  Darja Varfolomeev (GER; 216,300) in front of altogether 35 participants from 21 different nations ...
>> AA results    ►► App. Finals, All 
.
♦ GROUPS:
After the groups qualification (5 hoops & combi exercise) the group of Italy won the all-around qualification with 134,550 points in front of Israel (119,350) and Azerbaijan (117,800) followed by seven more participating nations.
ITALY then proved unbeatable in both group finals.
>>  Groups AA qualification    ►► Group Event Finals

.

 

 

(4) FIG RG World Cup  BAKU (AZE);  22.- 24. April 2022

* Qualifying --:
Sofia Raffaeli of Italy finished the World Cup all-around in Baku (AZE) with the highest score of 125.150 points and tops the apparatus lists with clubs and hoop.She relegated Bulgaria's Boryana Kaleyn to second place with 124,700 points. The Bulgarian achieved the best apparatus values with the ball and the ribbon.Third in the all-around was Milena Baldassari from Italy (121.550).
♦  FINALS --:
But on the final day Boryana KALEYN (BUL) won two apparatuses, with the ball and with the ribbon.
Earlier, Sofia RAFFAELI (ITA) had won the competition with the hoop and Israel's Daria ATAMANOV ousted Raffaeli from the top position with the clubs.
► Ind. ALL-around     > App. Qualifications
    ►► App. FINALS

* In the group all-around competition in the discipline 5 hoops, Italy prevailed in the qualification ahead of host Azerbaijan, followed by Israel, Germany, Japan and Uzbekistan. A total of 14 formations are involved in this World Cup.
♦  FINALS --: In the group finals (combination exercise balls/ribbons) the girls from ITALY beat the formations from Japan and Kazakhstan, ahead of Germany and Azerbaijan.
With the 5 hoops, host AZERBAIJANprevailed just ahead of Italy and Israel. Japan and Germany followed on the places...
► Groups All-around    > Qualification 5 Hoops;   > Qualification Combi.
    ►► Groups FINALS
.

(3) FIG RG World Cup  TASHKENT (UZB);   15.-17. April 2022

Tokyo 2020 Olympians Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA) and Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO) headline this weekend’s Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Tashkent (UZB), the third of five events of the FIG 2022 Rhythmic World Cup series,
... but only few gymnasts found their way to the Uzbek capital. Only 21 gymnasts from 14 nations and only four national groups takes part at this event ... and so there were some surprising and unusual results in Tashkent...:
....
► Ind. ALL-around      ►► App. FINALS 

► Groups All-around   ►► Groups FINALS
.
.

(2) FIG RG World Cup  SOFIA (BUL);   08. - 10. April 2022

* f i g --: The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia was marked by a highly emotional moment on Sunday when FIG President Morinari Watanabe invited the audience to observe a minute’s silence in memory of a young gymnast, the 11 years old talent Kateryna Dyachenko, who died during the siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
The President had tears in his eyes as he took to the stage before the finals.
“Last month, there should have been a Rhythmic Gymnastics event in Kiyv: the Deriugina Cup,” he began.
“Like many young girls who are here for this World Cup, one young girl, a very promising gymnast, was dreaming of this event in Kiyv. “This young girl was Kateryna Dyachenko. She was ten years old, and was killed in the siege of Mariupol with her father.
“Her death makes me very sad. Because, as I always say, we are all part of the Gymnastics family. And whatever their nationality, all gymnasts are my children, your children and our children. “Please join me in a moment of silence and prayer for Kateryna, her family and all the innocent victims of the war. “We all hope that the day will come soon when peace will be restored … and that nothing will prevent all the young Katerynas of this world from pursuing their dreams.”
 + + +
.
The Bulgarian hosts dominated the World Cup in the Bulgarian capital with all-around winner Boryana Kaleyn also winning three of the apparatus finals. The victory with the clubs went to her compatriot Stiliana Nikolova, who was third in the all-around of the 38 participants from 28 nations.

  ► All-around results;    ►► Final Results
In the group competition, Bulgaria was also ahead in the all-around. Greece came in second, ahead of France and Japan. Behind Spain and unrivaled, the German group was in sixth and last place as only those six nations were involved overall. The final with 5 hoops also went to host Bulgaria. The final 3 ribbons / 2 balls was won by the best group of qualification, by Greece, in front of Bulgaria and Japan.
► Groups AA-results    ►► Groups, Final results

♦  ... f i r s t  →

(1)  FIG RG World Cup 
Palaio Faliro, Athens (GRE); 18 - 20. March 2022

A completely "new" favorite situation arose at the 7th Aphrodite Cup 2022 in the southern metropolitan region of the Greek capital Athens, in Paleo Faliro. This FIG competition with World Cup status had to do without the sanctioned Russian and Belarusian gymnastics dominance.

In the all-around, the Italian Sofia RAFFAELI (122.650) won the medals ahead of the two Israelis Daria ATAMANOV (120.650) and Michelle SEGAL (116.650), just like a German gymnast who proudly placed 4th The German champion Margarita Kolosov (SC Potsdam; 115,900) came fourth in the all-around and Melanie Dargel (TG Worms; 110,650) was ranked 8th among the 24 starters from a total of 15 nations.
The two all-around best gymnasts also shared the final victories with the four manual devices:
Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) added victories with ball and clubs to her all-around gold.
Daria Atamanov (ISR) won with hoop and ribbon. Motivated by her 4th place in the all-around, Germany's Margarita Kolosov reached all four apparatus finals, was second with the ribbon, third with the ball, 5th with the hoop and 8th in the club final. Melanie Dargel was happy about bronze with the hoops and reached both the ball and the ribbon finals in eighth place.

* R E S U L T S:
► Ind. All-around;      ► App. Finals   ► Groups: AA & Finals

.
.
... cancelled FIG Challenge Cups

(-)  FIG RG World Challenge Cup  Moscow (RUS);  19.-21. August 2022 (cancelled!)

(-)  FIG RG World Challenge Cup  Minsk (BLR);  02.-04. September 2022 (cancelled!)

* Source: FIG
(Subject to change)