One of the top gymnasts from Ukraine in the last years, Vlada Nikolchenko, is back after suffering from health problems. The decision was determined last weekend by Irina Deriugina after the control training of the Ukrainian Rhythmic Gymnastics Team.
Vlada was recovering from COVID-19 consequences that made the gymnast stop training for a few weeks. It was quite clear that Khrystina Pohranychna and Viktoriia Onopriienko were the ones selected for representing Ukraine at Europeans, but it was a last time minute decision including Vlada in this competition.
Vlada Nikolchenko (UKR)
Team Ukraine for European Championships 2021 in Varna, Bulgaria are:
The International Gymnastics Federation confirmed after the conclusion of World Cup Series the participants for Olympic Games. Ekaterina Vedeneeva (Serbia) and Sabina Tashkenbaeva (Uzbekistan) are qualified via the World Cup Series. Their spot is a nominative quota. Japan, has got also a non-nominative spot.
There is still place for an European, Asian, Oceanian and American gymnasts, which are yet to decide. Africa already confirmed the gymnast qualified via African Championships, Habiba Marzouk from Egypt. The Olympic Committe already released that Marcia Alves Lopes from Cape Verde should go to Olympic Games.
Salome Pazhava (GEO)
The countries that already qualified for the Olympics Games, regarding Individual Senior Gymnasts are:
Russia with two spots. They will compete as “Russian Olympic Committee”.
Israel with two spots.
Bulgaria with two spots.
Ukraine with two spots.
Italy with two spots.
United Stated with two spots.
Belarys with two spots.
Azerbaijan one spot.
Japan with two spots.
Ekaterina Vedeeneva from Serbia.
Sabina Tashkenbaeva from Uzbekistan.
Habiba Marzouk from Egypt.
At the moment, only six places are open:
One from Europe
One from Oceania
One from Asia
One from America
Reallocated spot from host country.
Tripartite invitation place
The spot from the host country at the moment goes from Salome Pazhava (GEO) and, the one from Tripartire invitation rolls to Marcia Alves Lopes from Cape Verde.
The third international tournament ended with the triumph of Russian Team. It was a great option to all teams that do not want to risk the health of their children and their coaches, but still want to compete. Each new edition there are more and more participating countries, both in number and in composition. One of the strongest gymnast from Bulgaria, Katrin Taseva, took part in this tournament and took third place in the all-around competition. Ekaterina Selezneva is increasing her physical shape since she was ill and still recovering. Daria Trubnikova and Diana Simoshina are in the same situation, that’s why they didn’t compete in the 3rd International Online Tournament. On the other hand, Sofia Agafonova, was diagnosed with a stress fracture.
Daria Trubnikova (RUS)
Sofia could, of course, perform on painkillers, but we did not risk it, because the girl is still a junior. Therefore, we decided not to risk her health. “
Irina Viner Usmanova said
Anastasiya Guzenkova tested positive in COVID and she spent 14 days in isolation. She was tested three times, hoping the first one was false positive. So it was with Simakova. But every time she had a positive result. Although outwardly she was absolutely healthy. Therefore, I just sat at home in quarantine, now everything is fine.
Unfortunately, Covid indirectly greatly influenced, of course. We have never had so many injuries.
Explained by Irina Viner Usmanova
Anastasiya Guzenkova
What is your opinion about the Senior Russian Team?
This is an established team, they are a mountain for each other, they understand each other perfectly, they are very motivated, they are very good children. But, unfortunately, their program leaves much to be desired in terms of difficulty. However, they are ready. Some have been ill with covid, some were injured, because they still have an adult program. We made it easier precisely so that they could do it in the composition in which they are now. They performed pretty well. But yesterday, by the way, their coaches wrote to me that they would not be responsible for their performance. Because their training was not compatible, first of all, with injuries. I made a decision that they will still perform, because they have been preparing so much … Otherwise, it would not be right. And it could hit their nerves so that they would take a very long time to recover. We talked and decided that they would perform.
What is your opinion about the Italian and Bulgarian Team?
Italians, like us and refused to participate in the European Championship. The Bulgarians did not go with the group exercise either. A girl in Bulgaria immediately after Kiev fell ill, the judges fell ill, other children in different countries fell ill. I refused in July, I understood everything. They gathered everyone and even asked if they could take gymnasts from one team and move them to another team. Everything is possibe!
Ekaterina Selezneva (RUS)
An International Tournament, “Moscow Cup” will be held on December 17th. Some gymnasts will perform once again except for Arina and Dina. And the group will also perform. In February, if everything goes well, the Grand Prix of Moscow will be online.
Full Results of 3rd International Online Tournament
Irina Viner-Usmanova, president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, received the Prize of Russia prize in the “Coach of the Year” in Russia at a ceremony held by the Russian Ministry of Sports. The National Sports Award was founded by the government of the Russian Federation in 2010.
The winners are awarded with this title of laureate win a prize of 1 million rubles. Eleven people were nominated for this award. Team Russia did participate in the 2020 European Championships. European Championships of Kiev was not a part of the Olympic Qualification Proccess. Russia was already qualified.
“This is my second big competition for 2020. We officially close the season. It was a very strange and different year. Although we did not have normal training and we constantly had to interrupt, we left for this race with a great desire to compete and show that we can and will fight for medals. I want to thank all the people who were by my side and helped me get through this difficult time. I know that this was definitely not my maximum and I am ready to work 24/7 to achieve together the result that so many people work and dream about!
Boryana Kaleyn (BUL)
Yeva Meleschuk (UKR)
“I always do everything that is important for me with love❤️ and these wonderful emotions of happiness and pride to represent Ukraine at our European Championship in Kiev will remain in my memory forever✨ No matter how difficult the training path was, I knew that I was where I should be and where you wait me, love and support me! Let the Championship be without public, but thanks to the incredible work of everyone in organizing these competitions, that each of you could live this celebration of sport with us! And I want to say thank you to all our coaches, doctors, photographers, fans, because we are one team, we are Team Ukraine and we are making history together”
Yeva Meleshchuk (UKR)
Ireesha Blohina (UKR)
“This is a historic medal for out team”
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WHOLE TEAM & COUNTRY WINNING TEAM ALL ROUND GOLD MEDAL!!!!
Team Ukraine
Alina Harnasko (BLR)
“I am very happy! I can’t believe this is real!”
Alina Harnasko (BLR)
Anastasiia Salos (BLR)
“Thank you all so much for your support and faith in me!”
Anastasiia Salos (BLR)
Karina Sydorak (UKR)
“This is the end of my first European Championships.These were unforgettable impressions and emotions. We have been waiting for this event for a long time. Thank you to all organizers and sponsors who never let me give up, always help me in difficult moments, rejoice for me and love me. And finally, thank you to everyone who cared and believed for me. The main thing is to believe and work hard, then dreams come true!”
Karina Sydorak (UKR)
Daria Atamanov (ISR)
“My first European Championship is done! I want to say a huge thank you to my amazing coaches who were by my side all the way and helped me achieve these results. This is my first time in a competition of this magnitude.”
Daria Atamanov (ISR)
Linoy Ashram (ISR)
“After a whole year of uncertainty about what is going to happen whether there will be an Olympics or not, whether there will be a European Championship or not, I am so happy that I have finally returned to a place I missed so much and have been waiting for so long and it is the competition surface. I did not go through this difficult and challenging period alone I received tremendous support from so many people who made sure I could continue to keep myself and fit.”
Linoy Ashram (ISR)
Melaniia Tur (UKR)
“I am overwhelmed with emotions … It was the most exciting, unforgettable and generally the coolest competition of the year! I can’t imagine myself with this medal (gold). Irina Ivanovna Deriugina, you are really the kind of person who knows how to support, praise, and put you on your feet. Your faith in me makes you move on and not relax! And I want to say so that everyone hears that despite all the difficulties and obstacles, I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE UP! So, with renewed vigor and spirit – let’s continue working!”
Melaniia Tur (UKR)
Polina Karika (UKR)
“I still can’t believe it … I am grateful to everyone who supported, helped, supported me and believed in me. Thank you for giving me a chance and believing in me to the last. I also want to say a huge thank you to all the coaching staff and my first coaches. And of course I want to thank my relatives who supported me in difficult times. It was a dream and it came true.”
Polina Karika (UKR)
Yelizaveta Zorkina (BLR)
“I want to say thank you very much for the preparation, for the moral support, for the patience and faith in me.”
Yelizaveta Zorkina (BLR)
Alona Hillel (ISR)
“Thank you so much to everyone my amazing coaches and the whole team. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life and I am so happy that I got to this European Championship. Thank you so much for an amazing experience!”
Linoy Ashram makes history and becomes the first non-Russian European Champion in the all-around senior individual final. Ashram, has won numerous medals in recent years and is seen as one of the country’s leading hopes in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Back in 1997 Elena Vitrichenko from Ukraine was the last non Russian to win this championship. The battle for gold displayed between Israel’s Linoy Ashram and Belarussian Alina Harnasko, who was in the last seasons recovering from ACL (knee) double surgery. About the bronze medal, several gymnasts were in contention before the fourth and last routine. Boryana Kaleyn from Bulgaria and Anastasiia Salos from Belarus were fighting for the podium, but after a drop in Boryana’s clubs routine, Salos got the medal.
Boryana Kaleyn (BUL)
Both Alina Harnasko and Linoy Ashram scored 100,900 but as the tie breaking rules state, the total execution is firstly compared. The technical deductions also moved Linoy into the lead ahead of Alina. This could gave the gold medal to Linoy Ashram from Israel.
Boryana Kaleyn could not win a medal this time and finished fourth ahead of Nicol Zelikman (ISR), who made four clear routines and Yeva Meleshchuk (UKR).
Euskalgym is a massive event for the audience to enjoy discovering the spectacularity of rhythmic gymnastics . It is a tribute to gymnastics, designed for the delight of fans of this sport, raised to the category of art.
It is one of the most famous events of the year, where the top gymnasts from around the world perform one or two exercises and a gala. The event was held in BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Center), Bilbao (Spain) which also hosted huge events such as MTV Music Awards.
Because of the worldwide health crisis, the event was cancelled by the organization and they are looking forward the next autumn in 2021.
Due to the worldwide health crisis, many federations withdrawn from European Championships that are going to be held in Kiev, Ukraine in a few days. A group that was among the favorites was Belarus. Today, Belarusian Senior Group withdrawn from the list.
On the other hand, Bulgarian Senior group recently confirmed that they withdrawn from European Championships in Kiev from November 26 to 29 since a member of the team, Erika Zafirova, tested positive for coronavirus. Local news reported that the team will be on quarantine for ten days and they will not be able to train either compete.
Ukrainian Senior Group
This competition will not qualify for Olympic Games, as it was planned before the health crisis.
Due to the current Covid19 crisis all over Europe, FIG will be asked to inform the IOC that Olympic Qualification is not possible at European Championships this year. These organizations don’t want to pressure Federations to travel to an event since the current situation is not appropiate for such an important decision.
Linoy Ashram (ISR)
Alina Harnasko (BLR)
Boryana Kaleyn (BUL)
Yeva Meleshchuk (UKR)
Zohra Aghamirova (AZE)
Andreea Verdes (ROU)
Fanni Pigniczki (HUN)
Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO)
Viktoria Bogdanova (EST)
Jelizaveta Polstjanaja (LAT)
Rejchl Stojanov (MAC)
Kamelya Tuncel (TUR)
Fausta Sostakaite (LTU)
Denisa Stepankova (CZE)
Elena Smirnova (LUX)
Lana Sambol (CRO)
Jovana Markovic (MNE)
Hana Kahriman (BIH)
