Only six Senior Groups will participate in Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships
Due to the worldwide health crisis, many federations withdrawn from European Championships that are going to be held in Kiev, Ukraine in a few days.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 Today, Belarusian Senior Group withdrawn from the list.
On the other hand, Bulgarian Senior group recently confirmed that they withdrawn from European Championships in Kiev from November 26 to 29 since a member of the team, Erika Zafirova, tested positive for coronavirus.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.
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.
Bulgarian Senior Group will not participate at European Championships
Bulgarian Senior group recently confirmed that they withdrawn from European Championships in Kiev from November 26 to 29 since a member of the team, Erika Zafirova, tested positive for coronavirus.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.
Bulgarian Senior Group will no longer travel to the Kiev
This group has been in top 5 positions since 2014 and they clearly were favorites.
The situation right now is really unstable due to the Covid crisis in the whole Europe. Irina Deriugina confirmed this week that their intention is to still organize the event under strict conditions and with no audience.
On the other hand, Boryana Kaleyn and Katrin Taseva, will represent Bulgaria in the individual competition.
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Results of the Poll: “TOP FIVE HOOP EXERCISES OF THE DECADE”
Interview to Vlada Nikolchenko
Current Ukrainian Champion, Vlada Nikolchenko recently talked to European Gymnastics Website about her Rhythmic Gymnastics career.
Just three weeks left to go to until the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships kick off!
Last week, several countries declined their participation at this event, including one of the favorite team, Italy. At the end of September, Russia also confirmed they won’t compete at European Championships this year due to the health crisis. Russia was already qualified for Olympic Games
“For us, the pandemic is affecting both physically and emotionally. Many competitions were cancelled. We are still training, went to a training camp this summer and got fit for the competitions. We are glad Irina Ivanovna Deriugina could manage to hold the Deriugina Cup last September.”
“The worldwide health crisis is affecting us both physically and emotionally”
“After everything was closed because of the lockdown in March, we had three months to prepare for competitions. The situation in the country remained difficult even at the beggining of the summer. At the moment, we are intensively preparing for the main date of this year – the European Championships. It is very important for us, the athletes to feel the spirit of the high level competition. We believe that everything will work out, despite all the hard times and the latest news.”
“My aim is to to compete at Olympic Games and win a medal. Right now I am also studying to become a coach, looking forward the future.”
“Many fans wrote us and supported us during quarantine, when everybody in Europe was at home. We were also asked to shoot some videos as an inspiration and support for all the gymnasts, who couldn’t train. In Instagram, they are creating groups to support us and fanpages. I have 30 thousand subscribers on my Instagram fan page. In Ukraine, we have a Telegram channel of the national team, but the interest for rhythmic gymnastics never subsides.”
Kiev host the European Championships with the absence of the spectators in the stands.
Source: European Gymnastics
Rhythmic Gymnastics: Music
The music is the artistic part of a Rhythmic Gymnastics exercise. It is also regulated by Rhythmic Gymnastics Code of Points. A sounds signal may start before the music, which indicates the gymnast to be ready for the song. The sounds of sirens, car engines and non typical music is totally forbidden. Each piece of music must be recorded using CD, single or USB. The name of the gymnast, country (the 3 capital letters used by the FIG to designate the gymnast’s country) and the apparatus.
Since 2013, music with non-offensive words was allowed to use in Rhythmic Gymnastics
Penalties:
- 0.50 point for music not conforming to regulations for Individual and Group exercises.
- In case the music plays incorrectly (wrong music, music distortion or interruption, etc.), it is the responsibility of the gymnast(s) or Group(s) to stop the exercise as soon as the gymnast(s) or Group(s) realizes the music is incorrect; the gymnast(s) will exit the competition floor and will re-enter and re-start the routine with her/their own/correct music when called to the competition floor.
Several countries declined their participation in European Championships in Kiev
A total of 27 federations were registered in entries at the end of October in this year’s European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics which will be held in Kiev (UKR) from 26 to 29 November.
Due to the health crisis situation all around the World, the Olympic qualification process was moved to next year’s event but these gymnasts are still offered the opportunity to compete.
The host nation, Ukraine, will be represented by Viktoriia Onopriienko and Vlada Nikolchenko.
The following countries in red colour in the list of nominative entries, are not going to compete at European Championships.
The last country that joined the list of non-participation was Italy.
Calendar of Rhythmic Gymnastics Events in 2021
| 09/04/2021 – 11/04/2021 | FIG World Cup 2021 | SOFIA (BUL) |
| 16/04/2021 – 18/04/2021 | FIG World Cup 2021 | TASHKENT (UZB) |
| 07/05/2021 – 09/05/2021 | FIG World Cup 2021 | BAKU (AZE) |
| 21/05/2021 – 23/05/2021 | FIG World Challenge Cup 2021 | PORTIMAO (POR) |
| 28/05/2021 – 30/05/2021 | FIG World Cup 2021 | PESARO (ITA) |
| 25/06/2021 – 27/06/2021 | FIG World Challenge Cup 2021 | CLUJ-NAPOCA (ROU) |
| 02/07/2021 – 04/07/2021 | FIG BSB Bank World Challenge Cup 2021 | MINSK (BLR) |
| 09/07/2021 – 11/07/2021 | FIG World Challenge Cup 2021 | MOSCOW (RUS) |
| 23/07/2021 – 08/08/2021 | Games of the XXXII Olympiad | TOKYO (JPN) |
Green light to European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships 2020
The European Gymnastics Executive Committee met online today in order to discuss the 2020 events that are still planned. The most important decision was about the 2020 European Championships, allocated to Kiev, Ukraine. The UEG gave green light to the the event, but 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.
39 countries already have signed up for European Championships 2020 in Kiev, Ukraine.
The surprising fact is that team Russia did not sign up for this event, that is scheduled from 26 to 29 November 2020 in Kiev.
Katsiaryna Halkina underwent ankle surgery
The winner of bronze medal at European Championships 2018, underwent surgery in Germany last week. Dr. Teßmann is Head of Trauma Surgery and Arthroscopic Surgery / Sports Traumatology at the Helios Clinic in Berlin and is responsible of Halkina’s surgery. “Successful treatment is always my goal. A quick and correct diagnosis is important. It is important to consider individually whether an operation is necessary or whether conservative treatment is sufficient “, said the Doctor.
Katsiaryna Halkina was suffering from ankle pain since last year and an operation was needed to be pain-free. Now, she needs three weeks of physical therapy. She could be able to train again full load in two or three months.
The main goal for her to achieve is to compete again at Olympic Games, this time in Tokyo as it was planned. By the moment, Katsiaryna Halkina will not compete at European Championships, that will be held in Kiev at the end of November
Interview to Viktoriia Onopriienko
Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR)
Viktoriia Onopriienko is the current Ukrainian Champion and vice-champion of the European Championship. Last week, she answered many questions and also thanked everyone in a Livestream conversation on Instagram with her fans.
How did you get into the national team?
I joined the National Team after National Championships of Ukraine, in Sumy in 2016. We did a group exercise and 4 individual exercises. After this, they called my coach and said that Irina Ivanovna Deryugina wanted to see me. The next day we arrived at the October Palace. Anna Rizatdinova, Victoria Mazur (the leaders of the current past National Team) were there. My heart just jumped out of my chest. Irina Ivanovna asked me to warm up and show off my exercises. She wanted me to be in the National Team.
Which is your favorite exercise from 2017 to 2020?
I really liked the exercise with the ball “Fever”. This year I like all my exercises, but I would highlight last year’s exercises with a ribbon and clubs.
– How long does your training last?
The first training session starts at 9-10 am and we work out for an hour or two. Then we have a break. The second workout depends on how we are released, usually until 7-8 pm. In general, we train 8-10 hours a day. Sometimes we also have one training session on Saturday.
How hard was for you to get back in shape after quarantine?
It was quite hard, especially to prepare yourself for the Ukrainian Championship. During the quarantine we also had to work out.
Which are your favorite gymnastics element?
I have no favorite elements, but my top elements, as they say, are ring balance and back balance.
Do you prefer unitards or leotards?
I have both, even leotards with or without a skirt.
Have you ever thinked about stop doing gymnastics?
Yes, in the past when the workload increased in training, and I began to take part in competitions more often. At the same time I also went to school and I was very tired. My parents help me a lot, they know how to motivate and support me.
Who is the strictest coach in the national team?
All our coaches are strict in their own way. We have good behaviour to all the coaches and we have mutual understanding.
What do you do in your free time?
My favorite hobby is cooking.
If you could remove or add some rules in rhythmic gymnastics, what would it be?
I would like to add more elegant movements. According to the rules, there is a lot of work with the apparatus and, I would like to relieve this a little bit, so that the emphasis of the exercise focuses in the artistry.
Which are your plans for the future?
So far, the future for me is the Olympic Games. I really want to represent the Ukrainian National Team at the Olympics and raise up the flag of our country.
Do you speak Ukrainian? Which language do you use more: Russian or Ukrainian?
My whole family speaks Ukrainian. At home with my parents I speak Ukrainian, but in trainings I prefer to speak in Russian.
In which country did you like to perform the most?
Spain. Spanish fans adore this sport, especially gymnasts from Ukraine. They really like our school, our performances and exercises.
Viktoriia Onopriienko at Grand Prix Marbella
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Rhythmic Gymnastics Info 