Rhythmic Gymnastics: Bulgarian Hopes Fall Short in Paris Qualification
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris saw two promising Bulgarian gymnasts stumble in the rhythmic gymnastics qualifications on August 8th. While both Stiliyana Nikolova and Boryana Kalein had high hopes of securing a place in the final, neither managed to advance.
Nikolova’s Disappointing Debut
Nikolova, a highly-touted 18-year-old, entered the competition as a favorite for the gold medal. However, she struggled with several mistakes during her routines on the hoop, ball, and clubs, ultimately finishing 11th with a score of 127.700, just 4 tenths of a point away from the final.
Kalein Secures Her Place
While Nikolova fell short of expectations, 23-year-old Kalein secured her place in the final with a solid performance, earning the third-highest score (136.450) among the 24 gymnasts who qualified.
Other Notable Scores
Sofia Raffaelli of Italy topped the qualifications with 139.100 points, while Daria Varfolomeev (Germany) and Taissia Onofreychuk (Ukraine) secured second and fourth place respectively.
Final Hopes Rest on Kalein
With Nikolova out of contention, the hopes of a Bulgarian medal now rest on Kalein’s shoulders. She will compete in the final on Friday, August 9th at 3:30 p.m.