2024-05-05 14:00:54
Two gold and one silver medal for Boryana Kalein, one gold for Stiliyana Nikolova from the four finals after Stili’s triumph and in the all-around of the European Cup. The ensemble with gold and bronze
Bulgarian triumph on Easter in rhythmic gymnastics – three gold and one silver medal for the native graces from the four finals of the first European Cup, after the success in the all-around with the historic first “cross battles” was also Bulgarian!
Boryana Kalein won two gold medals – in ball and ribbon, and silver in hoop from her three finals. Stilijana Nikolova took the gold bars in her only final.
According to the rules of the European Cup, only one gymnast from a nation qualifies for the final of a given apparatus – the one who recorded a higher result in the qualifications, if more than one is graded as a final. Thus Kalein represents our country in three finals, and Nikolova – in one. And of all Bulgaria was on the ladder, as “Dear Motherland” was played three times on Easter in Baku
The local crowd learned our national anthem “by heart” as it played after the interesting battles for the individual all-around on the first day as well.
On Good Friday, Stiliyana Nikolova became the first-ever champion of the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Cup under the rules, according to which the top 16 in the qualifiers enter direct eliminations from the round of 16 through the quarter-final, semi-final and final until the winner is determined by a “battle” with one combination each with a different appliance in each subsequent phase. Only Stili remained undefeated and took home the trophy, narrowly winning the Bulgarian derby with Boryana Kalein in the club semifinals, and recording a space score of 37.200 on hoop in the quarterfinals.
The ensemble of Bulgaria won the gold medals in the final of the mixed combination with 3 ribbons and 2 balls. Vesela Dimitrova’s girls scored 33.900. The silver went to Italy (33.700) and the bronze to Azerbaijan (29.950).
Bulgarian girls Magdalena Minevska, Sofia Ivanova, Kamelia Petrova, Rachel Stoyanov Margarita Vasileva also earned bronze medals in the five-hoop final with a score of 37.750. The gold went to Israel (38.950) and the silver to Italy (38.050).