Budapest, May 26, 2024 – In a stunning display of athleticism and grace, the Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics team achieved a historic victory at the European Championships held in the “Papp László” arena, securing three gold medals.
This triumphant performance echoed their success from May 20, 2023, in Baku, where they similarly won three titles in a single day.
Eighteen-year-old Stiliana Nikolova was the star of the event, capturing her second consecutive European title in the all-around category.
Under the expert guidance of coach Valentina Ivanova, Nikolova delivered exceptional performances across all four routines, amassing a total of 143.750 points. Her breakdown included 35.700 on the hoop, 37.200 on the ball, 36.050 on clubs, and 34.800 on the ribbon.
Each performance showcased her precision, elegance, and technical prowess, with her ball routine earning the highest score of the championship.
This gold marks Nikolova’s first European title, adding to her previous achievements of bronze medals in Tel Aviv 2022 and Baku 2023.
Her victories have firmly established her as a rising star in the world of rhythmic gymnastics.
Defending champion Boryana Kaleyn, despite her previous success, finished fourth in the all-around competition with a total of 135.550 points.
Kaleyn’s performances were marked by some inaccuracies, scoring 34.150 on the hoop, 33.300 on the ball, 34.300 on clubs, and 33.800 on the ribbon.
The Bulgarian ensemble also shone brightly, capturing the second all-around title for Bulgaria. The team, comprising Magdalina Minevska, Sofia Ivanova, Kamelia Petrova, Rachel Stoyanov, and Margarita Vasileva, delivered mesmerizing routines.
Their performance earned 39,150 points for the five-hoop routine and 34,850 points for the three-ribbon/two-ball routine, culminating in a total of 74,000 points.
This impressive display was a testament to the exceptional coaching of Vesela Dimitrova and Yasena Stoineva. Adding to Bulgaria’s medal haul, the team clinched the gold in the team competition.
The collective efforts of Boryana Kaleyn, Stiliana Nikolova, Elvira Krasnobaeva, and the women’s ensemble resulted in a winning score of 343.150 points, outperforming Italy’s 338.550 and Israel’s 334.500.
In total, Bulgaria has garnered five medals in Budapest so far: Stiliana Nikolova’s all-around gold, the ensemble’s all-around gold, and the team gold, alongside Dara Malinova’s silver on ribbon and Magdalena Valkova’s bronze on ball in the junior individual apparatus finals.
The excitement continues as the final day of the European Championships promises six more medal events in the women’s individual apparatus and ensemble finals.
Bulgarian gymnasts are poised for further success, with Stiliana Nikolova competing in hoop, ball, and ribbon; Boryana Kaleyn in hoop and clubs; Elvira Krasnobaeva in clubs and ribbon; and the ensemble in five-hoop and three-ribbon/two-ball events.
As the Bulgarian anthem resonated through the “Papp László” arena three times, the nation’s rhythmic gymnasts once again proved their dominance and excellence on the European stage, promising a bright future for the sport in Bulgaria.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members