site.btaBulgarian Rhythmic Gymnasts Make History at European Championships in Budapest

Bulgaria’s rhythmic gymnasts won three out of three gold medals at the 40th European Championships in Budapest on Saturday. This is the second time in a row that the Bulgarian athletes have won three titles in one day after their strong performance at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Baku on May 20, 2023.

Stiliyana Nikolova won the gold medal in the all-around event. This is Bulgaria’s second consecutive European title in the all-around after Boryana Kaleyn triumphed in Baku last year.

Nikolova performed strongly in all four of her routines and received a total of 143.750 points. The 18-year-old scored 36.050 points on the clubs, 34.800 points on the ribbon, and 35.700 points on the hoop. She was awarded 37.200 points for her ball routine, which is the highest score in the Championships ever.

Boryana Kaleyn placed fourth, scoring a total of 135.550 points (34.150 on the hoop, 33.300 on the ball, 34.300 on the clubs, and 33.800 on the ribbon).

Later, the Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics ensemble triumphed at the group all-around event. Magdalena Minevska, Sofia Ivanova, Kamelia Petrova, Rachel Stoyanov, and Margarita Vasileva received 39.150 points for their five-hoop routine and 34.850 points for their routine with three ribbons and two balls. By scoring a total of 74.000 points, they snatched the gold for the second year in a row.

Bulgaria won its third gold medal in the team all-around event. The team made up of Boryana Kaleyn, Stiliyana Nikolova, Elvira Krasnobaeva, and the women's ensemble clinched their title with a total of 343.150 points. Italy came in second with 338.550, and Israel made it to the third position with 334.500 points.

So far, Bulgaria has won five medals at the Budapest Championships. Earlier, Dara Malinova took silver on the ribbon and Magdalena Valkova bronze on the ball in the junior individuals apparatus finals.

On Sunday, the last day of the European Championships, Nikolova and Krasnobaeva will compete in the senior individuals apparatus finals. The Bulgarian ensemble will take part in the five hoops and three ribbons/two balls finals.