Switzerland’s Shining Star

 

Swiss star and international powerhouse Giulia Steingruber is one of the best gymnasts in the world and this week’s Gymnastike Gymnast of the Week. She has absolutely dominated Swiss gymnastics and made a name for herself and her country on the world stage, competing at numerous World Championships as well as the 2012 Olympics. 

 

Steingruber began gymnastics when she was seven years old and describes the sport as her “great love.” Her passion for gymnastics and ambitious personality has propelled her to compete and succeed among the worlds best. 

 

Elite Career

 

Steingruber first emerged into the international elite scene in 2010 and has competed at every European Championships, World Championships, and Olympics since then. In 2011, she claimed the Swiss National all-around, vault, and floor titles and has defended each of those titles in 2012, 2013, and 2014. 

 

She has claimed two gold medals and a bronze medal on vault at the European Championships. She has also earned a bronze on floor. In 2013 she just missed out on an all-around medal as she came in fourth. 

 

Steingruber has had a history of strong performances but just missing out on medals and she has yet to receive a medal from Worlds or the Olympics. At World Championships, she has placed fifth twice, in 2011 and 2014, and in 2013 she placed fourth. 

 

As you can tell from her placement, Steingruber’s strengths are the power events - vault and floor. However, she is clearly an all-around gymnast as she is still strong on bars and beam, just a little less consistent. Her skills include a front handspring rudi on vault, Yurchenko double full, and a lay out full in on floor. 
 

 

Recent Competitions

 

Steingruber has been busy this year and has competed successfully at numerous international meets. She began her year at the American Cup in March where she placed third all-around and first on floor. 

2014 European Championships Floor Event Finals. Video by YouTube user GutsuFan 

At the European Championships, she claimed gold on vault, bronze on beam, and placed eighth on floor. She also lead her team to an eighth place finish. At this year’s World Championships, she had a strong performance and finished 15th all-around, fifth on vault, ninth on floor, 12th on beam, and 21st on bars. 

 

Steingruber competed twice just this past week, first at the 2014 Arthur Gander Memorial and just yesterday at the Swiss Cup. At the Gander Memorial, she just missed out on a medal, placing fourth all-around. At this competition, she got to pick the events she wanted to compete on and she took a risk choosing beam. She ended up falling on beam but she still made it to finals. She had a solid vault in the finals round but it wasn’t enough to overcome her beam fall and she came in fourth. At the Swiss Cup, Steingruber and competition partner Claudio Capelli placed fourth as a pair. 


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Gymnast of the Week: Amelia Hundley