Press release via the European Union of Gymnastics:

The 32nd European Championships in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics concluded this afternoon with four fantastic apparatus finals, featuring gymnasts from no less than 12 different countries!

Hungarian pride

Top Boglarka Devai was the first gymnasts to perform her two vaults and nervously waited as the other gymnasts passed. Her strong emotions were noticed by the audience and the TV spectators who bite their nails in anticipation. When she realised she had upgraded her bronze medal from last year to her first European title, Devai flew in the arms of her coach and 2017 champion Coline Devillard. A great moment, 20 years after compatriot Adrienn Varga took the vault gold in St-Petersburg! And it’s worth saying that it’s just the third gold medal ever for Hungary! A delighted Devai told us: "I can't believe I have won this title. I was very nervous entering this championship because my training wasn't so good, but I am very happy."Russia’s Angelina Melnikova vaulted to the silver, holding off a strong challenge by Romania’s Denisa Golgota. Sarah Voss (GER) performed well to finish 4th, overtaking Lilia Akhaimova (RUS). Defending Champion Devillard put her hands down on her second vault, taking her out of medal contention.

1.       Boglarka Devai (HUN) 14.349

2.       Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 14.233

3.       Denisa Golgota (ROU) 14.166

4.       Sarah Voss (GER) 14.083

5.       Lilia Akhaimova (RUS) 14.066

6.       Coline Devillard (FRA) 13.933

7.       Tisha Volleman (NED) 13.799

8.       Teja Belak (SLO) 13.533

Belgian double

In 2017 Nina Derwael became the first Belgian artistic gymnast to win a medal when she claimed gold on bars. In qualification she was second behind Sweden’s Jonna Adlerteg. In the final, however, she hit her routine and scored 14.733 which proved too high for anyone to beat. Adlerteg took the silver medal, 5 years after her first medal, a silver as well at the 2013 Moscow Europeans. A nice reward for the gymnast as she has been plagued by injuries. Angelina Melnikova collected her third medal, a bronze this time so she can go home with a complete set.

1.       Nina Derwael (BEL) 14.733

2.       Jonna Adlerteg (SWE) 14.533

3.       Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 14.366

4.       Kim Bui (GER) 14.200

5.       Uliana Perebinosova (RUS) 14.166

6.       Lorette Charpy (FRA) 14.133

7.       Juliette Bossu (FRA) 14.100

8.       Kelly Simm (GBR) 14.066

A new beam queen

A successor for 5-time European Beam Champion Catalina Ponor, who won the title last year and has since retired, has been crowned and it’s the reigning Olympic Champion Sanne Wevers (NED)! After the team success yesterday, Wevers focused on her individual final. "I really don't know how to describe this actually. I really have done everything in order to get this title. It is unbelievable and I am very happy with today. I had a nice and clean routine and it is just superb to win the European title here. It feels great. It is quite hard to always deliver your best results on the right moment. It is hard to find out how you can manage to do so. At least today it all worked out well. I knew I had a great routine, but I still had to wait for all the others to finish." Top qualifier Nina Derwael improved her routine slightly as she clinched her second medal of the day. France’s Marine Boyer edged teammate Melanie de Jesus dos Santos for the bronze medal.

1.       Sanne Wevers (NED) 13.900

2.       Nina Derwael (BEL) 13.600

3.       Marine Boyer (FRA) 13.166

4.       Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA) 13.066

5.       Ilaria Kaeslin (SUI) 12.466

6.       Pauline Schaefer (GER) 12.400

7.       Maellyse Brassart (BEL) 12.266

8.       Vasiliki Millousi (GRE) 12.133

French floor victory

Belgium’s Axelle Klinckaert led for a long time with her fantastically choreographed Harry Potter routine. Then Denisa Golgota (ROU) surpassed her score only to be outdone by the last performance by French star Melanie de Jesus dos Santos. "I think this was an amazing competition and I could not be happier about my floor routine. When I started gymnastics I never thought I could become European floor champion. I have realised how important it is to be resilient and how much your hard work can pay off." Although she didn’t end up on the medal podium, Celine Van Gerner (NED) certainly got noticed: she entered the stage with a special hairstyle and musical make-up that perfectly suited her Cats routine. Definitely the talk of the town!

1.       Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA) 13.766

2.       Denisa Golgota (ROU) 13.600

3.       Axelle Klinckaert (BEL) 13.400

4.       Celine Van Gerner (NED) 13.300

5.       Martina Basile (ITA) 13.166

6.       Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 13.166

7.       Jessica Castles (SWE) 12.800

8.       Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR) 12.633