Photo: Anna Nedkova
Mere days before the start of the 39th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Baku (Azerbaijan), Bulgaria will hold its 2023 Nationals in the „Elite“ category, where we’ll see the junior and senior national team members, as well as the best-ranked gymnasts from the National Qualification „Julieta Shishmanova“, or in all 30 gymnasts in each age group – pre-juniors, juniors, and seniors. The all-around competition for all ages will take place on Thursday and Friday (11th and 12th of May), while the finals are on Saturday (13th of May). The junior and senior national groups will also make a special appearance, performing demos of their routines for the audience on Thursday and Friday.
As is already tradition, the winners in the all-around will be awarded special prizes, named after great Bulgarian gymnasts – prize „Maria Gigova“ for the senior champion, prize „Maria Petrova“ for the junior, and prize „Diliana Georgieva“ for the pre-junior.
After taking a break from training and returning in great shape just 2 weeks ago, Boryana Kaleyn will be aiming for her 5th consecutive senior national title. Stiliana Nikolova and Eva Brezalieva however will be sure not to make it easy for her, as they’re all in serious preparation for the upcoming Europeans, where Stiliana will perform with 4 apparatuses, Boryana with 3, and Eva will show her ribbon routine. Tatyana Volozhanina, Lachezara Pekova, and Mila Yanakieva, who competed strongly during the Team championships also aren’t to be underestimated, while Magdalina Minevska will sit this one while she recovers from an injury. On her part, back after a few serious injuries is Hristina Parvanova. Gymnasts to watch for outside of the national team include Alina Kolomiets, Sofia Pavlova, Elena Georgieva, and Bilyana Vezirska, both of which competed in the national group just a year ago, Ivon Boshkilova, Denitsa Minkova, Yana Staykova, Iva Vitkinova, and others.
In the junior category, Elvira Krasnobaeva and Nikol Todorova once again will be the top challengers for the gold medal, with Jana Pencheva, Dara Stoyanova, Dara Malinova, and Magdalena Valkova likely to get in their way. Debuting for the reserve junior national team we’ll see Viktoria Hristozova, Aleksa Rasheva, Yoana Moteva, Raya Bozhilova, and Sofia Chizhik.
Where to watch?
- b1b box will air the entire Senior All-Around competition and the finals in all age groups HERE.
Results:
We’ll be following live the AA results:
Program:
THURSDAY, 11.05.2023 – HOOP AND BALL
10.00 – 11.15 Pre-juniors – Group 1 – #1-15
11.15 – 11.30 Break
11.30 – 12.45 Pre-juniors – Group 2 – #16-30
12.45 – 13.00 Break
13.00 – 13.30 Opening ceremony and Demo performance by the Junior national group
13.30 – 14.45 Juniors – Group 1 – #1-15
14.45 – 15.00 Break and Demo performance by the Junior national group
15.00 – 16.15 Juniors – Group 2 – #16-30
16.15 – 16.30 Break
16.30 – 17.45 Seniors – Group 1 – #1-15
17.45 – 18.00 Break
18.00 – 19.15 Seniors – Group 2 – #16-30
FRIDAY, 12.05.2023 – CLUBS AND RIBBON
09.45 – 11.00 Pre-juniors – Group 2 – #16-30
11.00 – 11.15 Break
11.15 – 12.30 Pre-juniors – Group 1 – #1-15
12.30 – 13.00 Break
13.00 – 13.15 Awards ceremony – Pre-juniors AA, prize „Diliana Georgieva“
13.15 – 14.30 Juniors – Group 2 – #16-30
14.30 – 14.45 Break
14.45 – 16.00 Juniors – Group 1 – #1-15
16.00 – 16.15 Break and Demo performance by the Senior national group
16.15 – 16.30 Awards ceremony – Juniors AA, prize „Maria Petrova“
16.30 – 17.45 Seniors – Group 2 – #16-30
17.45 – 18.00 Break and Demo performance by the Senior national group
18.00 – 19.15 Seniors – Group 1 – #1-15
19.30 Awards ceremony – Senior AA, prize „Maria Gigova“
SATURDAY, 13.05.2023 – FINALS:
09.45 – 11.00 Pre-junior finals – hoop/ball/clubs/ribbon
11.00 – 11.15 Break
11.15 – 12.30 Junior finals – hoop/ball/clubs/ribbon
12.30 – 12.45 Break
12.45 – 14.00 Senior finals – hoop/ball/clubs/ribbon
14.15 – 15.00 Awards ceremony – Pre-junior, Junior and Senior Finals
Start lists:
