23. June 2019  
Minsk, GER  
Sports Acrobatics

2019 EUROPEAN GAMES - Acrobatics Gymnastics

After a spectacular Opening Ceremony, the gymnastics competition kicked off today at the Minsk Arena. 12,000 enthusiastic fans supported the rhythmic and acrobatic gymnasts competing for the first medals of the Games.
In Acrobatic Gymnastics, the mixed pairs and women’s groups fought for the medals in the balance and dynamic finals.
The Belarussian team started with a bang as the women’s group featuring Veranika Nabokina, Julia Ivonchyk and Karina Sandovich won the balance final ahead of Belgium and Portugal. The Belgian ladies Talia De Troyer, Britt Vanderdonckt and Charlotte Van Royen got their revenge a bit later when they beat Portugal for the dynamic title. Belarus clinched the bronze.
And the Belarussian success wasn’t over yet. Experienced mixed pair Volha Melnik and Artur Beliakou first finished third in the dynamic final and then triumphed in the balance final beating Russian talents Viktoria Aksenova and Kirill Startsev who had won the first gold medal. Azerbaijan’s Abdulla Al-Mashayki and Ruhidil Gurbanli returned home with a silver for their dynamic exercise and bronze for balance.

In Acrobatic Gymnastics, the mixed pairs and women’s groups fought for the medals in the all-around finals by performing their combined exercise. Russians Victoria Aksenova and Kirill Startsev earned a second gold medal of the Games, as did Belgium’s Talia De Troyer, Britt Vanderdonckt and Charlotte Van Royen! And the other pairs and groups picked up their third medal of the event: Azerbaijan’s Abdulla Al-Mashaykhi and Ruhidil Gurbanli and Belarussians Artur Beliakou and Volha Melnik in the mixed pairs and Portugal’s Barbara Da Silva Sequeira, Francisca Sampaio Maia and Francisca Maia and Belarussians Veranika Nabokina, Julia Ivonchyk and Karina Sandovich in the women’s groups.

All-around final
Mixed Pairs

1.  Victoria Aksenova & Kirill Startsev (RUS) 29.580
2.  Abdulla Al-Mashaykhi & Ruhidil Gurbanli (AZE) 29.540
3.  Artur Beliakou & Volha Melnik (BLR) 29.420

Women’s Groups
1.  Talia De Troyer, Britt Vanderdonckt & Charlotte Van Royen (BEL) 29.960
2.  Barbara Da Silva Sequeira, Francisca Sampaio Maia & Francisca Maia (POR) 29.110
3.  Veranika Nabokina, Julia Ivonchyk & Karina Sandovich (BLR) 29.060