21. June 2015  
Baku, Azerbaijan  
Sports Acrobatics

I. EUROPEAN GAMES 2015 - Acrobatic Gymnastics

The non-Olympic discipline of Acrobatic Gymnastics of the Ist European Games 2015 in Baku will compete together with the Olympic rhythmic gymnastics.
→ In Acrobatics Gymnastics  51 athletes (9 mixed pairs and 11 women’s groups) will compete, from 17 to 21 June, at the National Gymnastics Arena
All the four 4 rhythmic apparatus pieces will be alternated in competition interspersed with Acrobatic women’s group in the first 2 rotations and mixed pairs in the last 2 rotations. In Acrobatics qualification both mixed pairs and women’s group present 2 exercises: 1 balance and 1 dynamic. The top 6 combined results advance to the all-around final where they have to present a combined exercise. This score will be added to the qualification score to determine the all-around ranking. The top 6 results per exercise qualify to the event finals. Only the score in the event final counts for the result.

* Alternation explained:
To make the events easier to follow for spectators both in the hall and at home, 1 gymnast will compete at a time. One rhythmic gymnast competes and while she waits for her score, another rhythmic gymnast competes for a second judging panel. While she waits for her score, an acrobatics performance will take place. This way there is always a gymnast performing.

* Who to watch in Acrobatic Gymnastics:
The top three teams from last year’s World Championships - Russia, Great Britain and Belgium - will be represented.
Russia’s World Champion in mixed pair Marina Chernova will participate with her new partner Georgy Pataraya, being challenged by Ukraine’s Yelizaveta Vasylyga and Oleksandr Shpyn and Belgium’s Yana Vastavel and Solano Cassamajor, who were fourth at the last World Championships.
Fresh from their participation in the final of Belgium’s Got Talent, the women’s group of Ineke Van Schoor, Julie Van Gelder and Kaat Dumarey, bronze medallists at the 2014 Worlds, is now focusing on Baku and will battle with the groups of Russia and Great Britain for the title.

* * Schedule: Acrobatic & Rhythmic Gymnastics (local time)
- June 16:
   Podium training on June 16 is open to media
- June 17: 10.00 to 15.00
   Acrobatics mixed pairs and women’s groups qualification & RG groups all-around final
- June 19: 10.00 to 15.30
   Acrobatics mixed pairs and women’s groups all-around final & RG, individuals all-around final
- June 21: 14.30 to 19.15  
   Acrobatics mixed pairs and women’s groups event finals & Rhythmic groups and individuals apparatus finals
 

♦♦ Acrobatic Gymnastics Qualification (Wednesday, June 17)
In Acrobatics today’s session saw both the mixed pairs and the women’s groups perform their balance and dynamic exercises.
All teams will compete their combined exercise on Friday, June 19 to determine the all-around medals.
Belgium topped the standing in the women’s group and was second in the mixed pair, while Russia leads the mixed pairs and is second in the women’s group

* Qualified to women’s group balance final:
1.      Belgium 29.090; 2.      Belarus 28.560;   3.      Great Britain 28.190
4.      Russia 28.170; 5.      Azerbaijan 27.680; 6.      Ukraine 27.560

* Qualified to women’s group dynamic final:
1.      Russia 28.740;           2.   Belgium 28.730;   3.      Belarus 28.070
4.      Great Britain 28.040; 5.   Ukraine 27.410;    6.      Azerbaijan 27.140

* Qualified to mixed pairs’ balance final:
1.      Russia 30.010;  2.      Belgium 28.930;   3.      Great Britain 28.360
4.      Ukraine 28.040; 5.      Portugal 26.830; 6.      Azerbaijan 25.750

* Qualified to mixed pairs’ dynamic final:
1.      Russia 29.550;  2.      Belgium 28.590;  3.      Great Britain 28.450
4.      Ukraine 27.530; 5.      Bulgaria 27.420;  6.      Azerbaijan 26.520

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♦♦ ACRO-FINALS: (Friday, June 19)
Gold for Belgium’s acrobatics women’s group, Russia’s mixed pair
* Kaat Dumarey, Ineke Van Schoor and Julie Van Gelder extended their lead from qualification with a gorgeous combined exercise to win Belgium’s first gold of these Games. They scored 86.480, a point more than runners-up Russia and almost 2 points more than third placed Belarus.
* Russia’s World Champion Marina Chernova won the mixed pairs all-around, together with her new partner Georgi Pataraya.
Belgium won silver and British Acrobatic mixed pair Ryan Bartlett and Hannah Baughn on third place have made history by becoming the first British gymnasts to win a European Games medal! The mixed pair produced a superb combined routine in the final, which added to their balance and dynamic qualification routines secured them a score of 85.160 for bronze.

* Sunday, June 21
Belgium and Russia divide the acrobatic gymnastics gold medals
Russia’s mixed pair, with World Champion Marina Chernova, were in a league of their own, performing the most difficult exercises to claim the top spot in both the dynamic and balance finals.  Belgium’s talented duo of Yana Vastavel & Solano Cassamajor was second twice and the duo from Great Britain claimed two bronze medals.

Belgium’s women’s group performed a gorgeous balance routine to music of Swan Lake which earned them 28.700, holding off a strong challenge by Russia and Belarus.   They also won the dynamic exercise making up for less difficulty than the Russians with a higher artistry and execution scores. Again Russia was second and Belarus third.

Sunday's ACRO Final Results all:




That concludes the gymnastics at the 1st European Games!