Jessica Gadirova wowed the crowd the packed Olympiahalle arena in Munich to once again be crowned the floor champion with a stunning performance to end the women’s European Championships. Jess’s routine was the final routine of the day and was packed with huge high difficult tumbling and captivating choreography scoring her 13.400 to top the standing. Jess’s Aylesbury teammate Ondine Achampong also took to the medal podium winning a superb beam silver.
Jess said after: “I’m in a bit of a daze, I’m shocked to have retained my title to be honest it hasn’t really sunk in. You don’t really appreciate as you’re competing how the routine is going, I just focus on the next tumble but the crowd at the end make you realise how well you’ve done. Hearing Jen cheer me on from the side makes a big difference - its always so amazing having her alongside me. This is the last time I’ll compete that floor routine so its incredible to win the title with it and it will always have a special place in my heart. I’ll be working on a new routine after this looking ahead to the World Championships in Liverpool where the crowd will be amazing I’m sure.”
Ondine said “I’m just in shock, I really can’t believe it, I really didn’t expect this at all. I didn’t come into this final with any particular goals I just wanted to keep doing what I do in the gym and feel like I’m getting more and more used to dealing with the big moments like today. To have competed in the Commonwealth Games and then these European has been a huge step up for me and to have won medals at both feels really special, I’m very proud or myself and the whole team.”
The competition.
Defending vault silver medallist Jessica Gadirova executed an excellent first vault getting huge height of the table scoring 14.066, her second pass she was judged to not have quite hit her full skills and landed a little short to score 12.800 for an average of 13.433 points and 5th place. On bars Commonwealth Champion Georgia-Mae Fenton was superb, her routine really well executed and her landing stuck to score 13.633 and place in 6th , Alice Kinsella followed up and had issues mid routine losing her momentum and then couldn’t stick her landing scoring 11.666 for 8th.
In the beam final Ondine Achampong was the last gymnast to compete but that didn’t phase her in any way, her acro series mid routine was nailed and led to cheers from the crowd, she remained composed throughout and dismounted to score an impressive 13.400 and take the silver medal.
Floor was the last apparatus of the day. Jennifer Gadirova was first up for GB and produced an excellent engaging performance with trademark big tumbling that the crowd loved to score her 13.466 .The last routine of the day was reigning European champion Jessica Gadriova and she produced in style to take the gold and retain her title won in Basel in 2021.
Earlier in the day the junior apparatus finals took place. Evie Flage-Donovan and Abi Martin competed clean routines in the bars final with Evie scoring 12.300 to finish in 5th and Abi 12.266 for 7th place. Abi, who placed an impressive 6th in the all-around event, then competed on beam where she unfortunately counted a fall scoring 11.300 for 8th place. Finally Ruby Evans took to the floor, Ruby produced an excellent stylish routine scoring an impressive 12.633 to give her a fantastic 4th place.
That completes the women’s European championships with the men’s events beginning on Thursday with the senior all-around final and qualifying got team and apparatus finals.
