ECh Sofia - Women's team final

Great Britain to win first team gold?

On today’s schedule of the European Championships: exciting women’s team final! The top three countries of the qualifications were very close at the qualifications. Can Great Britain maintain the first spot? Can Russia do a little better? What can Romania do without 3 falls? Behind these three, it will be an interesting battle for the other places. 

Today’s competition happens to be the main competition of this women’s European Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Based on the qualifications, it promises to be very a thriving struggle. Great Britain surprised to qualify as first team (172,147). They showed great vaults and are very consistent on bars. Not falling on beam, they manage the first place. 

Can the British manage to stay on top? Romania (171,130) counted three falls during the competiton and still are the second qualifier. Without falls they are capable of winning this team final. Russia (170,621) hasn't got a lot of their key gymnasts, and managed to have the third place. Some of their all-around specialists are injured, forcing to select others in their place. Maybe Mustafina can inspire them to go beyond their limits and do better…

In their slipstream, other countries combat for the fourth place. Italy (166,928) didn’t do a strong bars-passage, leaving them fourth during qualifications. If they manage to get the level of their podium training, they really can do better. Germany (166,695) wasn’t very outstanding, but consistent over the whole line of the qualifications.

Surprisingly Belgium (162,630) made the final with very artistic exercises. Maybe not today, but in future they have a very promising team! Also the qualification of Switzerland (163,663) was surprising, but with the strong lead of Giulia Steingruber they were very elegant performing. Spain (162,271) was led by Roxana Popa to a 8th qualifying spot.

Note: only 8 countries could qualify, leaving the Netherlands, France and Poland out. It’s gonna be a high level competition!

Today’s women’s European Artistic Gymnastics team final! At 15h00 local time (EET). 

Livestream to be found here (click 'live').