EChMontpellier - Who? When? Where?

EChMontpellier - how to follow?

The competition in Montpellier are the 6th European Artistic Gymnastics championships for men and women. What to expect? What's the schedule? 

Dates: 15-19 april 2015

Location: Park&Suites Arena, Montpellier, France (Central Europe Time)

Website event: http://www.montpelliergym2015.fr

Website UEG: Website

Website live results: Java application 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EchMontpellier

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EChMontpellier

Hashtag: #EChMontpellier

1. What's at stake?

These European championships are individual championships. Only individual prizes are to compete for: all around and per apparatus. The qualifications are not per country, but per gymnast. At each subdivision a maximum of 2 gymnasts can pass at every apparatus. Europese kampioenschappen zijn individuele kampioenschappen. Most countries choose to put forward two all around gymnasts, and to fill the other spots with event specialists.

2. What's the program like?

13-14 april 2015 – Podium training men & women

15 april 2015 – QF WAG - womens qualifications

16 april 2015 – QF MAG - mens qualifications

17 april 2015 – AA MAG & WAG - mens and womens all around final

18 april 2015 – EF 1 - Event finals day 1

19 april 2015 – EF 2 - Event finals day 2

Program in detail

3. How to follow? - Social media

Hashtag #EChMontpellier: twitter - facebook

Organisation: website FR - website EN - twitter - facebook

The All Around: website - twitter - facebook

Sports 2 visuals: website - twitter – facebook - liveticker

Longines/swiss timing: website - Live scoring (java) - official documents

4. How to follow? – live images

In general, the finals will be streamed and broadcasted, the qualifications are not, so far. Here you find and an overview of the broadcasts in the different European countries.

European Gymnastics federation (via eurovision)
Livestream all finals on Website - iOS App - Android App

17/4: 14.00 uur (livestream)

17/4: 18.30 uur (livestream)

18/4: 14.30 uur (livestream)

19/4: 14.30 uur (livestream)
(European standard time)

Nederlandse oproep stichting (NOS)
Live on television all event finals – NPO1

18/4: 14.00 uur (live on NPO1)

19/4: 14.00 uur (live on NPO1)
(European standard time)

British Broadcast Company (BBC, via British Gymnastics) 
Television: all finals (live or highlights)

17/4: 13.00 uur BBC

17/4: 17.30 uur Red button

18/4: 13.00 uur BBC1

19/4: 13.00 uur BBC

(British standard time)

EChMontpellier - Preview WAG

Preview for the womens artistic gymnastics qualifications

The 6th European artistic gymnastics championships in Montpellier are the first big competition in Europe in 2015. Due to some injuries, some former European champions are not present in Montpellier. Larisa Iordache (ROU), Aliya Mustafina (RUS) Elisabeth Seitz (GER) and Anastasiya Grishina (RUS) choose not to compete. Their absence promises an open battle for the most of the womens individual titles. 33 federations are present for the competition. Will it be the chance of some young senior gymnasts? Or will an older senior gymnast outpass herself and the rest of the field?

The womens all around medallists from last year in Sofia come in action later this year. From the competitors, Russian champion Afansyeva leads the all around field with the best score so far this season. Her countrymates Daria Spiridonova and Alla Sosnitskaya can come close to her, but only 2 gymnasts per country can enter the final. The actual scores of Eythora Thorsdottir (NED) and Erika Fasana (ITA) came already close the Russians, both scoring more than 57 points. Not forget also some outsiders like first year senior Amy Tinkler (GBR), and experienced Giulia Steingruber (SUI), they are quiet on fire this season. Or why not Romania, always delivering top gymnasts, of which Diana Bulimar performs best at the moment.

With 8 names as contenders for the medals, the qualifications on wednesday 15th and the all around final on friday april 17th promise to be thriving competitions!

Sofia 2014 – all around podium

1. Aliya Mustafina (RUS)
2. Larisa Iordache (ROU)
3. Anastasiya Grishina (RUS)

In the womens individual finals, all champions of Sofia 2014 defend their titles in Montpellier. Giulia Steingruber (SUI) has to fear the vaults from Anna Pavlova (AZE) and old lady (AZE). Lots of female gymnasts have improved their vault difficulty, which points the competition more towards the execution. At uneven bars, Rebecca Downie is the one to beat. Also Joanna Adlerteg (SWE) and Maria Kharenkova (RUS) have difficulty scores in the same range, outstanding the field.  On beam, Kharenkova defends her title, also outscoring the fiel this year so far. Dutch rookie Eythora Thorsdottir is the only other female gymnast scoring over 15,00 points. Last years floor gold was a tied between Larisa Iordache (ROU) and Vanessa Ferrari (ITA). Ferrari is present in Montpellier, but suffered from mononucleosis, she might not be at her best. Countrymate Erika Fasana can defends the country’s floor honour. Most challenging country here is Great Britain, with Claudia Fragapane and Amy Tinkler. And… the former world floor champion Ksenia Afansyeva might always be good for a medal.

Sofia 2014 – Vault podium

1. Giulia Steingruber (SUI)
2. Anna Pavlova (AZE)
3. Larisa Iordache (ROU)

Sofia 2014 - Uneven bars podium

1. Rebecca Downie (GBR)
2. Aliya Mustafina (RUS)
3. Daria Spiridonova (RUS)

Sofia 2014 - Balance beam podium

1. Maria Kharenkova (RUS)
2. Larisa Iordache (ROU)
3. Giulia Steingruber (SUI)

Sofia 2014 - Floor podium

1. Vanessa Ferrari (ITA)
2. Larisa Iordache (ROU)
3. Giulia Steingruber (SUI)