The 28th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, from 29 May to 3 June 2012. As in every Olympic year, the senior programme was built around the all-around, the format used at the Games.
Seniors: Kanaeva before London
Evgenia Kanaeva of Russia won the individual all-around. She went on to defend her Olympic title in London a few weeks later, becoming the first rhythmic gymnast to win two Olympic all-around golds.
Russia also won the senior group all-around and the 5 balls final. Belarus won the second group final, 3 ribbons + 2 hoops, and remained Russia’s most consistent challenger in the group event throughout the period.
Juniors: names to remember
The junior competition is where this championship looks most interesting in hindsight. Russia won the junior team title, and the apparatus finals went to Diana Borisova (hoop), Yana Kudryavtseva (ball), Julia Sinitsyna (clubs) and Aleksandra Soldatova (ribbon). Kudryavtseva became the leading senior all-arounder of the next Olympic cycle, and Soldatova a regular member of Russia’s senior team.
Reading a home championship
– Home crowds help, but rhythmic judging is panel-based and results here were in line with the season’s form. – The group final split between Russia and Belarus was typical of the decade. – Junior apparatus winners are not guaranteed senior success, but in 2012 the list was unusually accurate.
Related
See the 2011 Europeans in Minsk for the previous year’s apparatus finals, and our Rhythmic Gymnastics page for how routines are scored.
