Switzerland hosted both artistic European Championships in Bern in 2016, with the men's competition at the end of May and the women's in early June. Coming roughly ten weeks before the Rio Olympics, the meet sat in an awkward place on the calendar, and every federation handled it differently.
The pre-Olympic dilemma
For gymnasts already selected or close to selection for Rio, a European Championships in late May can be either a dress rehearsal or a risk. Some coaches want competition rhythm and a chance to test new elements in front of real judges. Others prefer to keep athletes at home and avoid injuries or bad scores that might shake confidence.
That is why team line-ups in Bern did not always reflect each country's strongest possible squad. Reading the results without that context can lead to the wrong conclusions about who was in form.
Team year format
As an even year, 2016 featured a senior team competition and apparatus finals, plus junior team, all-around and apparatus titles. There was no senior all-around final.
What to take from Bern 2016
- Watch the apparatus where gymnasts were testing new elements. Some of those skills appeared in Rio only weeks later. - Pay attention to the junior men. Several of them were part of national teams in the Tokyo cycle. - The Swiss crowd: home championships make a measurable difference to atmosphere, and Bern was a well-attended event.
Related
See the women's championship in Bern and our guide to Men's Artistic Gymnastics.
