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European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships Open in Varna with Russian and Belarusian Teams Back

Their return plus a mid-final cutoff favors consistent performers and reshapes athletes' preparations for the World Championships in Frankfurt.

Overview

  • The 2026 European Championships are underway in Varna, Bulgaria, featuring 372 gymnasts from 43 nations across junior individual events and senior individual and group competitions.
  • The International Gymnastics Federation and European Gymnastics have lifted previous restrictions so Russian and Belarusian gymnasts now compete under their national flags rather than as neutral athletes.
  • Organizers implemented a new individual all-around final that cuts the field after the first two apparatus (hoop and ball), allowing only the top ten to advance to clubs and ribbon.
  • Germany fields three individual starters from TSV SchmidenDarja Varfolomeev, Viktoria Steinfeld and Lada Pusch — with Varfolomeev named among the favorites while she targets peak form for the home World Championships in Frankfurt.
  • SWR Sport will livestream the all-around final and apparatus finals, increasing public access to results and giving nations a high-visibility early-season test that could affect selection and training decisions ahead of August's Worlds.