Teja Belak for Hair with Award, Rakovic Fifth

Two Slovenian representatives performed at the European Gymnastics Championships in Leipzig in Leipzig. Teja Belak (13.533 points), after a great show, until until the last performance, she kept third place for which she would receive a bronze medal when she was drawn from the winning stage by Bulgarian Valentina Georgi.

The German won Karina Schönmaier (13,983), silver was Georgi (13,900) and third was Belgian Lisa Vaelen (13,666). Belak presented both jumps with excellence, but had the first three slightly higher difficulty. As in 2013, Teja Belak finished fourth in Moscow, all showing that at the age of 31 she would come to such a desired medal, to a medal, the first in seven final appearances at the EP, she ran out of only 133 thousands of points.

“I am very pleased with the jumps. Especially with the other I ‘watered’ and the rating was also very beautiful. I think they only bore 0.8 points, which is less than one. The first jump was also much better than in qualifications, but I only got one tenth more. It is true that there was a slightly different trial in the qualifications, so it is difficult to compare. To summarize everything, a very nice average. I have shown that I can stay strong in such a match. I am very pleased with the outcome, of course it could be better. I don’t go out of my head, I always repeat if the first jump was still worth as much as it was last year, this time it would not be enough for a medal. The sooner I come to terms with it, the easier it will be for me. Fourth place in the European Championships after two children born, I think I can be more than proud, « Teja Belak was pleased after the competition.

Her longtime coach was also pleased with the performances Andrej Mavric: “The overall assessment of the European Championship is excellent. Simply great. Of course, there is always a bit of a bitter taste when you win 4th place, and you run out to the medal. Teja did her jump very well, I think we have nothing to blame. If happiness were a little on her side, it might be different, but it’s 4. The city is a great result. « 

German Schönmaier She has already won her third medal on this EP. Before that she was in pair with Tim Ederer Gold at the premiere of mixed couples, novelties also at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and with the German team took second place.

The highest career rating

Gregor Rakovic in the finals on horseback with handles won 5th place (14,233 points). Armenia is with Hamlet Manukjan (14,766) and Mamikon Hachatrjan (14,733) celebrated a double victory, bronze was Italian Gabriele Targhetta (14,400). Barely 20-year-old Rakovic was first surprised by the qualifiers, where he made it to the finals of the eight-finals among 107 competitors and exceeded 14 points for the first time. He made the final appearance even better and was fifth with the highest career assessment.

“Great, what can I say. I feel superbly. I went to the big screen immediately and thought, ‘It will be, it will be, it will be’, then I landed in 5. But I did a rehearsal before 10,000 people, I played in the finals at the European Championships. I would like to celebrate this with all the locals. I thank everyone at home. Thank you to everyone who encourages me along the way. See you next year, « Gregor Rakovic said after the competition.

His longtime coach was also pleased with the work of his client Aljaž Vogrinec: “It was great, I am pleased with the exercise. He made some mistakes, but did everything we agreed. The best rating this season and again at the most important moment. I can only say, ‘great’. « 

The Slovenian gymnastics species thus ended the appearances at this year’s old continent championship. With three finals, Lucia Hribar with 15th place in the finals of the multifacetes achieved historical success, they exceeded expectations in the Slovenian camp.