The day after the ashram: European artistic gymnastics championship kicks off Israel today

Ten months after Linoy Ashram's gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Israel will want to ride the wave of success of the country's first Olympic champion in the European Figure Skating Championships, which will kick off today at the Expo in Tel Aviv.

This is the second time in history that Israel hosts the largest continental event in the industry, after the successful championship in 2016 in Holon, which it finished with three medals, including one gold, that came from the team.

A total of 39 countries will compete in the championship, not including Russia and Belarus whose participation was banned following the invasion of Ukraine.

A total of 295 gymnasts will arrive in Israel, of which 198 are graduates and 97 girls, while together with the coaches, staff and judges, 529 guests will arrive in Israel.

The nation's hopes are based on Daria Atmanov, the 2020 European Youth Champion in clubs, and Adi Katz, who is marked as Ashram's successor in the individual competition.

The two started the season great with a number of medals in the World Cup round, but now comes their real test.

"We want to do our best," Atmanov said on the eve of the championship. "To.

We expect to see the Israeli audience encourage us. "

Ayelet Sussman in final preparations for the local championship, Photo: Oren Aharoni

Katz added: "We expect a warm atmosphere at the championship. In 2016 we came to watch as an audience and the atmosphere was crazy. It felt like everyone in the crowd was cheering and spreading energy. It was very exciting, and this is exactly what we expect this time, the paragon will give us energy and help us succeed." .

The battle for gold

In the fight for the gold medal she will try to win last year's European runner-up Buriana Klein of Bulgaria, who finished fifth in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the same games in which Linoy Ashram won the gold medal.

Klein has decided to continue with another campaign, and will try to get the highest on the podium in Tel Aviv.

Whoever is trying to ruin it is the hottest name in the industry today, 18-year-old Italian Sophia Raffaelli, who surprised last year with the silver medal in the hoop, and has since collected medals in the round competitions, and will want to do so here as well.

Rafaeli's teammate, Milena Baldasari, who was ranked sixth at the Tokyo Olympics and finished the 2018 World Cup with the silver medal in the film, will also try to screw up high.

Linoy Ashram in final preparations for the championship in Tel Aviv,

Azerbaijan sends its leading duo - Arzo Jalilova and Zohara Agmirova.

Ukraine, too, which has been funded by Israel as a solidarity gesture in the wake of the war, will try to set the tone with the trio Melania Tor, Polina Crica and Victoria Onoprinko.

In this competition, 24 gymnasts will advance to the final of the multi-fight, according to a calculation of the three best results in the qualifiers that will take place on Friday, and will also win a ticket to the world championships.

On Sunday, the finals will be held on each device separately, to which up to two gymnasts from the country will qualify.

Preparations for the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Tel Aviv, Photo: Gymnastics Association

The new group team includes Ofir Shaham, Amit Hedvat, Hadar Friedman, Diana Svertsov, Shani Baknov and Rumi Paritzky, who will appear in the qualifiers on Saturday in a five-hoop exercise, and in an exercise that combines three films and two balls.

Host Israel will try to beat the big contenders for the medal: Italy, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

But Greece, Spain, Estonia, Finland and France can also make trouble and take places on the podium.

The girls' gymnasts will be the first to step on the surface today, with Israel represented by Alona Tal Franco (hoop), Michel Munitz (ball), Lian Rona (batons) and Daniela Munitz (ribbon).

Recent preparations in Tel Aviv, Photo: Oren Aharoni

The team is led by head national coach Ayelet Sussman, along with three coaches Ela Smoplov, Natasha Stepanova and Natalie Malka, assistant coaches Ida Meirin and Alona Kushvetsky and team manager Natasha Asmolov.

But the big story in the professional team is of course the joining of Olympic champion Linoy Ashram, who is making her first steps in the tournament as a coach - and will serve as a role model for the young gymnasts.

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