Press release via the European Union of Gymnastics:

Europe’s best 8 junior gymnasts after Friday’s qualification took to the stage again this morning as they battled for continental glory in the apparatus finals.

Vault

The first final of the day and the girls really set the standard high. All 8 participants hit their two vaults and showed great potential. The battle for the gold medal was fought between Italian teammates Asia D’Amato and Giorgia Villa. D’Amato had the advantage in difficulty while Villa performed with better execution. Just 0.017 separated the two, with D’Amato securing the gold medal: "Actually this victory was unexpected for me. I recently hurt my back so I didn't feel 100 per cent ready for this competition. I knew there would be really strong athletes but I just fought until the end and now I am over the moon." Amelie Morgan claimed the bronze medal for Great Britain overtaking Ukraine’s Anastasia Bachynska by just 0.050.

1.       Asia D’Amato (ITA) 14.233

2.       Giorgia Villa (ITA) 14.216

3.       Amelie Morgan (GBR) 13.966

4.       Anastasia Bachynska (UKR) 13.916

5.       Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 13.849

6.       Csenge Bacskay (HUN) 13.816

7.       Vladislava Urazova (RUS) 13.650

8.       Olga Astafeeva (RUS) 13.450

Bars

With 5 gymnasts performing routines with difficulty value between 5.9 and 6.2, the level in this final rivals the senior competition. Top qualifier Ksenia Klimenko (RUS) noted the highest execution score on her way to the junior European title: "The bars are my strongest event. The beam didn't work so well today but bars and beam are generally where I can fight for medals." It was a close call though as Klimenko only narrowly edged her teammate Irina Komnova, another strong bar worker from the Russian Federation. Bronze went to France’s Carolann Heduit who showed an impressive routine, worth 6.2 in difficulty! The Italian duo Elisa Iorio and Giorgia Villa had some execution issues which bumped them off the podium.

1.       Ksenia Klimenko (RUS) 14.333

2.       Irina Komnova (RUS) 14.266

3.       Carolann Heduit (FRA) 14.133

4.       Elisa Iorio (ITA) 13.900

5.       Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.700

6.       Zoja Szekely (HUN) 13.666

7.       Anastasiya Alistratava (BLR) 12.600

8.       Astrid De Zeeuw (NED) 9.900

Beam

The apparatus that usually causes the most nerves, the balance beam, claimed no major victims this time. The juniors sometimes wobbled but stayed on and showed what they are capable of. The most difficult routine (5.4) was performed by Russia’s Ksenia Klimenko. However, balance checks dropped her execution score down and off the podium. Two gymnasts had a difficulty score of 5.3, Italy’s Giorgia Villa and Great Britain’s Amelie Morgan. Both controlled their routine well with Villa taking a slight advantage over Morgan. Another gold for the 15-year-old Italian talent, her third of this event! Elisa Iorio joined them on the podium, to complete the Italian celebration.

1.       Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.633

2.       Amelie Morgan (GBR) 13.466

3.       Elisa Iorio (ITA) 13.133

4.       Ksenia Klimenko (RUS) 12.900

5.       Fien Enghels (BEL) 12.866

6.       Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 12.700

7.       Daria Murzhak (UKR) 12.700

8.       Halle Hilton (GBR) 12.300

Floor

Six different nations were represented in this last final, with Russia and Romania having 2 gymnasts participating. Italy’s Giorgia Villa set the standard again with a difficult and well-executed routine but she was overtaken by the last performer, Ioana Stanciulescu of Romania, who performed excellent tumbling in a nice choreography. The Romanian rising star was delighted with her performance: "I'm feeling very good, I'm happy for the result. I just can't wait to get home to my parents and my family and enjoy my success." Villa added a fifth medal, a silver this time, to her already impressive collection and goes home as the most decorated junior gymnast. Amelie Morgan of Great Britain is not that far behind, as she claimed her 4th medal, a bronze, making the home crowd extremely proud. Romania’s Antonia Duta placed fourth, never a pleasant ranking, after the tie break based on the execution score.

1.       Ioana Stanciulescu (ROU) 13.433

2.       Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.333

3.       Amelie Morgan (GBR) 12.900

4.       Antonia Duta (ROU) 12.900

5.       Vladislava Urazova (RUS) 12.900

6.       Olga Astafeva (RUS) 12.700

7.       Sara Van Disseldorp (NED) 12.666

8.       Claire Pontlevoy (FRA) 12.666