Press release via the European Union of Gymnastics:

A busy day today at the SSE Hydro where 137 gymnasts from 35 countries entered the junior competition. The girls, between 13 and 15 years old, competed in four subdivisions.

Russia, led by European Youth Olympic Festival all-around Champion Ksenia Klimenko, started in the first group and on beam which caused some nervousness. The girls picked up the pace on the other three events, posting the second highest total. They were overtaken in the second subdivision by seven tenths by the strong Italian team featuring twins Alice and Asia D’Amato, Giorgia Villa, Elisa Iorio and Alessia Federici. The ‘Italbaby’ posted the highest score on both vault and bars, and the second-total on beam. A sweet victory for the squad that has been presented as the most talented ever. Great Britain enjoyed loud home support which led them to the highest beam total and the bronze medal. Romania and France went head-to-head for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

In the all-around, another battle between Russia, Italy, and Great Britain unfolded …. Ksenia Klimenko set the standard in subdivision 1, scoring 53.532, which was highlighted by the top score on bars, a huge 14.333! In the next subdivision both Great Britain and Italy took to the stage. The British girls had a strong showing with 3 gymnasts in the top 10 but the Italians did even better: all three all-arounders ended up in the top 6! Italy’s Giorgia Villa hit one routine after another, showing her great potential and qualifying her to all four event finals. Most importantly though she cruised to victory in the all-around! Holding off Amelie Morgan by more than a full point and Klimenko by a point and a half.

Results top 8

Team

1.           ITA 161.063

2.           RUS 160.363

3.           GBR 158.931

4.           ROU 154.862

5.           FRA 154.729

6.           BEL 154.231

7.           GER 152.897

8.           UKR 151.796

All-around

1. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 55.065

2. Amelie Morgan (GBR) 53.832

3. Ksenia Klimenko (RUS) 53.532

4. Asia D’Amato (ITA) 52.632

5. Phoebe Jakubczyk (GBR) 52.366

6. Olga Astafeva (RUS) 52.199

7. Ioana Stanciulescu (ROU) 51.732

8. Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 51.265