GymCastic EU Championships review

I greatly enjoyed watching European Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb LIVE — but didn’t pay much attention to the silly scoring.

E-scores usually don’t matter much in 2026 as judges ‘box‘ the scores into a narrow range.

Happily, GymCastics reviewed the competition from afar — noting many of the judging controversies.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Angelina Melnikova interview

Our World & European AA champion was happy with the team competition in Zagreb.

Grateful that the new, young gymnasts competed so well.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

European Championships ’26 TEAM highlights

1. WG 2 165.430
2. Italy 161.796
3. France 159.263

Looking ahead, it’s easy to see Putin’s dictatorship will be contending at World and Olympic Team finals for many years to come.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Elena Colas (FRA) interview after EU apparatus finals

Her first senior competition.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Alexandra Andrianova

Junior Russian gymnast Aleksandra Andrianova won All-around GOLD at Jr Europeans 2026 competing for WG 2.

Andrianova is the granddaughter of legendary Russian gymnasts Lyubov Burda Andrianova and the late Nikolai Andrianov, and the daughter of Sergei Andrianov, a coach of the Russian national team.

Burda Andrianova was a member of the gold medal-winning Soviet team at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games, the 1970 World Championships and the Munich 1972 Olympic Games. She placed fifth all-around at both the 1970 Worlds and Munich 1972 Games, and tied for bronze on vault at the 1970 Worlds.

Andrianov competed at three Olympic Games from 1972-80, amassing seven gold (all-around in 1976), five silver and three bronze medals. He won a combined 13 world championships medals, including all-around gold in 1978, at the three worlds held from 1974-79. …

Alexandra Andrianova upholds family dynasty with Junior Europeans all-around gold

Click PLAY or watch an interview on YouTube.

’26 European Championships TEAM Final

An exciting and impressive TEAM Final. Qualification for top 12 teams to the L.A. Olympics is going to be very competitive.

1. WG 2 165.430
2. Italy 161.796
3. France 159.263
4. Great Britain 157.764
5. Germany 156.664
6. Netherlands 152.995
7. Spain 150.130
8. Belgium 147.829

World Gymnastics 2 dominated. Best routines. VERY consistent.

Full results.

Putin’s dictatorship does not seem to have suffered from being locked out of many international competitions for years.

Read Lauren’s LIVE blog – 2026 European Championships | Senior WAG Team Final

Twitter kicked me off (for a while) for too many posts in one day. So I’ll post some random observations here.

  • after a peaceful few days, this competition is loud and hectic. A 4 ring circus. First Floor music is AC/DC Highway to Hell. 😀
  • arena not full — but it’s an enthusiastic, knowledgeable crowd
  • European Championships 2027 will be in Albania
  • Vaelen (Belgium) tumbles very, very well out of round-off
  • Love Petisco’s choreography. It suits her so well.
  • Becky Downie did not compete Bars. Not sure why as she marched out.
  • 3-up, 3-count is definitely more exciting for the spectators. Every. Score. Counts.
  • I’m surprised there are so few Double Layout dismounts from Bars. It should be less deductible than Double Tuck with 1/1 twist.
  • Big fan of Iorio (Italy) on Bars. It’s so refreshing to see some variety of skills on that apparatus. 14.333.
  • Manila is so unique. Superb movement like a professional dancer. OB on Double Layout — but otherwise excellent Floor. We need study this gymnast. She does a lot of things RIGHT.
  • Yowser. Kalmykova’s tumbling is insane for such a small gymnast.