2013 European Championship Teams Revealed
2013 European Championship Teams Revealed
The Nominative list for the 2013 European Championships is out. The 2012 meet included a team event but the 2013 format focuses solely on individual performance. We expect this list to change prior to the meet but here is a look at some of the top teams.
Great Britain:
Charlie Fellows
Gabby Jupp
Ruby Harrold
Becky Downie
The gymnasts from Great Britain are looking to medal at the 2013 European Championships. Great Britain finished just off of the podium in fourth during the 2012 team competition. Costly mistakes on beam during the Team Final allowed Italy to pass Great Britain for the team bronze medal. Hannah Whelan captured individual bronze on beam and floor exercise. Whelen is not on 2013 Nominative list but look for the senior debut of Charlie Fellows, who took the British all-around silver at this year's British Championships. Another one to keep your eye on is Gabby Jupp. Jupp had a fantastic performance at this year's British Championships winning gold in the All Around, balance beam and floor exercise.
Italy:
Carlotta Ferlito
Vanessa Ferrari
Elisa Meneghini
Giorgia Campana
A drastically improved Italian team took the bronze medal at last year's team championships edging out Great Britain for the final spot on the podium. This time it is about the individual performance and the recent injury to world champion and two-time Olympian Vanessa Ferrari could force her out of the competition.
Romania:
Sandra Izbasa-
Larisa Iordache
Diana Bulimar
Last year, the Romanians shocked the world when they won the team title by nearly a full point ahead of the Russians. Additionally, the gold medal favorite, Russia, finished almost five points behind the Romanians in qualifications. The Romanians also won three of the four individual gold medals on vault, beam and floor. The Romanians will attempt to duplicate last year's success but must do so without Olympic Champion and 2012 European Beam Champion, Catalina Ponor. Ponor retired following the London Olympics. 2012 Olympic Vault Champion, Sandra Izbasa, hopes to defend her European title on vault. Izbasa planned to retire after the 2012 Olympics but her return makes her another medal contender for the Another gymnast to keep your eye on is Larisa Iordache. Iordache was the 2012 European Champion on floor and earned silver on beam. Expect her to contend for medals if she is healthy.
Russia:
Aliya Mustafina
Ksenia Afanasyeva
Maria Paseka
Anastasia Grishina
The Russians come into the 2013 European Championships under new leadership with Head Coach, Evgeny Grebenkin. Grebenkin was named to the position after the dramatic firing of Former Head Coach, Alexander Alexandrov following the London Games . Alexandrov will make the trip to Europeans, but this time as the personal coach to Olympic and World Champion Aliya Mustafina. Noticeably absent from the roster is 2012 Olympic All Around silver medalist,Victoria Komova, who is still nursing a back injury. Mustafina was coming back from her ACL tear at last year's competition and left without an individual medal. Expect a very different competition from Mustafina this year following her success in London.