Minsk 2019: Russia’s Angelina Melnikova the smiling star of European Games apparatus finals

Angelina Melnikova

Angelina Melnikova was the star of the artistic gymnastics show walking away with three medals, one gold and two silver, in the apparatus finals. From the moment she started on vault, the Russian gymnast looked calm and as she began winning her medal, the smiles got bigger, there were giggles and

Minsk 2019: Ait Said driven in European Games medal quest by promise to his late father

Samir Ait Said

Samir Ait Said is determined to win a medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games so he can fulfil a promise that he made to his late father. So far, the French gymnast is living up to the challenge after finishing first in rings in the men's qualifications. "I have not been

Minsk 2019: Oleg Verniaiev comes back to take European Games all-around silver

David Belyavskiy, Oleg Verniaiev, Vladislav Poliashov

After a disappointing eighth-place finish in the qualifications, defending champion Oleg Verniaiev regrouped to win the men's all-around silver medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games. The Ukrainian is not yet in peak form as he recovers from surgery he had in January on an injury to his left ankle that

Minsk 2019 European Games: Angelina Melnikova and David Belyavskiy top all-around gymnastics qualifications

David Belyavskiy

The qualifications in artistic gymnastics competition saw the Europe’s top male and female gymnasts from across Europe vying for places in the all-around and apparatus finals. In the men’s event, Russia’s David Belyavskiy came out on top of the men’s all-around qualification with a score of 86.499. Returning to competition following injury,

Minsk 2019 European Games: Great Britain’s Becky Downie pacing herself for success against younger rivals

Becky Downie

At 27 years old, Becky Downie believes it is all about pacing herself as she competes with women as much as 10 years her junior at the Minsk 2019 European Games. For example, the leader at the end of the women's individual all-around qualifications, Russia’s Angelina Melnikova, is just 18 years

Krakow named as host for 2023 European Games

Baku 2015 opening ceremony

The Polish city of Krakow has been confirmed as the host of the 2023 European Games. It was the only bidder after a Russian plan to hold the games in Kazan fizzled out. It will continue the European Games' run of being hosted in Eastern European countries after Azerbaijan held the inaugural

Minsk 2019 European Games: Uladzislau Hancharou to get extra bounce from home advantage

Uladzislau Hancharou

Rio 2016 Olympics champion Uladzislau Hancharou is the favourite to jump to the top of the podium when he bounces at the second European Games. Having won the silver medal in the men's individual competition at Baku 2015, Hancharou is hoping to go one better and will be cheered on by

Amy Tinkler driven to overcome injuries by thoughts of Tokyo 2020

Amy Tinkler

As the youngest member of the Great Britain team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Amy Tinkler danced her way to an unexpected bronze medal aged just 16. Her medal in the women's floor competition earned plaudits and the promise of a bright and high-profile future. But post-Rio 2016, Tinkler has suffered

Simone Biles: Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be my last

Simone Biles

Simone Biles has revealed that next year's Tokyo Olympics “will be her last”. The 22-year-old, who last year, in Qatar, became the first woman to win four all-around world titles, is adamant there is no chance of extending her extraordinary reign beyond next year. Referring to a series of relatively minor injuries

Simone Biles cruises to victory in 2019 debut at the DTB Pokal World Cup

US gymnast Simone Biles

Simone Biles started off 2019 the same way she ended 2018: on the top step of the podium. The reigning world and Olympic all-around gymnastics champion easily won her 2019 debut at the DTB Pokal World Cup. The 22-year-old posted an all-around score of 58.800, more than 3.5 points clear of runner-up