Metz, France, will host the 20th European Championships starting on May 25th, following the European Youth Championships. It will be the fourth time that France is hosting the European Championships after Paris-Neuilly in 1969 (1st European Championship), Paris-Bois Colombes in 1979, and Antibes in 1995.
European Championships may have been more or less at the same level as the World Championships at some periods, but it will not be the case this year due to the emergence of Asian countries like China and Japan and the good performances of countries like Canada and the U.S.
This year's competition will try to find successors to Yuri Nikitin (UKR) and Irina Karavaeva (RUS) in individual trampoline, Galina Lebedeva-Tatiana Petrenia (BLR) and Yuri Nikitin-Alexander Chernonos (UKR) in synchro, and Germany (men's) and Russia (women's) in the trampoline team events. Radostin Rachev (BUL) and Galina Goncharenko (RUS) were the winners in DMT whereas Alexander Skorodumov (RUS) and Kathryn Peberdy (GBR) won the tumbling titles.
Below is an in-depth preview and analysis of the forces in presence, as well as some predictions.
In the men's trampoline event, 2005 World Champion Alexander Rusakov (RUS - pictured on the right) could be regarded as the favorite to win his first European Champion title. Rusakov has competed at only one international competition this year: the Pacific Alliance Championship in Honolulu (USA) where he beat World silver medalist Yasuhiro Ueyama (JPN) by delivering a brilliant performance. Ueyama won the two 2006 World Cups in Ghent (BEL) and Krasnodar (RUS) where Rusakov did not compete. Rusakov won the past three major international competitions he participated to: the 2005 Ostend World Cup, the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championship. Rusakov had ups and downs at the Russian domestic competitions in 2006, but he convincingly won the Russian Cup, leading each of the four rounds, and performing four optionals between 40.10 pts and 41.30 pts. He usually performs a 16.20 pt routine, but he may choose to opt for a 16.40 pt routine if necessary like he did in the final round of the 2006 Russian Cup or in the final of the 2004 European Championships. In 2004, Rusakov finished 2nd behind Nikitin, losing by only 0.20 pts (41.90 pts to 42.10 pts) after leading the preliminaries.
Behind Rusakov, several trampolinists could be strong contenders for a medal and could potentially become European Champion. Among them, the first one who comes to mind is the 2004 Olympic Champion and reigning European Champion Yuri Nikitin (UKR). His last two seasons were disappointments since his victory at the 2004 World Cup Final in Algiers (ALG). Since then, injuries prevented him from competing at any of the 6 World Cups that were organized. He first suffered a foot injury in 2005. He came back for the 2005 World Championships, but he was not in his greatest shape and appeared unmotivated. One month later, he brilliantly won the Grand Prix-Neutromed Cup in Turin (ITA) and seemed back on track. Unfortunately, he suffered from a knee injury in early 2006. He came back at the Ukrainian Championship last month that he won convincingly. Nikitin will be a question mark in Metz, but if he is at his best, it may be tough to contest his domination.
Another athlete to put in this category is Flavio Cannone (ITA - pictured on the left). Cannone slightly modified his optional, and since then has been performing very well. He won a great silver medal behind Ueyama at the Ghent World Cup, the second World Cup medal of his career. Cannone seems to never stop improving, and his precise technique is always appreciated. Cannone barely missed the podium in 2004, finishing 4th at the European Championships in Sofia (BUL). He was also a finalist at the 2005 World Championships. He will try to top these achievements in Metz. Peter Jensen (DEN) should also be counted among the main contenders. He delivered convincing performances at the Grenzland Cup that he won, at the German Euro trial, and at the Ghent World Cup. He was a little disappointing at the Krasnodar World Cup, but established an unofficial 17.20 pt difficulty world record at the Copenhagen Cup. Jensen was a finalist at the 2005 Worlds, and could do even better in Metz.
The German team will once again be very strong in Metz, and three of its members have the potential to obtain a medal and possibly become European Champion. Former World Champion Henrik Stehlik (pictured on the right) might be the most consistent trampolinist on the world circuit. He almost never misses a final. He will have nothing to lose in Metz, and should be regarded as very dangerous. His two teammates Adam Goetz and Markus Kubicka are less consistent than Stehlik, but they could win any day of the year. Adam Goetz was the first ever male German trampolinist to win a World Cup last year in Krasnodar, and he had some very good showings so far in 2006. He also had few crashes. Markus Kubicka did not have the most successful year so far, but he should still be counted among the favorites. So is former World Champion German Khnychev (RUS). Khnychev won the European Champion title in 1998 and 2000. He will be the veteran of the competition but can always surprise as he proved it by establishing a new world record of the highest scoring first routine at the beginning of the month at the Krasnodar World Cup.
Other competitors will try to make it to a final where everything will be possible, including winning a medal as the competitors are all very close. Among them, we should mention former European Champion David Martin (FRA), who will be competing at home and is coming back from injury, Mickael Jala (FRA), who had strong showings in 2006 and who missed the final in Ghent by not much, and Gregoire Pennes (FRA), the recently crowned French Champion. 2001 World bronze medalist Alexander Chernonos (UKR), who returned after a 1-year break, should also be put on this list. So should his teammate Yuri Nesterov (UKR), who had good showings at the World Cups and at the 2006 Ukrainian competitions. 2004 European bronze medalist Nikolai Kazak (BLR) had two so-so years, but his experience (he was twice World silver medalist and won the 1997 World Games) could make a difference. Among the other trampolinists who hope to make it to the final: Nuno Merino (POR), Michel Boillet (SWI), Ludovic Martin (SWI), Vladimir Kakorko (BLR), and Yuri Koziakov (RUS), who was the winner of the last two Dobrovolsky Cups. Anton Gonakov (RUS), from Krasnodar, should also be watched out as he was able to take a spot on the Russian team over Alexander Leven or Dimitri Ushakov by winning the individual competition of the 2006 Russian Team Championship. Of course, a surprise could come from other trampolinists. Another interesting presence in Metz will be Jason Burnett's (CAN), who will compete as a guest. He was crowned 2006 Canadian Champion this past week-end. Burnett also won a bronze medal at the Krasnodar World Cup, performing a 16.80 pt optional, as well as at the Pacific Alliance Championship. Another interesting anecdot is that Dennis Luxon (GER) will compete at these 20th European Championships for Germany. His father Paul Luxon (GBR) and his mother Ute Luxon-Pitkamin (GER - nee Czech) were the first individual European Champions in 1969.
In the women's trampoline individual event, the arch-favorite will be Irina Karavaeva (RUS - pictured on the left). She is the reigning European Champion, and she will try to become the only trampolinist with 4 European Champion titles in individual. She currently has 3 (1995, 2000, 2004), tied with Andrea Holmes (GBR-1983, 1985, 1991). Karavaeva had a perfect year so far, winning the Ghent and Krasnodar World Cups, as well as the Pacific Alliance Championship and the Russian Cup. She also won the 2005 World Championships (her 4th World Champion title) and the past four World Cups. The last significant defeat of the 2000 Olympic Champion was at the Levallois World Cup back in June 2005.
If Karavaeva were not to perform to her maximum, several top athletes would be ready to jump in to capture the gold medal. These include 2004 Olympic Champion Anna Dogonadze (GER - pictured on the right), who always steps up in big events, as witnessed by her 2001 World Champion title and her 1998 European Champion title. Dogonadze had a very good year so far with a silver medal at the Ghent World Cup and a new German Champion title. 2003 World silver medalist Elena Movchan's (UKR) name should also be penciled on this list after her bronze medal at the Krasnodar World Cup. The 2002 European silver medalist had more ups and downs lately than she used to, but she still constitutes a dangerous rival. 2002 European Champion and 2005 World silver medalist Natalia Chernova (RUS) will try to bounce back from 2006 performances that were not as convincing as the ones she delivered in 2005. 2004 European bronze medalist Claire Wright (GBR) is still a dangerous rival even though she crashed at the Ghent World Cup. The last athlete on this list should be Yulia Domchevska (UKR) in our opinion. Domchevska delivered solid routines all year that allowed her to finish 4th in Ghent and 7th in Krasnodar.
Other athletes will try to make it to the final and possibly win a medal including Tatiana Petrenia (BLR), Andrea Lenders (NED), who was 4th at the 2005 Worlds, Jaime Moore (GBR), who did very well at the Ghent World Cup, Marina Ducroux-Murinova (FRA), who was authorized this past week-end by the FIG to compete for France and who will try to defend her 2004 European silver medal after a maternity break, Ana Rente (POR), who won the 2004 European Youth Championship, Claudia Prat (ESP), who won the 2006 Grenzland Cup, and possibly Marina Kyiko (UKR). A noticeable absence is Elena Tarasevich's (BLR).
The synchronized trampoline events should be wide open as these events are usually impredictable. Nevertheless, two pairs could be regarded as the favorites in the men's: Nikolai Kazak-Vladimir Kakorko (BLR) and Michel Boillet-Ludovic Martin (SWI). Kazak and Kakorko are the 2005 World Champions and also won the Ghent World Cup in 2006. Kazak was also synchro World Champion in 2003, then paired with Dimitri Poliarush. Boillet (pictured on the right) and Martin (SWI) are almost always steady. They were silver medalists at the 2005 World Championships as well as at the 2004 European Championships. This year could be the year of the revenge. Other pairs could also be dangerous including Yuri Nikitin-Andrei Matveev (UKR), where Nikitin was 2004 European Champion in synchro then paired with Alexander Chernonos who is now paired with another partner this time, Milco Riepma-Jeroen Kaslander (NED), who were bronze medalists in Sofia (BUL) two years ago, the Gotschin twins (NED), who were 2004 European Youth Champions, the Kubicka brothers (GER), the Diogo Ganchinho-Nuno Merino Portuguese pair, 2006 French Champions Gregoire Pennes-Sebastien Martiny (FRA), 2002 World Cup Final winners Sebastien Laifa-Mickael Jala (FRA). 2005 World Games winner Henrik Stehlik (GER) should be very dangerous paired with Dennis Luxon even though Luxon replaces Stehlik's traditional partner Michael Serth. A surprise could come from the Russian pairs, the British pairs, the other Ukrainian pair, or the Danish pair.
In the women's synchro competition, three pairs emerge as the favorites. The first pair is made of Irina Karavaeva and Natalia Chernova (RUS). They were together the 1995 European Champions. The pair split, was reformed, then split again, and was reformed again to win the 2005 World Championships. They also recently won the 2006 World Cup in Krasnodar. The second big favorites should be Anna Dogonadze-Jessica Simon (GER), who won the 2005 World Games and were 3rd at the 2005 Worlds. The last pair that has great chances to become 2006 European Champions is Claire Wright-Jaime Moore (GBR), who convincingly won the 2006 Ghent World Cup. Outsiders include Tatiana Petrenia-Ekaterina Mironova (BLR - Petrenia is the defending European Champion in synchro, then paired with Galina Lebedeva) and the Ukrainian pair made of Yulia Domchevksa and 3-time synchro World Champion Elena Movchan. A surprise could come from the Dutch, French, or Portuguese pairs.
The men's tumbling competition should be very exciting, even in the absence of World Champion Wang Jiexu (CHN). The primary battle for the gold medal should oppose two youngsters: 2005 World Games winner and 2005 World bronze medalist Jozef Wadecki (POL - pictured on the left) and 2004 World Cup Final winner Andrei Kabishev (BLR). Wadecki might be the cleaner of the two, as witnessed by his silver medal at the Ghent World Cup behind Wang. However, Kabishev usually competes higher difficulty passes (generally 12.50+ pts). Kabishev also recovered nicely from his injury as witnessed by his silver medal at the Krasnodar World Cup at the beginning of the month. If these two men struggle, Tagir Murtazaev (RUS) will not have to be begged to pick up the gold medal. He usually competes 12+ pt passes and recently took the bronze medal at the Krasnodar World Cup. 2004 European Champion Alexander Skorodumov (RUS) should be added to mix, as well as Yves Tarin (FRA), who finished 3rd at the Ghent World Cup and was 2nd at the 2002 European Championships, Damien Walters (GBR), who won the 2005 Ostend World Cup, and Alexei Batienko (RUS). Nicolas Fournials (FRA), Michael Barnes (GBR), Charlie Burrows (GBR), Sergei Artemenko (BLR), Sergei Primakov (BLR), Oskar Lipa (POL), Sebastian Sondel (POL), or Alexei Dramaretsky (RUS) could be among the finalists at the end of the day.
In the women's tumbling event, 2005 World Champion Anna Korobeynikova (RUS - pictured on the right) is the logical favorite, especially after her great performance at the Ghent World Cup. However, her path to the gold medal will not be as easy as it could have been expected in the absence of 3-time World Champion (1996 IFSA, and 2001-2003) and 2-time World Games winner (1997 and 2005) Elena Chabanenko (UKR - apparently retired), former World Champion (1997 IFSA) and reigning European Champion Kathryn Peberdy (GBR - injured), former 2-time World Champion (1998-1999), 2001 World Games winner and 2-time European Champion Elena Bluzhina (RUS - retired), and former World Champion (1998 IFSA) Natalia Rakhmanova (RUS - retired). The reason is the emergence of youngsters Samantha Palmer (GBR) and Alina Yarullova (RUS). Palmer edged Korobeynikova to win the Krasnodar World Cup at the beginning of the month, whereas Yarullova, who just turned 17, beat Korobeynikova at a major competition in Russia and finished 3rd in Krasnodar. Zoe McLean (GBR) could also end up on the podium. The other finalists could include any of the French girls, Anna Terenia (BLR), Laura Houson (GBR), An de Win (BEL), Ana Conde (POR) or any of the two other Russian girls.
Double mini trampoline events are usually very difficult to predict as many crashed generally occur. The men's DMT event will be even more difficult to predict as 2005 World Champion, 2005 World Games winner and 3-time European Champion Radostin Rachev (BUL) will not compete in Metz. Neither will 2005 World bronze medalist Nico Gaertner (GER), who is still recovering from injury, nor Vladimir Cojoc (MDA), who was 4th at the past Worlds. Another athlete who will not be there but who will be in everybody's mind is Chris Fordham (GBR), whose untimely death shocked everyone.
The fight for the medals in the absence of these athletes will include 2003 World Champion Alexei Ilichev (RUS - pictured on the left), who is in great shape and won the 2006 Dobrovolsky Cup and Russian Cup, Michael Scott-Beaulieu (GBR), who won the 2006 Flanders Cup, and Bruno Nobre (POR), the leader of the Portuguese team, and who is usually a finalist. Any of the three other Russians (Alexei Borovikov, 2002 European Youth Champion Mikhail Povkh, and Kirill Ivanov) could also make it to the final. This is also true with respect to the Spanish athletes. Surprises could come from the other Portuguese athletes, British athletes or Michael Serth (GER), who rarely competes on the DMT.
The women's DMT competition will also take place without the participation of last edition's top two medalists: Galina Goncharenko (RUS) and Antonia Ivanova (BUL). 2005 World Champion Silvia Saiote (POR - pictured on the right) could be regarded as the favorite, but she will have to battle with 2005 World silver medalist Anna Ivanova (RUS), who also won the 2006 Dobrovolsky Cup, 2000 European Champion Katerina Prokesova (SLQ), and 2005 World bronze medalist Ana Simoes (POR). Any of the three other Russians could become the new European Champion. Svetlana Balandina (RUS) had very impressive showings in Russia and won the 2006 Russian Cup. Anastasia Velichko (RUS) and Viktoria Voronina (RUS) have been convincing as well. Nicola Pugh (GBR) and Kathrin Deuner (GER) usually appear among the list of the finalists of major events. The two Spanish girls and the two other Portuguese athletes could also make it to the final in an event were only 18 athletes will compete.
AcrobaticSports.com, in coordination with, and with the support of, the Organizing Committee, prepares a major surprise.
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