The 22nd European Championships in trampoline, tumbling, and double mini-trampoline (DMT) came to an end yesterday at the Palace for Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria. It was the second time that Bulgaria hosted the European Championships after the successful 2004 edition in Sofia.
In the women's individual trampoline final, Irina Karavaeva (RUS) claimed a record 6th European Champion title with a masterful display. The silver medal went to her long time rival and friend, fellow former Olympic Champion Anna Dogonadze (GER). Galina Goncharenko (RUS) joined the two trampoline legends on the podium to be awarded the bronze medal.
In men's individual trampoline, Gregoire Pennes (FRA) became the new European Champion, just one week after winning his first World Cup. Rising star Mikhail Melnik (RUS) had to settle for the silver medal, just 0.20 pts off Pennes. Viacheslav Model (BLR) secured the bronze medal.
The women's synchronized trampoline final saw a brilliant victory of Anna Dogonadze-Jessica Simon (GER) over Tatiana Petrenia-Ekaterina Mironova (BLR) and Irina Karavaeva-Viktoria Voronina (RUS).
An impressive display allowed Martin Gromowski-Karsten Kuritz (GER) to claim the European Champions title in men's synchronized trampoline. Sebastien Martiny-Gregoire Pennes (FRA) took the silver medal, whereas the bronze medal ended up hanging from the necks of Nikolai Kazak-Viacheslav Model (BLR).
In women's tumbling, 3-time World Champion Anna Korobeynikova (RUS) finally won her first European Champion title, cruising to victory. Elena Krasnorutskaya (RUS) claimed the silver medal whereas defending European Champion Elena Chabanenko (UKR) settled for the bronze medal.
The men's tumbling final saw the surprise victory of Viktor Kiforenko (UKR), who prevailed over Sergei Artemenko (BLR) and Timofey Podust (RUS).
Svetlana Balandina (RUS) reclaimed her European Champion title in women's double mini-trampoline. Robyn Osborne (GBR) left Varna with a brilliant silver medal, barely edging bronze medalist Christina Jansen (GER) under the tie-breaking rules.
The men's DMT final featured a major upset with the victory of the very talented Daniel Schmidt (GER), who prevailed over favorites Dimitri Fedorovsky (RUS) and Sergei Kovalev (RUS) in a final that missed the presence of the Portuguese team.
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL TRAMPOLINE
Irina Karavaeva (RUS) added another title to go down as the most decorated gymnast in trampoline history. The former Olympic Champion, 5-time World Champion, 5-time World Cup Final Champion claimed her 6th European Champion title with an impressive display in Varna. It was also her fourth consecutive European Champion title, a new record. This record 6th European Champion title came 15 years after the first title claimed at the 1995 European Championships in Antibes. The 35-year-old star from Krasnodar also won the European Champion titles in 2000, and in the last three editions (2004, 2006, and 2008). As a comparison, the next most decorated European Champion in trampoline is Andrea Holmes (GBR) with three titles.
After a few disappointments in 2009, Irina Karavaeva took a little time off the trampoline, but only to come back even stronger in 2010. Karavaeva, who is coached by the legendary Vitaly Dubko in Krasnodar, stepped up her degree of difficulty to 15.00 pts this year. This strategy proved key to her victory in Varna as she made the difference over her rivals thanks to this superior degree of difficulty. Competing last in the final after dominating the preliminaries, Karavaeva triumphed in Varna with 40.20 pts, winning with a 1.00 pt margin over her rivals. In addition to her top notch difficulty, Karavaeva relied on sterling body positions in the air, great height, and very limited traveling.
Former Olympic Champion, World Champion, and European Champion (in 1998) Anna Dogonadze (GER) also took some time off after the 2008 Olympic Games, but only temporarily as she came back to top level competition this year at the age of 37. Competing second to last in the final after taking the 2nd place of the preliminaries, Dogonadze relied on her extensive experience to secure the silver medal. Dogonadze competed in her first European Championships in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark, then representing the Soviet Union. This European silver medal in individual trampoline is the fourth of Dogonadze's career after the ones won in 1993 (then representing her native Georgia), 2000, and 2006. In Varna, Dogonadze delivered a brilliant performance that relied on great execution, very limited traveling, and a solid degree of difficulty (13.70 pts). Overall, she scored 39.20 pts.
Galina Goncharenko (RUS) won the first major international medal of her individual trampoline career as she claimed the bronze medal of these 2010 European Championships. The St Petersburg native, who counts among the best double mini-trampolinists in the world, had a strong showing in the final in Varna where she moved up one spot from her 4th place in the preliminaries. In the final, Goncharenko performed a neat routine that relied on clean body positions in the air, fairly limited traveling, and solid difficulty (13.70 pt tariff) to earn the bronze medal. Goncharenko scored 38.40 pts.
Katherine Driscoll (GBR), who won the Ostend World Cup last year, came in 4th place in Varna with 37.70 pts. Driscoll competed a nice routine with strong execution and solid difficulty (13.70 pt tariff). A little traveling here and there may have made the difference between her performance and a bronze medal. Driscoll barely edged Jessica Simon (GER) under the tie-breaking rules. Jessica Simon, who was competing third to last after taking the 3rd place of the preliminaries, also scored 37.70 pts. However, as her execution marks were slightly lower than Driscoll's, she had to settle for the 5th place whereas Driscoll finished 4th. Simon delivered one of the best performances of her career, competing a strong routine with high difficulty (14.00 pt tariff) and nice execution.
Ekaterina Mironova (BLR) took the 6th place of this final with 37.30 pts. Competing second in the final, Mironova delivered a neat routine with good execution and fairly limited traveling. However, her degree of difficulty (13.10 pts) was a little lower than her rivals, which made the difference in the end. Competing right after Mironova, Marina Kyiko (UKR) opted for the opposite strategy as she stepped up her degree of difficulty in a big way, up to 14.80 pts from 13.90 pts in the preliminaries. It was the second most difficult routine of the competition after Karavaeva's. Kyiko delivered a good routine, but that traveled a little too much, and her forms suffered a little. As a result, she finished 7th with 37.10 pts in a very competitive final. 2004 European silver medalist Marina Ducroux (FRA - nee Murinova) unfortunately failed to complete her routine. She finished 8th with 11.40 pts.
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL TRAMPOLINE
Gregoire Pennes (FRA) became the 2010 European Champion with a brilliant display of his talent in the final in Varna. With this title, Pennes joined the prestigious company of previous European Champions from France including Richard Tison (FRA - 1973), Fabrice Schwertz (FRA - 1993), and David Martin (FRA - 1997). Like former French World Champions Richard Tison and Lionel Pioline, Pennes is from Bois Colombes, near Paris, where he was developed along with fellow French international Sebastien Martiny by coach Christine Blaise. This gold medal also rewards the work of former French national coach Franck Bardy and new national coach Guillaume Bourgeon.
One week after winning the first World Cup of his career in Ghent, Belgium, Pennes proved to be on a roll in this final in Varna. Competing third in the final, Pennes had to wait for the results of five fellow finalists to finally be able to celebrate the most important title of his career so far. Pennes performed a great routine with height, nice body positions in the air, and high difficulty (16.60 pt degree of difficulty) thanks to his masterful twisting technique. Pennes, who had won the silver medal two years ago at the European Championships in Odense, scored 40.90 pts overall this time, winning with a 0.20 pt margin over his rivals.
The silver medal went to the rising star of Russian and European trampolining Mikhail Melnik (RUS), who earned 40.70 pts. Melnik, 18, was by a wide margin the youngest trampolinist of the individual trampoline final. Coming off European Junior Champion titles in 2006 and 2008, Melnik is competing at the senior level internationally only since this year. Competing third to last after taking the 3rd place in the preliminaries, and seemingly unfazed by the pressure of the event, Melnik competed a great routine that came just shy of yielding the senior European Champion title. Melnik relied on the most difficult routine of the final (16.80 pt degree of difficulty), solid execution, and fairly limited traveling.
Competing right after Pennes, Viacheslav Model (BLR) delivered a reliable performance once again to claim the bronze medal of these 2010 European Championships with 40.40 pts. Model barely edged his more experienced teammate, 3-time World medalist Nikolai Kazak (BLR), who earned 40.30 pts. Model, who won the bronze medal at the 2009 Ostend World Cup, delivered a solid performance in Varna featuring nice execution, solid height, fairly limited traveling, and mastered difficulty (16.20 pt tariff). Kazak, who was competing second in this final just before Pennes, relied on his extensive experience of international finals. His routine was performed with very neat execution. However, a slight lack of difficulty (15.80 pt degree of difficulty) in comparison to his rivals ultimately cost him what would have been the second European bronze medal in his career after the one he won six years ago in Sofia. Sebastien Martiny (FRA), who was competing first in the final, captured a good 5th place with a solid routine. Martiny performed his routine with nice height and solid execution. However, some traveling here and there prevented him from more closely joining the battle for the medals. Overall, Martiny scored 39.40 pts (15.80 pt degree of difficulty).
Coming into the final, former Olympic Champion Yuri Nikitin (UKR) was heavily favored for the gold. Not only was he the defending European Champion as well as European Champion six years ago in Sofia, but he had also dominated the preliminaries. Competing last in the final, it was expected that Nikitin would manage the pressure thanks to his extensive experience of international events. Unfortunately, Nikitin unexpectedly struggled and had to modify his routine from a traditional 16.60 pt degree of difficultydown to a 15.40 pt degree of difficulty. Nikitin also ended up traveling, and earned only 37.90 pts for his routine, good only for a 6th place. Flavio Cannone (ITA), who was also one of the most experienced trampolinists of this final, unfortunately struggled as well. Cannone, who had taken the 4th place of the preliminaries and was competing in the final after Model and before Melnik, failed to complete his routine. He placed 7th in this final with 24.40 pts. Former World Champion and Olympic medalist Henrik Stehlik (GER) also came into this final with high hopes. After taking time off from competitive trampolining, he was back to his top level as witnessed by his brilliant 2nd place in the preliminaries in Varna and his silver medal last week-end at the Ghent World Cup. Competing second to last in the final, right after Melnik and just before Nikitin, Stehlik, who is traditionally one of the most consistent trampolinists in the world elite, uncharacteristically struggled. He actually had to interrupt his routine after just two skills, which caused him to finish in 8th place with 8.40 pts.
WOMEN'S SYNCHRONIZED TRAMPOLINE
As Anna Dogonadze (GER) resumed her career, she was paired again with Jessica Simon (GER). The pair Jessica Simon-Anna Dogonadze was one of the most successful of the past decade with a World Games gold medal in 2005, two World Championship medals in 2003 and 2005, and one European Championship medal in 2006. The pair came back where it left off as they won the gold medal of these European Championships, just one week after winning the gold medal at the Ghent World Cup. It was the third synchro European Champion title for Dogonadze who previously won the event in 1997, then paired with Rusudan Khoperia and representing Georgia, and in 1998, then paired with Tina Ludwig. This 1998 gold medal was the last time Germany won the women's synchronized trampoline gold medal at European Championships. Overall, it was the seventh gold medal for Germany in the event. In Varna, Dogonadze-Simon, who had taken the 4th place of the preliminaries, triumphed with 48.80 pts. The German pair relied on the best difficulty of the competition (13.30 pt degree of difficulty) after they stepped it up from the routine performed in the preliminaries. Despite the difficulty of the routine, the German pair maintained splendid synchronization (9.50 pts) and impressive execution with limited traveling. Overall, they edged their rivals by 0.50 pts.
Ekaterina Mironova-Tatiana Petrenia (BLR) won the silver medal of these European Championships with 48.30 pts. It was the first European Championship medal of their career as a pair, although it was the third in Petrenia's synchro career as she won the event twice in 2002 and 2004, then paired with Galina Lebedeva. Competing third to last and right after Dogonadze-Simon, Mironova-Petrenia performed a routine that featured the best synchronization (9.60 pts) of the whole competition. In addition, their routine was competed with solid difficulty (13.10 pt degree of difficulty) and nice execution. However, some traveling here and there probably cost them the gold medal.
The bronze medal of these European Championships went to Irina Karavaeva-Viktoria Voronina (RUS), a team fairly recently paired. This new pair had been pretty successful so far as they dominated the preliminaries in Varna and claimed the silver medal one week ago at the Ghent World Cup. Competing last in the final in Varna, the Russian pair had a solid performance with nice height, clean execution, and solid difficulty (13.10 pt degree of difficulty). However, better synchronization was needed from Karavaeva-Voronina to get closer to the battle for the gold medal. This was the fourth synchro European Championship medal for Karavaeva, who actually won the event back in 1995 and 2006, both times paired with Natalia Chernova.
The 4th place of these 2010 European Championships went to Marina Kyiko-Natalia Moskvina (UKR), who scored 44.80 pts (12.20 pt tariff). The Ukrainian pair performed a pretty good routine, but lacked some synchronization, and Moskvina's forms were not as great as hoped. Marina Ducroux-Marine Jurbert (FRA) claimed the 5th place with 44.60 pts. Competing second to last after great preliminaries where they came in 2nd place, the French pair lacked difficulty to get closer to the battle for the medals. Petra Anyzova-Zita Frydrychova (CZE) took the 6th place with 44.10 pts thanks to brilliant synchronization (9.50 pts). However, their lack of difficulty made it difficult for them to join the battle for the medals. Kamilla Dehn-Maila Walmod (DEN) followed in 7th place with 42.20 pts, ahead of 2010 Ghent World Cup medalists Kirsten Boersma-Carment Verstraten (NED - 20.20 pts), who failed to complete their routine in the final in Varna.
MEN'S SYNCHRONIZED TRAMPOLINE
The men's synchronized trampoline final saw the surprise victory of Martin Gromowski-Karsten Kuritz (GER), who won their first major international synchro medal paired together. Competing only second in the final after taking the 7th place of the preliminaries, the German pair overcame their lack of experience as a pair to deliver a very strong performance. Gromowski-Kuritz performed their routine with height, solid synchronization (9.10 pts), nice execution, and solid difficulty (15.20 pt degree of difficulty). Overall, they scored 49.80 pts, good for the gold medal in Varna. It was the fourth European gold medal in men's synchronized trampoline history for Germany, eight years after the last victory earned by Henrik Stehlik-Markus Kubicka (GER).
Sebastien Martiny-Gregoire Pennes (FRA) added a new silver medal to their collection of silver medals from major international events as they scored 48.50 pts in Varna. Martiny-Pennes, who have been paired in synchronized trampoline since childhood back in Bois Colombes, had previously won the silver medals at the 2009 World Games, 2009 World Championships, and 2008 European Championships. Competing right after Kuritz-Gromowski, their French pair's routine in Varna was nicely performed with good execution and solid difficulty (15.20 pt tariff). However, a relative lack of difficulty (8.70 pts) made it difficult to get closer to the gold medal.
The bronze medal of these 22nd European Championships went to defending European Champions Nikolai Kazak-Viacheslav Model (BLR). Competing second to last in the final after taking the 2nd place of the preliminaries, Model-Kazak earned the medal with 47.90 pts. The pair from Belarus performed their routine with good execution and the best difficulty of the final (15.40 pts). Unfortunately, their routine was marked by an uncharacteristic lack of synchronization (8.20 pts). The 4th place of the final was claimed by Jose Manuel Munoz-Marc Pinol (ESP), who scored 47.70 pts, finishing just 0.20 pts off the bronze medal. The Spanish pair relied on high difficulty too (15.40 pt degree of difficulty) and solid synchronization (8.70 pts). However, their execution marks needed to be slightly better to claim the bronze medal.
In front of their Bulgarian home crowd, Yasen Ivanov-Plamen Suhov (BUL) took the 5th place of this final, one of Bulgaria's best performances in trampoline history. Ivanov-Suhov earned 40.10 pts. Tomasz Adamczyk-Lukasz Tomaszewski (POL), who had claimed the 3rd place of the preliminaries, failed to capitalize on their great form. The Polish team was unable to complete the routine in the final, interrupting at mid-routine. They scored 23.90 pts and finished 6th. Aliaksei Kouhar (a.k.a., Alexei Kovgar) - Loic Schir (SUI), who were in 4th place after the preliminaries, suffered a similar fate as they had to interrupt their routine after a couple of skills. They scored 10.40 pts, good only for the 7th place. The biggest desillusion of the final came from Sergei Azarian-Mikhail Melnik (RUS), who had dominated the preliminaries with a 2.00 pt margin over their rivals. Competing last in the final, the young Russian pair suffered from a lack of experience of major international events. A crash after the first skill meant that they had to settle for the 8th and last place with 5.60 pts.
WOMEN'S TUMBLING
Only one major international title was missing in the career of World Games Champion, 3-time World Champion, and 4-time World Cup Series Champion Anna Korobeynikova (RUS): the European Champion title. She had won a medal in the last three editions, but the gold medal had escaped her so far. In the final in Varna, Korobeynikova made sure the title would not escape her this time. Competing last in the final after having cruised through the preliminaries, she made the difference in the final right from the first pass. Her first pass was packed with difficulty (8.30 pt tariff). The star from Stavropol, where she is coached by Vassili and Taissa Skakun, performed her first pass with great pace and nice body positions. The final landing was neat, which allowed Korobeynikova to earn 35.10 pts, and enter the second pass with a 2.00 pt margin over her rivals. Her second pass proved to be the best of the second passes (33.70 pts) once again thanks to a nice pace and high difficulty (7.60 pt tariff). Overall, Anna Korobeynikova won the gold medal with a score of 68.80 pts, edging her rivals by almost 3.00 pts, just one week after triumphing at the Ghent World Cup.
Elena Krasnorutskaya (RUS) completed Russia's domination of the event by capturing the silver medal of these 2010 European Championships. Competing just before Korobeynikova after taking the 2nd place in the preliminaries, the 2009 World silver medalist took the 2nd place after the first pass of the final. Krasnorutskaya, who was the 2006 European Junior Champion, performed a very clean pass with nice pace and execution. In addition, the landing was mastered and the difficulty high (6.90 pt tariff). She scored 33.10 pts for her first pass. Her second pass was consistent with the first one. She earned 32.80 pts (6.50 pt tariff), and secured the silver medal with 65.90 pts.
The bronze medal of these 2010 European Championships went to 2-time World Games Champion and 3-time World Champion Elena Chabanenko (UKR), who was the defending European Champion. Competing right before Krasnorutskaya after taking the 3rd place in the preliminaries, Chabanenko tried to win her third European Champion title after the one won in 2008 and the one won in 1996 (IFSA). She performed two solid and consistent passes (31.80 pts each) with solid difficulty (6.20 pts and 6.60 pts). However, she may have needed slightly more difficult passes and perfect landings to threaten her Russian rivals. Overall, Chabanenko scored 63.60 pts.
Samantha Rockett (GBR) claimed a good 4th place in Varna. She performed two nice passes with neat execution and good pace. Overall, her performance yielded 63.10 pts, just 0.50 pts off Chabanenko. Former artistic gymnastics star and European Champion Marine Debauve (FRA) had her first signature performance at the top level in tumbling as she placed 5th with 60.40 pts. She showed that she had the technical potential to rival with the best (6.10 pt tariff for her first pass). With slightly better execution and better landings, she could join the battle for the medals in future major competitions. Zara McLean (GBR) entered the final with high hopes. She competed a first strong pass (6.20 pt tariff). Unfortunately, a poor landing proved costly. She had a solid second pass, and finished in 6th place with 59.20 pts. She was followed by Ekaterina Bayeva (UKR), who had a good first pass but struggled in her second pass. Bayeva placed 7th with 56.90 pts.
MEN'S TUMBLING
A Russian gold medal was expected in the men's tumbling final of the 2010 European Championships. Russia had dominated the preliminaries, sweeping the top 3 and placing all four tumblers within the top 5. In addition, its two tumblers in the final had finished the preliminaries with a tied score. Reigning World Champion and 2006 European Champion Tagir Murtazaev (RUS) was the favorite, whereas Timofey Podust (RUS) came almost out of nowhere to claim the first place of the preliminaries and edge World bronze medalist Mikhail Kostyanov (RUS) and World Games Champion, 2007 World Champion, and 2008 European Champion Andrei Krylov (RUS) out of the final. However, the final did not go as planned, and World Games bronze medalist Viktor Kiforenko (UKR) left Varna with the gold medal around his neck. Competing fifth in the final, Kiforenko delivered the best and most difficult pass of the final to start (36.80 pts with an 11.30 pt degree of difficulty). The pass featured high difficulty, impressive pace, and a pretty good landing. Kiforenko's pass put pressure and his rivals to follow, namely 2007 World bronze medalist Sergei Artemenko (BLR), Murtazaev, and Podust. However, they all three, resisted well, and all three scored 36.30 pts. Leading with a 0.50 pt margin after the first pass, Kiforenko delivered the best and most difficult second pass of the competition (36.20 pts with a 10.80 pt tariff), which in the end proved to be sufficient to win the gold medal with 73.00 pts.
Competing right after Kiforenko, Artemenko competed a solid second pass with nice execution, despite lower difficulty than Kiforenko. Artemenko earned 35.90 pts, and claimed the silver medal with 72.20 pts. The bronze medal went to Podust with 71.50 pts. Podust surprisingly competed a second pass that seemed to target a medal rather than the gold medal (9.70 pt tariff). Murtazaev took a little more risk to try to win the gold medal (10.40 pt tariff). Unfortunately, a poor landing caused him to score only 33.60 pts for his second pass. Overall, Murtazaev earned 69.90 pts, placing 4th and failing to reclaim his European Champion title.
Artem Pisarev (UKR) finished 5th with 68.10 pts, in part thanks to a nice second pass that scored 35.00 pts. Lasse Soerensen (DEN - a.k.a. Sorensen) closely followed with 67.80 pts, displaying the improvements of Danish tumblers over the past few years. Oskar Lipa (POL) had to settle for the 7th place with 66.70 pts. 2004 World Cup Final winner and 2005 World Games silver medalist Andrei Kabishev (BLR), who took the bronze medal at the last European Championships, hurt himself on his first pass, and unfortunately had to withdraw before the second pass. He placed 8th with 16.60 pts.
WOMEN'S DOUBLE MINI-TRAMPOLINE
The women's double mini-trampoline final saw Svetlana Balandina (RUS) reclaimed the European Champion title, four years after her gold medal at the European Championships in Metz, France. The final in Varna missed the Portuguese gymnasts such as 2008 European Champion and 2005 World Games silver medalist Nicole Pacheco (POR) and 2005 World Champion Silvia Saiote (POR) as Portugal did not make it to Varna. The final also missed reigning World Champion and World Games Champion Viktoria Voronina (RUS) who did not qualify despite taking the 3rd place of the preliminaries. Despite these absences, Balandina's victory was impressive. Balandina won the gold medal thanks to the two best passes of the final. The trampolinist from Krasnodar took the lead with a nice first pass featuring great body forms and perfect landing (34.20 pts with a 6.00 pt tariff). She sealed the victory with a sterling second pass that scored 35.00 pts (6.80 pt tariff) thanks to a perfect landing once again. Overall, Balandina scored 69.20 pts, winning with a 1.70 pt margin over her rivals.
Robyn Osborne (GBR) took a very good silver medal with 67.50 pts, barely edging bronze medalist Christina Jansen (GER - 67.50 pts) under the tie-breaking rules. Jansen had taken the 2nd place after the first pass (33.80 pts with a 6.00 pt tariff) with a slight edge over Osborne (33.60 pts with a 6.00 pt tariff), who had the disadvantage of competing first in the final after being the last qualified athlete for the final due to some struggles in the preliminaries where she placed 11th. In the second pass, Osborne made up the 0.20 pt difference by scoring 33.90 pts to Jansen's 33.70 pts thanks to slightly better difficulty (5.60 pts to 5.20 pts). As Osborne scored more than Jansen in the second pass, she was awarded the silver medal under the tie-breaking rules, whereas Jansen had to settle for the bronze medal.
Galina Goncharenko (RUS) was expected to be Balandina's main threat in the final. Surprisingly, the 2004 European Champion and 2009 World silver medalist competed a first pass not as difficult as expected (5.20 pt tariff). A so-so landing also cost her some precious tenths. She earned 32.70 pts. A strong second pass (34.10 pts with a 6.80 pt tariff) was not sufficient to catch up Osborne and Jansen. Goncharenko ended up in 4th place with 66.80 pts. Coreen John (GBR) had a solid display, claiming the 5th place with 62.20 pts with two consistent passes. She barely edged local hope Boyana Dimitrova (BUL), who placed 6th with 62.10 pts. Laura Garcia (ESP) came in 7th with 61.10 pts after some struggles in her first pass. Kathrin Deuner (GER), who was competing third to last in the final, was hoping for a repeat of the bronze medal she won at the 2002 European Championships. She was in 2nd place after the first pass (34.50 pts with a 6.00 pt tariff), but withdrew for the second pass. She finished in 8th place.
MEN'S DOUBLE MINI-TRAMPOLINE
The men's double mini-trampoline final also missed the Portuguese specialists such as World Champion Andre Lico (POR) and World bronze medalist Andre Fernandes (POR), but also World Games Champion and 2007 World Champion Kirill Ivanov (RUS), who failed to qualify for the final after struggling in the preliminaries. The Russians specialists, namely Sergei Kovalev (RUS) and defending European Champion Dimitri Fedorovsky (RUS), were heavily favored to win the gold medal, especially after they dominated the preliminaries, tied. Nevertheless, Daniel Schmidt (GER) left Varna with the gold medal around his neck thanks to a brilliant performance. Schmidt, 19, competed in the final right before Fedorovsky and Kovalev. He impressed with a very difficult first pass (9.20 pts) that scored 35.80 pts. Fedorovsky answered with an even better first pass, scoring 36.00 pts (8.50 pt tariff). Kovalev performed a very clean first pass but with a much lower difficulty than expected (35.50 pts with a 7.60 pt tariff). In the second pass, Schmidt went on with an almost perfect pass, scoring 36.90 pts (8.70 pt tariff) with sterling execution marks. Overall, the talented German scored 72.70 pts, good for the gold medal. Fedorovsky suprisingly chose to compete a fairly low difficulty pass (7.20 pt tariff). Despite great execution, his score of 35.40 pts could not rival with Schmidt's performance. Fedorovsky's performance yielded 71.40 pts overall, good for the silver medal. Kovalev also adopted a similar strategy, competing a low difficulty pass (7.20 pt tariff) with great execution (35.40 pts). Overall, Kovalev scored 70.90 pts, good for the bronze medal. The Russians may have made the strategic mistake of competing their strongest passes in the preliminaries to edge each other out to reach the final, without bringing enough weapons for the final.
Matthew Swaffer (GBR) came in 4th place in Varna thanks to a solid performance. His first pass with very clean execution earned 35.00 pts. His second pass with more difficulty (7.60 pts) yielded 34.60 pts, for a grand total of 69.60 pts. His teammate Peter Cracknell (GBR) closely followed in 5th place with 69.30 pts thanks to a brilliant second pass (35.30 pts with a 7.60 pt tariff). Cracknell finished just ahead of Daniel Perez (ESP - 6th with 69.10 pts), who performed two consistent passes. Local hope Bozhidar Bozhilov (BUL) followed in 7th place with 64.90 pts. Kevin Vandamme (BEL) had a good first pass with 35.10 pts (8.40 pt tariff), but finished in 8th place after failing to score in his second pass.
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