Road To Doha : Gold for the women, bronze for the men !

This weekend the girls competed in Bruges against the Netherlands and Romania, while the boys faced the Netherlands and France in Ghent. The ladies won their match while the men finished third, just a few weeks before the 2018 World Championships.

Maellyse Brassart, Senna Deriks, Nina Derwael, Rune Hermans and Axelle Klinckaert competed as a team. Julie Meyers and Dorien Motten competed as individuals in this competition that served as the final test for the Worlds Championships, later this year in Doha, Qatar.

credit: Gymfoto.eu

The girls started their competition on floor. Maellyse was first up and showed a steady routine with a beautiful piked full-in. Nina wowed the crowd with her expressive choreography and excellent leaps (13.400). Rune was as expressive and steady (12.550). Axelle closed the rotation for the team. She performed a high double layout, a piked full-in and a double pike (12.650).

Senna competed as an individual in the floor rotation and also performed steadily. She scored 12.250, as did Maellyse. Veteran and veterinarian gymnast Dorien Motten performed a skyhigh double arabian but sadly went out of bounds with both feet, which cost her several tenths. 

On vault, all the Belgian girls showed clean full twisting Yurchenko's. Only Dorien did a full twisting Tsukahara with a 4.8 difficulty-score, 2-tenths more than the full twisting Yurchenko. Axelle got the highest score with 13.800, closely followed by Nina (13.750),  Senna (13.650), Maellyse (13.600) and Julie (13.550). Dorien scored 13.350.

On uneven bars, all eyes were set on Nina, but the other girls also showed steady and impressive work. They all scored 13+,  only Naomi Visser from the Netherlands did the same. Senna was first up and scored 13.150 for her exercise including a piked Jaeger. Axelle got 13.450, while Rune added 13.500 to the team total. Nina showed a great Nabieva and a connection of the Derwael-Fenton combinaison to a shaposhnikova and pak salto with full turn. She scored 15.150. Maellyse, Julie and Dorien all showed decent routines.

Credit: Gymfoto.eu

Nina crashed during her beam mount but that didn't phase her. Apart from the mount, she performed cleanly and showed impressive wolf turns. She scored 13.250. Rune had some troubles on her wolf turn but managed to stay on the beam, with a new combination, free carthweel to a layout sommersault. Axelle and Maellyse were both rocksolid and scored 13.550. 

With 162.200, the Belgian team won the competition ahead of the Netherlands, competing without Sanne Wevers, and Romania. Our girls showed their readiness for the World Championships in Doha. A few more weeks are left for fine-tuning. 

Credit: Gymfoto.eu

Individually Nina Derwael won the gold, Dutch Naomi Visser the silver and Axelle Klinckaert got bronze.

Team results:

1. Belgium162.200

2. The Netherlands 157.05

3. Romania 151.25

Individual all-around:

1. Nina Derwael (BEL) 55.550

2. Naomi Visser (NED) 53.900

3. Axelle Klinckaert (BEL) 53.400

4. Denisa Golgota (ROU) 52.550

5. Maellyse Brassart (BEL) 52.350

6. Tisha Volleman (NED) 52.250

7. Senna Deriks (BEL) 51.250

...

12. Dorien Motten (BEL) 48.750

13. Julie Meyers (BEL) 48.700

In Ghent, our Men's team faced the teams from France and The Netherlands. Maxime Gentges, Noah Kuavita, Daan Kenis, Jonathan Vrolix, Jimmy Verbaeys, Takumi Onoshima, Luka Van den Keybus and Dennis Goossens took the bronze medal.

Credit : FfG

The Belgian team started really well on vault, with impressive performances from Noah Kuavita and Jonathan Vrolix with front handspring double front. Jonathan got the highest score with 14.550, followed by Daan Kenis (14.400) and Noah (14.250).

On parallel bars, Daan Kenis had to count a fall, and Jonathan made some mistakes, but the rest of the team did very well, with highlights from Luka Van den Keybus (14.550) and Jimmy Verbaeys (14.400).

On horizontal bar, Jimmy was once again impressive (13.800), but Noah stole the show with his releases (13.600). Maxime also got a good score for his routine and a full twisting double back dismount (13.500). The Flying Dutch Man Epke Zonderland was way above the rest of the field, with a 15.350 for his crazy combinations !

On floor, Belgium showed interesting routines, with 4 gymnasts breaking the 14 mark. Maxime got the highest score (14.350), followed by Jimmy (14.100), Noah and Luka (14.000). Jonathan unfortunately fell on his first pass but managed to get 13.700.

Pommel horse was a struggle for the Belgians, with Takumi, Jimmy, Jonathan and Daan falling at least once. Maxime struggled but didn't fall, to earn Belgium's highest score (12.950). The boys finished on rings, where the highlight came from Dennis Goossens, who got 14.950. Only France's Samir Aït Said did better, with 15.000. 

With a total score of 248.150, the boys took the bronze medal. France won the gold, with 251.150, and the Netherlands earned the silver (248.650).

Individually, France's Julien Gobaux won the all-around with 84.000, ahead of Maxime Gentges (81.650) and Noah Kuavita (81.550).

Credit : FfG

Team results:

1. France 251.150

2. The Netherlands 248.650
3. Belgium 248.150

All around results:
1. Julien Gobaux (FRA) 84.000
2. Maxime Gentges (BEL) 81.650

3. Noah Kuavita BEL) 81.550

4. Luka Van den Keybus (BEL) 81.000

...

6. Jimmy Verbaeys (BEL) 79.850

8. Jonathan Vrolix (BEL) 79.100

12. Takumi Onoshima (BEL) 76.750

16. Daan Kenis (BEL) 64.800 (5 events)

21. Dennis Goossens (BEL) 14.950 (1 event)

Next stop : Doha and the World Championships! The goal for our teams will be to place in the top 24, in order to qualify for the 2019 Worlds. But our gymnasts can also hope for more than one individual final!

WAG results: click here

MAG results: click here

EC 2018: Promising results from the juniors!

On the final day of these European Championships in Glasgow, the men's apparatus finals were scheduled. 

The juniors competed in the morning session. Liam De Smet opened the games for Team Belgium. He showed a good routine with only a small hesitation on his last handstand and a small step on his dismount. He finished 6th with a score of 13.100. Rusian Grigorii Klimentev won the gold, ahead of his teammate Viktor Kaliuzhin and Jamie Lewis from Great-Britain.

Justin Pesesse was the second Belgian junior in competition. He disputed the vault final. Het got 14.100 for a good Tsukahara with double twist and 14.133 for his handspring double front. He also finished 6th with an average score of 14.116. The European title was won by Sviataslau Dranitski from Belarus. Jake Jarman (GBR) won the silver and Italian Ares Federici the bronze.

Credit: FFG

Mattis Bouchet ended 5th on high bar with a score of 12.933. He went clean but his difficulty level was not high enough for a spot on the podium. Italian all-around champion Nicolo Mozzato took the title. The silver went to Hungary with Kristzian Balazs and bronze to Germany's Daniel Woerz.

In the afternoon, the seniors took the stage. The Belgian Lord of the Rings Dennis Goossens secured a spot in the final. He showed a clean routine but could not avoid the fall on his dismount. He ended the final in 7th with a score of 13.700. Eleftherios Petrounias won his 4th European title. The podium was completed by Turkey's  Ibrahim Colak and Great Britain's Courtney Tulloch.

Noah Kuavita competed in the high bar final. He showed some great release moves but wrongly catched one of them and had to take a costly pause. Noah finished 8th. Flying Dutch doctor Epke Zonderland made a little mistake too and finished second. Oliver Hegi from Switzerland won the gold and David Vecsernyes from Hungary the bronze.

Credit: FFG

Results still rings final Seniors:

1. Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) 15.466

2. Ibrahim Colak (TUR) 15.100

3. Courtney Tulloch (GBR) 15.000

4. Nikita Nagornyy (RUS) 14.633

5. Vahagn Davtyan (ARM) 14.566

6. Marcel Nguyen (GER) 14.066

7. Dennis Goossens (BEL) 13.700

8. Andrei Vasilei Muntean (ROU) 11.366

Results horizontal bar final Seniors:

1. Oliver Hegi (SUI) 14.700

2. Epke Zonderland (NED) 14.400

3. David Vecsernyes (HUN) 14.033

4. Taha Serhani (SUI) 14.033

5. James Hall (GBR) 14.033

6. Joe Fraser (GBR) 13.766

7. Umit Samiloglu (TUR) 13.733

8. Noah Kuavita (BEL) 12.266

Results still rings final Juniors:

1. Grigorii Klimentev (RUS) 14.300

2. Viktor Kaliuzhin (RUS) 13.866

3. Jamie Lewis (GBR) 13.700

4. Roman Vashcenko (UKR) 13.633

5. Rafael Szabo (ROE) 13.433

6. Liam De Smet (BEL) 13.100

7. Javidan Babayev (AZE) 12.133
* Andrin Frey (SUI) didn't compete

Results vault final Juniors:

1. Sviataslau Dranitski (BLR) 14.333

2. Jake Jarman (GBR) 14.300

3. Ares Federici (ITA) 14.300

4. Ondrej Kalny (CZE) 14.199

5. Donell Osbourne (GBR) 14.150

6. Justin Pesesse (BEL) 14.116

7. Daniel Ponizil (CZE) 13.666
* Andrin Frey (SUI) didn't compete

Results horizontal bar final Juniors:

1. Nicolo Mozzato (ITA) 13.633

2. Krisztian Balazs (HUN) 13.300

3. Daniel Woerz (GER) 13.066

4. Iurii Busse (RUS) 12.966

5. Mattis Bouchet (BEL) 12.933

6. Dominic Tamsel (SUI) 12.800

7. Donell Osbourne (GBR) 11.833

8. Sergei Naidin (RUS) 11.166

Find the complete results here.

EC 2018 : 8th place finish and 3 individual finals for the Juniors !

On Friday night, our Juniors competed in the very last subdivision of the Juniors competition. They did a fantastic job, finishing in 8th place and qualifying for 3 individual finals!

Credit : FfG

The team, composed of Justin Pesesse, Mattis Bouchet, Ward Claeys, Liam De Smet and Nicola Cuyle got 229.662 and placed 8th in the team competition. The final was won by Russia (240.961), ahead of Great Britain (240.128) and Italy (237.895).

Individually, Justin Pesesse was the best among the Belgians, placing 15th in the all-around with 76.632. Nicola Cuyle was the other Belgium's representative and placed 26th (74.731). Justin also qualified for the vault final in 7th place, with 13.966. Liam qualified for the rings final (5th, 13.433) and Mattis will compete in the horizontal bar final (6th, 13.000).

Our Juniors started the competition on pommel horse, where Liam unfortunately didn't have the best of days, falling three times (8.966). Fortunately, his score was dropped, after the performances of Justin, Nicola and Ward, Ward earning the best score for Belgium with 12.433.

Liam did much better on rings. With 13.433 he got the best score for the team and also qualified for the rings final in 5th place ! Justin got a 13.000, Nicola 12.733 and Ward 12.433. On vault, only three of our gymnasts competed, as Ward had some issues in training. Justin got the higest score with 14.000 for his first vault, and 13.933 for his second attempt. He qualified for the vault final in 7th place. Mattis and Nicola did their job for the team, getting 13.066 and 13.466. 

On parallel bars, Ward once again got the best score for the team. He received 12.900 for his beautiful routine. Nicola wasn't far behind, with 12.866, and Mattis got 12.533. Justin's score was dropped (11.900). 

Things could have gone better on horizontal bar. Nicola fell on one of his releases, and only got 10.666. Justin and Ward hit their routines, but a lower difficulty and some execution mistakes cost them some precious tenths. Mattis was the strongest one, earning a 13.000. With this score, he also qualifies for the final on Sunday.

The team finished on floor, where all the boys hit. The most impressive performance however came from Justin. His impressive tumbling skills earned him 13.466. He placed 9th on this apparatus and is the 1st reserve. 

Our Juniors thus placed in the top 8 as a team but also qualified for three individual finals! They will be held on Sunday morning, at 11am (Belgian time).

Complete results can be found here.

EC 2018: 12th place as a team and two individual finals for the Seniors!

After the amazing performances from our girls last week, our male's teams are taking over at the European Championships in Glasgow ! Last night, the Seniors were on for their qualifications.

The team, composed of Dennis Goossens, Jonathan Vrolix, Luka Van den Keybus, Noah Kuavita and Maxime Gentges, placed 12th and will therefore not advance to the team final, as only the top 8 teams qualify.

Individually, Dennis Goossens qualified for the rings final, with a score of 14.766 and the 5th best score. Noah Kuavita will be in the horizontal bar, with his amazing routine that earned him 14.033 and the 4th place. Finally, Jonathan Vrolix came really close of qualifying for the floor final. With 14.100, he placed 10th and is the first reserve for the final.

The team started well on vault, with Luka getting 13.566 for his double twisting Yurchenko. Jonathan also had a good vault for 13.766. But it's Noah who stole the show with a powerful front handspring double front (14.400). 

On parallel bars, Noah once again got the highest score for team Belgium, with a 13.533, followed by Luka and Maxime, both scoring 13.333. On horizontal bar, Maxime unfortunately fell on his Tkatchev release (12.033). No problem for Luka (12.900), while Noah performed a packed routine to get 14.033 and a ticket for the final on Sunday !

Credit : Belgian Gymnastics

On floor, Luka had some mistakes and got a 11.866, while Maxime came back strong from his high bar fall to get 13.333. Jonathan was the best of the three, getting a 14.100 and a 10th place finish. He'll be the first reserve for the floor final on Sunday.

Pommel horse has always been tricky for Belgium. Jonathan and Noah did their jobs, getting 12.800 and 12.600. Maxime had high expectations coming to pommel horse, his best event. But a fall at the beginning of his routine and a mistake on the dismount only got him a 12.200.

The team finished strong on rings, where Jonathan got 12.633 and Maxime 13.333. Dennis Goossens then easily qualified for the rings final with a 14.766 and the 5th best score among the qualifiers. 

Credit : Belgian Gymnastics

With a total of 238.528, the team placed 12th in qualifications lead by Russia (259.427), ahead of Great Britain (252.496) and Germany (246.094).

Team qualifications results:

1. Russia 259.427

2. Great Britain 252.496

3. Germany 246.094

4. Switzerland 245.092

5. Turkey 243.259

6. France 242.996

7. Spain 242.761

8. Italy 241.128

...

12. Belgium 238.528

Floor qualifications results: 

1. Artem Dolgopyat (ISR) 14.666

2. Artur Dalaloyan (RUS) 14.600

3. Rayderley Zapata (ESP) 14.533

4. Nikita Nagorniy (RUS) 14.466

5. Marcel Nguyen (GER) 14.433

6. Dominick Cunningham (GBR) 14.366

7. Dmitrii Lankin (RUS) 14.366 *

8. Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14.266

9. Ahmet Onder (TUR) 14.133

10. Jonathan Vrolix (BEL) 14.100 (1st reserve)

* Dmitrii Lankin won't qualify for the final because only two gymnasts per country can qualify

Pommel horse qualifications results: 

1. Rhys McClenaghan (IRL) 15.266

2. David Belyavskiy (RUS) 15.000

3. Max Whitlock (GBR) 14.900

4. Filip Ude (CRO) 14.766

4. Robert Seligman (CRO) 14.766 

6. Nikolai Kuksenkov (RUS) 14.700

7. Saso Bertoncelj (SLO) 14.633

8. Petro Pakhniuk (UKR) 14.633

Still rings qualifications results: 

1. Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) 15.133

2. Courtney Tulloch (GBR) 15.100

3. Ibrahim Colak (TUR) 15.033

4. Vahagn Davtyan (ARM) 14.833

5. Dennis Goossens (BEL) 14.766

6. Andrei Vasile Muntean (ROU) 14.733

7. Marcel Nguyen (GER) 14.666

7. Nikita Nagorniy (RUS) 14.666

Vault qualifications results: 

1. Andrey Medvedev (ISR) 14.849

2. Igor Radivilov (UKR) 14.783

3. Artur Dalaloyan (RUS) 14.716

4. Dmitrii Lankin (RUS) 14.383

5. Valgard Reinhardsson (ISL) 14.233

6. Dimitar Dimitrov (BUL) 14.199

7. Konstantin Kuzovkov (GEO) 14.149

8. Loris Frasca (FRA) 14.100

Parallel bars qualifications results: 

1. David Belyavskiy (RUS) 15.533

2. Artur Dalaloyan (RUS) 15.466

3. Nikita Nagorniy (RUS) 15.266 *

4. Oliver Hegi (SUI) 14.866

5. Joe Fraser (GBR) 14.800

6. Petro Pakhniuk (UKR) 14.700

7. Henji Mboyo (SUI) 14.666

8. Ahmet Onder (SUI) 14.666

9. Nils Dunkel (GER) 14.466

* Nikita Nagorniy won't qualify for the final because only two gymnasts per country can qualify

Horizontal bar qualifications results: 

1. Epke Zonderland (NED) 14.333

2. David Vecsernyes (HUN) 14.200

3. Oliver Hegi (SUI) 14.100

4. Noah Kuavita (BEL) 14.033

5. Umit Samiloglu (TUR) 13.933

6. Joe Fraser (GBR) 13.800

7. James Hall (GBR) 13.733

8. Taha Serhani (SUI) 13.733

The team final will be held on Saturday at 14:00 (Belgian time) and the event finals will held on Sunday (11:00 for the Juniors, 15:30 for the Seniors). The Seniors final will be broadcasted live on RTBF (La Deux) and Sporza !

EC 2018 : historical performances in Glasgow!

On the last day of the women's competition, Belgium was under the spotlights as Nina Derwael and Axelle Klinckaert brought home three medals, including one gold, in what will remain a historical day for our country and for Belgian gymnastics.

Historical ... We wrote this word many times before. But we'll have to use it once more, as there are no other words to describe what our girls achieved in Glasgow. In the very last day of the women's competition, it is not one, but three medals Nina Derwael and Axelle Klinckaert won for Belgium.

In the uneven bars qualifications, Nina let the nerve catch up to her, leading to uncharacteristic mistakes. But not this time. In final, she presented a great routine, full of difficulty and with good execution, to get 14.733. This score secured her the gold and her second consecutive European uneven bars title! Right after her was Jonna Adlerteg, from Sweden, who won her second uneven bars european medal, after the silver in 2013. In 3rd place was Angelina Melnikova from Russia, with 14.366.

Things were only getting started for Nina, as she moved on to beam. Already impressive in qualifications, she delivered once again one of the strongest routines we've seen from her, to get 13.600. If she doesn't have the difficulty, she certainly have the execution, earning a massive 8.600. She was only defeated by Olympic Champion Sanne Wevers, with a great 13.900. Marine Boyer earned her second medal of the championships. After the silver with her team, the French got the bronze on beam (13.166). Also in the beam final was Maellyse Brassart. Visibly nervous, the 17 years old placed 7th in her very first European final (12.266).

In a very competitive floor final, Axelle Klinckaert won a well-deserved bronze medal. After missing the Rio Olympics due to injury and then having to fight to come back to the highest level, this is such a pleasure to see Axelle shine on the biggest stage. Her floor routine was impressive and her choreography made quite an impression on the SSE Hydro Arena (13.400). France's Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos won her first European Championships title, with an impressive 13.766. Romania's Denisa Golgota won the silver (13.600).

On vault, Hungary's Boglarka Devai won the title, ahead of Angelina Melnikova and Denisa Golgota.

And let's not forget about Fien Enghels! Earlier today, our Junior also proved the younger ones were getting ready. She placed 5th in the balance beam final with 12.866

What the women's team has done here in Glasgow is simply incredible and ... historic. There were a lot of expectations and pressure on their shoulders, especially after the withdrawal for the team final. Today's performance proves that this decision, while difficult, was the best one to take. The main goal is the Tokyo Olympics, and it starts in 10 weeks at the Doha World Championships.

But in Glasgow, Nina, Axelle, Maellyse and Senna have already come a little bit closer to their dream.

Find all the results here.

EC 2018 : Amazing 6th place finish for our Juniors

This Friday saw the Juniors begin their competition at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow. Our Belgian team finished at a strong 6th place and Fien Enghels qualified for the beam final!

Credit : Belgian Gymnastics

The team, composed of Jade Vansteenkiste, Margaux Daveloose, Stacy Bertrandt, Fien Enghels en Noémie Louon started the competition on bars. Noémie put the team right on track, delivering a good routine for the team.

On beam, Noémie once again proved she was back from her fractured ankle, showing lots of control and balance. But it was Fien Enghels that stole the show. With her impressive 13.000, she got the highest score for the team but also qualified for the beam final with the 7th score. Stacy unfortunately fell, but then Margaux had a good beam routine, to close the rotation.

Stacy was the first to go on floor. She redeemed herself quite well after her mistake on beam. All smiles, she sold her performance to the judges and the crowd. Jade Vansteenkiste got the highest score for the team, with a 12.933. This score was not quite high enough to qualify her for the final, but she's the 2nd reserve.

The team finished strong on vault with three clean Yurchenko layout. Jade once again got the highest score for her Yurchenko with full twist (13.400).

Credit : Belgian Gymnastics

The Juniors team, coached by Sofie Naert and Yves Kieffer can be very pleased with its performance. They show they can make an impact on the road that leads to Tokyo.

Team results

1. Italy 161.063

2. Russia 160.363

3. Great Britain 158.931

4. Romania 154.862

5. France 154.729

6. Belgium 154.231

7. Germany 152.897

8. Ukraine 151.796

All-around results

1. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 55.065

2. Amelie Morgan (GBR) 53.832

3. Kseniia Klimenko (RUS) 53.532

4. Asia D'Amato (ITA) 52.632

5. Phoebe Jacubczyck (GBR) 52.366

6. Olga Astafeva (RUS) 52.199

7. Ioana Stanciulescu (ROU) 51.732

8. Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 51.265

...

12. Margaux Daveloose (BEL) 51.000

...

15. Noémie Louon (BEL) 50.932

Qualifications vault

1. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 14.249

2. Anastasiia Bachynska (UKR)13.949

3. Amelie Morgan (GBR) 13.916

4. Vladislava Urazova (RUS) 13.883

5. Asia D'Amato (ITA) 13.833

6. Csenge Bacskay (HUN) 13.749

7. Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 13.683

8. Olga Astafeva (RUS) 13.666

Qualifications uneven bars

1. Kseniia Klimenko (RUS) 14.333

2. Irina Komnova (RUS) 14.166

3. Carolann Heduit (FRA) 14.033

4. Astrid De Zeeuw (NED) 13.966

5. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.966

6. Elisa Iorio (ITA) 13.900

7. Zoja Szekely (HUN) 13.799

8. Anastasiya Alistratava (BLR) 13.500

Qualifications beam

1. Amelie Morgan (GBR) 13.500

2. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.233

3. Daria Murzhak (UKR) 13.166

4. Halle Hilton (GBR) 13.133

5. Elisa Iorio (ITA) 13.100

6. Kseniia Klimenko (RUS) 13.033

7. Fien Enghels (BEL) 13.000

8. Silviana Sfiringu (ROU) 12.966

Qualifications floor

1. Vladislava Urazova (RUS) 13.500

2. Antonia Duta (ROU) 13.266

3. Ioana Stanciulescu (ROU) 13.233

4. Giorgia Villa (ITA) 13.200

5. Olga Astafeva (RUS) 13.166

6. Claire Pontlevoy (FRA) 13.033

6. Amelie Morgan (GBR) 13.033

7. Sara Van Disseldorp (NED) 13.000

The pictures from the competition can be found here.

EC 2018: 5 finals for our Seniors!

In Glasgow, Belgium already made a big impression on the Gymnastics community by qualifying for 5 finals, setting a new record !

Credit : Belgian Gymnastics

The team, composed of Nina Derwael, Senna Deriks, Axelle Klinckaert and Maellyse Brassart, not only qualified for the team final, but also for four individual finals! However, after a lot of thoughts, the technical staff (coaches, managers, medical), in accordance with the gymnasts, decided to withdraw from the team final, in order to preserve the gymnasts for the next World Championships. The main goal is a qualification as a team for the Olympic Games, and it starts in 10 weeks in Doha.

This result, a 3rd place, is still the best result Belgium ever had in a European (or World) Championships and that is something the girls can be proud of. Even though they must be disppointed, you have to have a look at the bigger picture here and think about the long-term goal. And they will have a chance to earn some individual medals on Sunday.

They started the competition on beam, a nerve-wrecking event and often one that is difficult to start on. First to go, Nina Derwael delivered one of the most steady routines we've seen her compete. She got a 13.500 to take the lead, a lead she will maintain all day, qualifying in first place for the event final. Maellyse Brassart will join her in the final. Her score of 13.066 is enough to secure her the 7th place and a final ticket, her first one at this level.

If Axelle Klinckaert unfortunately fell on her Arabian on beem, she redeemed herself on floor. Her now well-known Harry Potter routine pleased the crowd and her great tumblings earned her a 13.400, the 3rd highest score from the qualifications, behind Angelina Melnikova, the reigning European floor champion, and France's Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos.

After a steady rotation on vault with three clean Yurchenko full, the team moved on to bars. Senna Deriks, who's been struggling with injuries lately, did her job. Even if she's not back to her best level yet, her good performance should cheer her up and give her a boost for the months to come. Axelle Klinckaert also delivered a solid routine. Finally, our European Champion Nina Derwael was the last to go. Her nerve caught hup with her, as she made unfamiliar execution mistakes. Visibly upset after her performance, all she could do now was wait, as one more subidivison was yet to come. But the 2nd qualifying score she got with her 14.400 would not change. On Sunday, Nina will have a chance to defend her title.

With a total score of 159.331, Team Belgium qualified for the team final in 3rd place, right behind France (164.063) and Russia (161.462). But, again, the team won't compete in the final. They will be replaced by Italy.

Individually, Nina Derwael will compete on bars and beam. Maellyse Brassart will join her on beam. And Axelle Klinckaert will compete on floor.

Qualified teams

1. France 164.063

2. Russia 161.462

3. Belgium 159.331

4. Great Britain 158.795

5. The Netherlands 158.529

6. Hungary 154.130

7. Spain 153.430

8. Ukraine 153.163
9. Italy 152.763

Qualifications vault

1. Boglarka Devai (HUN) 14.616

2. Coline Devillard (FRA) 14.183

3. Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 14.166

4. Liliia Akhaimova (RUS) 14.016

5. Denisa Golgota (ROU) 13.999

6. Tisha Volleman (NED) 13.866

7. Teja Belak (SLO) 13.816

8. Sarah Voss (GER) 13.799

Qualifications bars

1. Jonna Adlerteg (SWE) 14.600

2. Nina Derwael (BEL) 14.400

3. Uliana Perebinosova (RUS) 14.266

4. Kim Bui (GER) 14.200

5. Juliette Bossu (FRA) 14.166

6. Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 14.033

7. Lorette Charpy (FRA) 13.900

8. Kelly Simm (GBR) 13.866

Qualifications beam

1. Nina Derwael (BEL) 13.500

2. Pauline Schäffer (GER) 13.500

3. Ilaria Käslin (SUI) 13.400

4. Sanne Wevers (NED) 13.366

5. Marine Boyer (FRA) 13.366

6. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 13.300

7. Maellyse Brassart (BEL) 13.066

8. Vasiliki Millousi (GRE) 13.066

Qualifications floor

1. Angelina Melnikova (RUS) 13.833

2. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 13.733

3. Axelle Klinckaert (BEL) 13.400

4. Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR) 13.200

5. Denisa Golgota (ROU) 13.166

6. Jessica Castles (SWE) 13.100

7. Martina Basile (ITA) 13.100

8. Celine Van Gerner (NED) 13.066

The team final will be held on Saturday at 14:00 (Belgian time) and the event finals will take place on Sunday at 15:00 (Belgian time).