The September Briefing | Zagreb in Focus
In this issue:
- WG2 sweeps all four apparatus to take the European team title
- Melnikova, Kevric, Colas & Esposito split the apparatus titles
- Italy's bars edge decides a 0.136 qualification battle with Great Britain
- Melnikova ranks top eight on all four events; Kevric & Esposito lead UB & BB
- Floor creates the separation in Melnikova's 1.300 all-around win
WG2 Sweeps Every Apparatus to Take the European Team Title
Athletes from Russia competing neutrally as WG2 converted their qualification lead into a 165.430 team title, finishing 3.634 points ahead of Italy. The separation was comprehensive: WG2 posted the top team total on VT, UB, BB & FX. Italy earned silver with 161.796, while France took bronze at 159.263. The result gave WG2 the strongest team performance of the championships from start to finish, with Angelina Melnikova, Anna Kalmykova & Liudmila Roshchina supplying all 12 counting routines in the final.
Four Apparatus Titles, Four Distinct European Champions
Two qualification leaders converted their top seeds into gold: reigning World all-around champion Angelina Melnikova won VT, while Germany's Helen Kevric took UB. France's Elena Colas continued a breakout first senior season with BB gold, one day after earning European all-around bronze, while Italy's Manila Esposito added the FX title after qualifying third on the event. Colas also earned FX silver, giving the 2026 championships another marker of how quickly she has moved into Europe's senior medal picture.
Italy's Bars Edge Decides a 0.136 Battle With Great Britain
WG2 led team qualification at 164.797, powered by Angelina Melnikova & Anna Kalmykova, who also finished 1-2 in the all-around. Behind them, Italy edged Great Britain by just 0.136 for second. The underlying split was striking: Italy built a +1.968 advantage on UB, enough to offset Great Britain's combined +1.832 edge across VT, BB & FX. One apparatus effectively determined the order between two teams separated by little more than a tenth.
Melnikova Shows Four-Event Range as Kevric & Esposito Lead Their Specialties
Melnikova ranked inside the top eight on all four apparatus, leading VT & FX and placing third on BB. She ultimately advanced to three apparatus finals after the two-per-country limit kept her out of UB, where two WG2 teammates ranked ahead of her. Germany's Helen Kevric claimed the top UB qualifying score at 14.766, while Manila Esposito competed only BB & FX and advanced on both, leading beam with a 14.000. The qualification table reinforced the same theme seen across Zagreb: established all-around strength alongside increasingly specialized event threats.
Floor Creates the Separation in Melnikova's 1.300 All-Around Win
Reigning World champion Angelina Melnikova won the European all-around title with 55.932, finishing 1.300 ahead of teammate Anna Kalmykova. The decisive gap came late: Melnikova gained 0.267 on BB and a commanding 1.200 on FX, more than offsetting Kalmykova's small advantages on VT & UB. France's Elena Colas earned bronze, while Great Britain placed two gymnasts in the top 10 with Abigail Martin eighth & Ruby Evans ninth.
Last updated: August 31, 2026