Golden Fiesta in Valencia: Darja Varfolomeev won two gold medals in one day at the start of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships. Thanks to a flawless exercise, the 16-year-old student first won with the hoop, a short time later the exceptional gymnast from Schmiden also won the final with the ball, and this performance was also flawless.
After first place in the club final at last year’s world title fights in Sofia, it was the second and third world championship gold of her career for the five-time German champion. In disbelief, the protégé of trainer Julia Raskina clapped his hands in front of his face when the second triumph was achieved within 45 minutes.
“I’m very proud that everything worked out at the right moment and that all the work we do every day in the hall was so worth it,” Varfolomeev was quoted as saying in a statement from the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB). “I’m happy I’m very happy about the two gold medals for Germany. So many people came here from Germany to watch us. The atmosphere is amazing and I thank them all.”
“The conditions here are not easy,” said DTB team boss Isabell Sawade. “It’s very hot and the days are long. But Darja does it all with confidence and you can tell that she’s a competitive type. It’s really fun, Watching her, also in terms of her development. You can tell she’s hungry for more, and of course we are too.”
At this year’s European Championships in Baku, Darja Varfolomeev was still empty-handed. But the big goal is and will remain the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, where the sports gymnast from TSV Schmiden could win the first gymnastics medal for the DTB in 40 years. “The Olympics are on my mind every day,” she said.
The medal podium after the World Cup final with the ball: Darja Varfolomeev, Sofia Raffaeli of Italy and Bulgaria’s Stiliana Nikolova : Photo: EPA
Margarita Kolosov from Potsdam, who was second in the German championship, finished fifth with the tire in Valencia. The World Championships will continue on Thursday with the ribbon and clubs decisions, and the qualification for the all-around decision on Saturday will also be completed.
Varfolomeev had already secured a German quota place for the 2024 Olympics in Paris last year. Kolosov is still fighting for the second ticket, the high school graduate needs at least 17th place in the final standings in the Spanish metropolis. After two out of four handsets, the 19-year-old takes twelfth place.
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“We are very happy with the first day of competition. He went very well for the German team,” said DTB sports director Thomas Gutekunst. “Dascha made a great start to the World Cup with both titles, but Margarita’s fifth place is also worth mentioning We still have a lot planned here, we want to secure more places for Paris. That’s why the focus is now on the upcoming competitions again.”
