147: The 2015 European Championships

GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

In the News

This GymCastic Classic originally aired April 29th 2015. The 2016 Euros start this week!

Current Australian national team member and World Cup medalist, Mary-Anne "Mez" Monckton joins Emma to give us all the details on the 2015 European Championships in Montpellier, France:

• Preliminary Problems:
  • Before the meet even started Kristina Pravdina (AZB) and Anna Pavlova (AZB), along with Alla Sosnitkaya (RUS) were all out with injuries.
  • Epke fell on high bar and failed to make finals. What world is this?!
• Women's All-Around:
  • Historic Firsts: Giulia Steingruber all-around gold was the first ever win for Switzerland, Ellie Downie's bronze was the first ever medal for Great Britain, Poland's fifth place all-around for Marta Pihan-Kulesza was the highest ever finish for Poland--from a 27 year-old!
  • Can the Russian women challenge the US now that they have two Amanar's in the lineup?
• Men's All-Around
  • Sam Oldham returned after his awful ankle injury at Commonwealth Games.
  • The Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) vs. Oleg Stepko (AZE, formerly UKR) show down.
  • David Belyavskiy (RUS) and Verniaiev showed the world why sports and peace go hand in hand.
• Event Finals
  • Rayderley Zapata (ESP) was allowed to repeat his floor routine after a timing error.
  • Maria Paseka (RUS) flew in last minute and won gold where difficulty won over execution.
  • The bars nail biter coming down to two-tenths for Daria Spiridonova (RUS) where perfect form came in third from Sanne Wevers (NED).
  • Champion, Eleftherios Petrounias (GRC) actually made Emma and Mez want to watch Rings, RINGS!
  • Andreea Munteanu (ROU) won beam, but Vasiliki Millousi (GRE) stole our hearts and broke them again when she fell at the very very end of her routines.
  • Claire Martin (FRA) brought back some well deserved glory to French gymnastics after a long drought.
  • Marijo Moznik (CRO) vs. Sam Oldham (GBR) high bar debate, justified or not?
• Fragapane's ridiculous, unbelievable, not pretty but amazing save on beam - video.
• We reanact Carlotta Ferlito's tweet as she, once again, blames everyone but herself for not making beam finals.

Related Episodes

• 96: Australian Nationals & Men’s European Championships
• 95: WAG European Championships Part Two -- Lesser Known Stars and a Behind The Scenes Report
• 94: Women's European Championships Part One!
• Episode 30: Women's NCAA & European Championships
• 130: Mary-Anne "Mez" Monckton
• 102: Classic Episode with Louis Smith
• 101: Olivia Vivian
• 108: The Commonwealth Games
• 137: Lady Lisa Mason

Related Videos

Watch this week's playlist on YouTube HERE