Panic and promises for French women at the European Gymnastics Championships

They arrived in Italy with a new label on the back. Third place in the collective classification of the last World Championships in September in Antwerp (Belgium) was expected and observed this Thursday during the qualification for the European meeting organized in Rimini (Italy). “There is pressure,” admitted Colleen Devyar, the 2022 world vault medalist. “It’s not easy to start the European Championship with all this. » All three months before the Olympic Games in Paris.

There were actually some close calls that caused the French to lose a few points, but overall the French women’s gymnastics team performed well, scoring 159.130 points.

Big Bar Flop for Marine Boyer

And despite the absence of Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos, who remained in the United States where she lives and trains, Marine Boyer and her teammates were in the lead in the overall team standings after two subgroups, well ahead of Romania.

At the end of the day, they finally finished in 3rd place, behind Italy (165.296 points), who crushed their competitors at home, placing two gymnasts in the first two places in the all-around in front of a fiery crowd, and Team USA. United Kingdom (161,430). The first tricolor overall with 52,432 points, Morgan Osissek-Reimer is in a good 7th place. Marine Boyer is in 11th place.

However, the Blues suffered a major scare during the second round when Marine Boyer took a brutal fall on the uneven bars. After remaining on the ground for many seconds, lying on his stomach, the captain eventually stood up.

“My movement was going well,” she says. Honestly, I don’t even know what happened. When preparing to go out, my pot holder gets a little twisted because I don’t hold the Jaeger bar well(one of his last movements). I try to gather my strength and get out, but I don’t really even have time to put my hand down, which I’ve already slipped. I couldn’t even hold the barbell. »

“At first I was afraid because we are not young anymore,” added Colleen Devyar, who was a few meters from the shell at the time of the fall. I was afraid that she would be in a lot of pain. » The French team physiotherapist and coach Martine Georges quickly arrived to support the Reunion Island resident and took the time to make sure she was not injured, especially on her back. “It hurts everywhere,” she later admitted with a smile. I was already sick everywhere, but when I fell… It was very difficult physically. But I’m still happy, I was able to remobilize for the future. »

Two individual finals for Ming Gherardi Van Eyken, 16 years old.

At the same time, the gymnast, who trained in Meaux (Seine-et-Marne), really succeeded in the movement on the balance beam with a score of 13.800, which allows her to reach the final of this apparatus (3rd place). “This was exactly the place I needed to perform,” she explains. I hope I have fun (in the final on Saturday). It’s just preparation for the Games, but it’s always interesting and you always have to find the positive.”

Colin Devyar and Ming Gherardi Van Eyken are also satisfied. (16 years old), who will compete in the vault final this Saturday, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in qualifying. The second named this week is participating in her very first European Championship as part of the “big ones”, and also qualifies for the freestyle final. There she will find another teammate, Morgana Osissek-Reimer.

Before that, it was time for the “blues” to recover and rest, who quickly went into a cold bath after the mixed zone. This Friday it will be relaxation and inspiration for the juniors of the French team, who, in turn, will take part in the competition.