Teen Stars Shine in 2026 European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Angelina Melnikova © Pinterest

The third day of the 2026 European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships delivered a dramatic collection of apparatus finals in Zagreb, with established champions sharing the spotlight with a new generation of teenage stars.

Angelina Melnikova added vault gold to her all-around title, while Germany’s Helen Kevric captured the uneven bars crown. France’s 16-year-old Elena Colas won a breakthrough European title on balance beam, and Italy’s Manila Esposito finished the championships with gold on floor.

Melnikova Doubles Her Gold

Fresh from winning the all-around title, Angelina Melnikova returned to the arena for the vault final and claimed another European gold.

The World Gymnastics 2 representative scored 14.166 on her two vaults, finishing ahead of Germany’s Karina Schönmaier, who took silver with 14.066.

Melnikova’s final average included a clean Yurchenko double full and a beautifully executed Lopez. Belgium’s Lisa Vaelen completed the podium with 13.983, edging Great Britain’s Abigail Martin by just 0.084 points.

The result gave Melnikova her second individual title of the championships.

Kevric Makes Her Comeback Count

Germany’s Helen Kevric continued her impressive return to international competition by winning the uneven bars title.

The 18-year-old produced the highest score of the entire day on any apparatus, earning 14.500 for her routine.

Kevric had already topped the qualification standings, and she delivered again when it mattered most.

Her victory is particularly meaningful after an injury interrupted her competition at last year’s European Championships. Now back on the international stage, Kevric has added European champion to her résumé.

Italy’s Elisa Iorio won silver with 14.333, while 16-year-old Giulia Perotti took bronze with 14.233.

Colas Claims Her First European Gold

One of the biggest stories of the day came from France’s Elena Colas.

After winning bronze in the all-around earlier in the championships, the 16-year-old added a gold medal on balance beam with 13.933.

Colas finished ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Manila Esposito, who scored 13.833. Melnikova took bronze with 13.700.

The result gave Colas two individual medals at her first European Championships — an extraordinary achievement for a gymnast making her senior continental debut.

Her performance also provided valuable confidence ahead of the team final.

Esposito Ends With Floor Gold

Italy’s Manila Esposito responded with a gold medal of her own in the final event of the day.

Her elegant and difficult floor routine earned 13.700, enough to take the European title.

Colas claimed her second medal of the day with silver at 13.633, while Melnikova completed another podium with bronze at 13.566.

Esposito’s victory added another chapter to the career of a gymnast who already owns six European titles and an Olympic bronze medal on beam.

A New Generation Takes Center Stage

The Zagreb finals offered a fascinating mix of experience and youth.

Melnikova and Esposito continued to demonstrate why they are among Europe’s leading gymnasts, while Kevric and Colas showed that the next generation is ready to challenge the established stars.

For Colas in particular, two medals at her first European Championships represent a spectacular beginning to her senior career.

With the team final still ahead, the championships have already delivered one of their clearest storylines: Europe’s established champions remain formidable, but the teenagers are arriving fast.

Source: article on olympics.com By Jo Gunston August 15, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer